Flu infections are already on the rise, and lack of sleep can make you more susceptible to catching it. Here is how.
Sleep is an underrated concept that needs to move up on your priority list. Not sleeping well is not something to glorify or share dank memes. Lack of sleep can have serious repercussions on both physical and mental well-being. Prolonged time without adequate, quality sleep can affect mental and physical health. An adult should get at least seven to eight hours of good sleep in a day for the body to function optimally. Not getting enough sleep exhausts the body both physically and mentally. Poor quality sleep can also put your heart, kidneys, and mental health at risk. A good night’s sleep is just as important as food, but air is mostly overlooked. In a culture where most people are fighting against time, everyone is busy working hard and also trying to maintain a balanced life and sleep really isn’t high on the agenda. But often in this busy culture and mundane lifestyle, we underestimate the importance of a good sleep cycle.
Many of us get cranky or easily irritated when we keep tossing and turning in bed. And the long-term health effects of poor sleep are real things to watch for.
Here are 5 health problems due to lack of sleep
cold or flu
Our body heals and recovers when we sleep, and our immune system releases proteins called cytokines. According to the Mayo Clinic, certain proteins help fight inflammation or infection in our body. And therefore sleep deprivation can reduce the release of cytokines, which also lowers our immunity levels.
Mood swings and mental health problems
Sleep deprivation can also seriously affect mental health. One can become prone to mood swings and also compromise decision-making ability. It also interferes with creative thinking. It also makes people more likely to develop anxiety, depression, or other mental health problems.
Weight gain
While you sleep, your body is also in charge of producing leptin and ghrelin, which control appetite. Leptin controls appetite while ghrelin makes you want to eat. Lack of sleep may be one of the reasons why many people feel like eating at midnight. Sleep deprivation stimulates ghrelin, which can further lead to weight gain and obesity.
$(document).ready(function(){
$(‘#commentbtn’).on(“click”,function(){
(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1&appId=178196885542208”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));
$(“.cmntbox”).toggle();
});
});
