3 Dangerous Risks of Sleep Deprivation
Unfortunately, most of us are deprived of rest regularly. It is not surprising as we have become a 24/7 society, and sleep deprivation is a very common consequence of the modern lifestyle. The need for sleep is often ignored although it is vital to our lives. A quite common mistake that many people all over the world make is that they tend to sacrifice sleep so that they have more free time to do other things, no matter if they are important or not. People often tend to stay awake until late at night to work on important projects in order to meet unreasonable deadlines, which is significant. However, many people also don’t go to sleep until late hours so that they can spend more time watching the television or playing video games. Something like this is a bad idea, especially for those who need to get up early in the morning. No matter the reason for rest deprivation, it is a much better option to learn how to organize your time better than to sacrifice sleep. The lack of sleep can affect our health and well-being in numerous ways. Some of the health risks of the lack of rest include:
Increased Blood Pressure
The more sleep we get during the night, the less likely it is that we will develop high blood pressure. Sleep deprivation has a negative impact on our blood pressure levels as it is associated with high levels of chemicals that cause inflammation, which puts more strain on our heart and makes it work harder. As a result, our blood pressure and heart rate are increased. There is probably no need to mention that high blood pressure can be very dangerous as, if it is chronic, it contributes to the development of various health issues, some of which can have quite severe consequences. As you can see, if you want to stay healthy, you need to make sleep your top priority.
Affected Fertility
The number of couples having troubles conceiving is increasing, and one of the reasons to blame is the lack of rest. In today’s modern world this problem is more common than in the past. The lack of sleep has an adverse impact on the secretion of reproductive hormones. If we are deprived of sleep on a regular basis, it can contribute to fertility issues.
Higher Risk of Obesity
The lack of sleep can contribute to weight gain. When we lack rest, we are more tempted by unhealthy foods. We also tend to overeat in order to make up for the lack of energy, which puts us at risk of gaining weight. When you combine it with the lack of physical activity, you can expect to gain weight over time. When we don’t get enough shut-eye at night, we usually feel very tired the next day, and exercising is simply not on our list of priorities since we lack energy. In the long-term, all of these things can cause obesity.
How to Increase Your Chances of Getting Enough Sleep?
If you are struggling to meet your sleep goals, you should stop using electronic devices at least one or two hours before going to bed as the blue light that they emit can disrupt your sleep cycles. You should also make sure that your bedroom is comfortable, quiet, and dark. It is not easy to drift off to dreamland if you have to put up with noise. It can also be quite difficult to fall asleep if you are uncomfortable, which is often the case when people sleep on old mattresses. In these situations, you should get a new and comfortable mattress made from breathable materials. Not only you will sleep comfortably throughout the night, but you also won’t have to put up with waking up in sweat. Luckily, many high-quality mattresses are available at affordable prices, and you can get additional discount thanks to mattress coupons. If you still have troubles falling asleep, you should avoid caffeinated beverages and heavy meals at least a couple of hours before going to bed.