A study shows that the less you sleep, the shorter your life will be. This is because the body needs a lot of good sleep to function properly. sleep is as important as feeding, as it helps the body and brain function properly. If you want to live a long healthy life then It is imperative to know that the body was not designed to tolerate long term of inadequate/insufficient sleep.
A good night’s sleep can help in improving your memory, learning, decision making and even creativity. Having known the importance of sleep, this post will highlight some of the dangerous health conditions associated with lack of sleep.
Negative Health Conditions Associated With Lack Of Sleep
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Erectile dysfunction
Lack of sleep increases the level of cortisol in the blood. Cortisol is the primary stress hormone which increases sugars(glucose) in the bloodstream, enhances the brain’s use of glucose and increases the availability of substances that repairs tissues. A high level of cortisol caused by constant stress and inadequate sleep can cause anxiety and narrowing of arteries which can restrict blood flow in the male reproductive organ thereby causing ED (Erectile dysfunction)
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Heart disease
Scientists don’t fully understand why insomnia or lack of sleep is linked to heart disease, but it has been shown to increase risk for high blood pressure and inflammation, both of which are contributing factors to a heart disease. During normal sleep, your blood pressure goes down. Having sleep problems means your blood pressure stays higher for a longer time. High blood pressure can damage arteries by making them less elastic, this in turn decreases the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart. Because of this, the heart strains itself to pump more blood to deliver oxygen throughout the body, raising blood pressure even more and increasing the risk of a deadly heart disease.
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Dementia
Lack of sleep doesn’t give the brain enough time to drain away beta amyloid( beta Amyloid denotes peptides of 36-43 amino acids that are the main component of amyloid plaques.) Amyloid plaques are aggregates of misfolded proteins that form in the spaces between nerve cells. The amyloid plaques first develop in the areas of the brain concerned with memory and other cognitive functions thereby gradually causing dementia.
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Diabetes
Lack of sleep cause less insulin to be released into the body after you eat while your body secretes more stress hormones, which helps you stay awake, but insulin cannot do its job effectively. Too much glucose stays in the bloodstream, which increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
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Obesity
Lack of sleep creates hormonal imbalance in the body and that increases overeating and weight gain. Leptin and ghrelin are the hormones that regulate appetite and when you aren’t getting adequate sleep, the production of these hormones is altered in a way that it creates an increase in the feeling of hunger.
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Cancer
Lack of sleep has been connected to greater deterioration on cells, potentially leading to the type of DNA damage that can bring about cancer.
How To Get A Better Sleep
- Drink warm milk before bedtime. Hot or warm milk may promote a sound sleep as it contains amino acid called tryptophan that produces sleep-inducing chemicals serotonin and melatonin.
- Get a lot of physical activity during the day, having less ‘active’ energy before bedtime will help you rest better
- Get enough natural light in the daytime
- Have a regular sleep schedule. Go to bed at the same time each night and this should be early.
- Keep your bedroom cool and quiet
- Practice meditation to help relax your mind
- Exercise during the day and avoid taking naps in the afternoon, this will make you more sleepy at night.
