Stress, sadness, busyness, a disturbed rhythm or physical problems; they are all possible causes of poor sleep. Once is not a bad thing, but is it the same story night after night? Then a sleep deprivation can arise with serious consequences.
Sleep deprivation
When you sleep badly for a long time, at a certain point you no longer notice how tired you actually are. So says Joseph Ojile, medical director of the Clayton Sleep Institute. Prevention is better than cure and that is why it is important to listen carefully to your body. Do you recognize one or more of the six symptoms below? Then your body indicates that it is time to take a rest and to go to bed on time.
1. Grumpy
Are you normally cheerful and friendly to everyone, but are you more often grumpy now? Then you may have had too little sleep. Small things that you normally don’t worry about can suddenly become very annoying when you are sleep deprived.
2. Dejected or gloomy
A depressed or gloomy feeling can also indicate a lack of sleep. When you notice that you respond more often in conversations with ‘it is what it is’ or ‘that’s just the way it is’, it should ring a bell. When you’re tired, you don’t have the energy to engage in a conversation.
3. Hungry feeling
Do you constantly feel hungry and can’t get satiated? Then you may be sleep deprived. Lack of sleep leads to a lower level of leptin (the hormone that suppresses your appetite) and a higher level of ghrelin (the hormone that stimulates your appetite). So when you’re looking for something tasty for the umpteenth time in the house, it’s better to go to bed.
4. Impure skin
Blemished skin is one of the most common symptoms of sleep deprivation. Impurities arise because your skin becomes weaker and less hydrated because you don’t sleep much.
5. Often sick
Too little sleep weakens your immune system. Because your body has trouble fighting off bacteria, you get sick more often or catch a cold more easily. People who sleep less than five hours a night have a higher risk of catching a cold than people who sleep six hours (or more). This is shown by a study by The Journal of Neuroscience.
6. Not in the mood for sex
When you’re really tired, sleeping with your loved one is the last thing on your mind. In men, sleep deprivation lowers testosterone levels, reducing interest in intimacy. So a little extra sleep can’t hurt in this case.
Chronic sleep deprivation
Do these symptoms sound familiar to you? Then it is important to find out where your sleep deprivation comes from. If this continues for a long time, you can suffer from chronic sleep deprivation. Your body will no longer receive normal signals. It also becomes increasingly difficult to recover from it. It is also a risk factor for the following problems:
– Memory and concentration problems
– Lack of energy
– Bad mood, mood swings
– Impairment of the ability to speak
– Lower reaction speed
– Headache
– Reduced immune or defense system
– High bloodpressure
– Depression
– Skin aging
– Increased risk of heart problems
– Increased risk of developing diabetes
Source: Tips and Facts | Image: iStock
