We all know sleep is important. Getting seven to eight hours each night allows your body to relax, recover, and recharge. Although with ever increasing work, personal, and social activities adding to the calendar, some days it seems getting enough sleep is an impossible task. The problem is that more and more studies point out that not getting enough sleep is harmful to the body.
A report detailed in Scientific American showed that missing sleep could lead into weight gain. The report covers 18 controlled lab studies designed to determine how sleep deprivation relates to metabolic health. The revelation was about two hormones that control hunger signals. In as little as two consecutive nights with four hours of sleep, subjects had up to 28% higher levels in their blood. Another study showed that subjects ate an average of 400 extra daily calories following sleep deprived nights.
Another report from the Annals of Internal Medicine showed that lack of sleep affects insulin as well. After just 4 nights of reduced sleep, subjects had reduced insulin responses akin to the levels see in diabetics.
WebMD points out that there are additional and serious side effects. These include:
- Increased auto crashes
- Impaired ability to learn
- Reduced sex drive
- Increased link to depression
- Overall increased risk of death
Luckily the solution is simple: sleep more. It may take having a set schedule. Finding time to wind down at the end of the day before bedtime may help. If you increase your physical activity and workout more, you could increase your desire and need for sleep. Whatever helps you get a consistent eight hours of sleep, make sure you continue to do it for your health. So, go sleep!
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