10 things that happen to your body when you don't sleep

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Adequate sleep is extremely important for the rest and recovery of the body. When you lose sleep, especially long-term insomnia, chronic insomnia, your body will suffer many negative effects leading to bad effects on both physical and quality of life.

1. How much sleep is enough?

The amount of time you need to get enough sleep varies from person to person. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults get at least 7 hours of sleep a day. However, the reality is that only about a third of adults do not get enough sleep.

2. Effects of prolonged sleep loss

In modern life, everyone has a hard time sleeping at night. The most obvious consequence is that we feel tired, irritable, and lose motivation to work the next day.
If a person suffers from prolonged insomnia, their mental and physical health can be severely affected. Numerous studies have linked chronic sleep loss with health problems ranging from weight gain to impaired immunity. Specifically:
You're more likely to get sick Researchers have proven an association between sleep and immune system activity. Insomnia reduces the body's ability to fight disease, making patients more susceptible to illness. Patients who are sick also tend to lose more sleep while the body fights pathogens.
Adverse effects on heart health An analysis published in the European Heart Journal found that sleeping periods that are too short (less than 5 hours per day) or too long (more than 9 hours per day) are harmful. demonstrated negative effects on cardiovascular health. In particular, the risk of coronary heart disease or stroke will increase many times in patients with prolonged sleep deprivation.
Increased cancer risk According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, a lot of sleep loss can increase the risk of breast cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer.
Decreased thinking ability of the brain Just one night of lack of sleep can lead to thinking and cognitive problems. In a brain study, a group of 18 people were given tasks to perform. The first task was requested after a full night of sleep, while the second was performed after a sleepless night. The results showed that after sleep deprivation, brain function, including decision-making, reasoning, problem-solving, reflexes as well as alertness, was impaired.
Affects memory Sleep helps the brain store information received during the day. Insomnia not only makes you forget more easily but also adversely affects learning ability and memory.
Reduced sex drive Insufficient sleep can affect sexual health. Young men who lost sleep for a week had lower testosterone levels compared with those who got enough sleep. Sleeping 5 hours or less a day reduces sex hormones by 10% - 15%.
Weight gain Insomnia makes it difficult to control your weight. A study of the link between sleep and weight in 21469 people over the age of 20 found that those who slept less than 5 hours a day tended to gain weight and become obese.

Increased risk of diabetes Insomnia or too much sleep increases the risk of developing diabetes in adults. Researchers have shown that sleeping 7 to 8 hours a day is the optimal amount of time to avoid problems that can lead to diabetes.
Increased risk of accidents According to the National Sleep Association, people who sleep less than 6 hours a day are 3 times more likely to have a traffic accident than the average person. Those most prone to accidents are shift workers, long-distance car drivers, people traveling long distances, and anyone who has to work long hours. Please consider carefully participating in traffic if you do not get enough sleep.
Adverse Effects on Skin A sleep and skin condition study showed that patients with prolonged sleep deprivation were more likely to experience fine lines, crow's feet, uneven skin tone, and markedly less firmness. Patients are also less satisfied with their appearance than those who get enough sleep.
In short, getting enough sleep is very important for the rest and recovery of the body. When you lose sleep, especially long-term insomnia, chronic insomnia, the body will suffer many negative effects leading to bad physical and mental effects. Therefore, adults should sleep at least 7 hours a day.

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Source: healthline.com, medicalnewstoday.com