Stress and unhealthy lifestyles are often the cause of a person's lack of sleep. In fact, the human need for sleep is equivalent to other basic needs, such as eating and breathing. If left unchecked, lack of sleep can have a negative impact on health.
Sleep is very important for the body. During sleep, the body will repair itself, both physically and mentally, so that we feel refreshed and energized when we wake up and are ready to carry out activities.
In addition, sleep also helps the process of growth and development, especially in children and adolescents, because it is during sleep that growth hormone is produced.
What can happen if you don't get enough sleep
Everyone's sleep needs are not the same. However, the body generally requires quality sleep for 7-9 hours every day. Meanwhile, children and adolescents need more sleep, which is about 8-10 hours every day.
Insufficient sleep needs can cause you to look tired, feel weak, yawn throughout the day, and have difficulty concentrating. The following are some conditions that can also occur if you are often sleep deprived:
1. Insomnia and cardiovascular disease
Lack of sleep can lead to various serious diseases. One of them is insomnia. Insomnia is a condition that causes a person to have difficulty falling asleep or not being able to sleep well.
If left untreated, insomnia can increase the risk of heart disease, either in the form of heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias), heart failure, or heart attacks.
This can happen because sleep plays an important role in maintaining the body's ability to repair damage to blood vessels and the heart. This is why people who are sleep deprived are more prone to heart disease.
In addition, people with insomnia are also at a higher risk of suffering from diabetes, obesity, stroke, cancer, to mental health problems such as mood disorders and anxiety.
2. Easy to get sick and hard to heal
The immune system produces proteins called cytokines. This protein is needed by the body to fight infection, inflammation, and stress.
Cytokines will be released by the body when we sleep. Well, if you don't get enough sleep, the production of this protein will decrease so that the ability of immune cells to fight infection will decrease and hinder the healing process.
3. Decreased sex performance
A study revealed that men and women who lack sleep will experience a decreased desire to have sex and have lower levels of sexual satisfaction.
This is generally influenced by fatigue, sleepiness, and stress that occur due to lack of sleep. For men who suffer sleep apneaThis condition can affect testosterone levels in the body, which can cause erectile dysfunction problems.
4. Memory decline
During sleep, the brain actually works to store things that have been learned and experienced throughout the day into the short-term memory system. During sleep, the neural connections that support a person's memory are strengthened.
If sleep time is disturbed, the brain's ability to process and store memories will be disturbed. A study also shows that lack of sleep can lead to a decrease in the brain's ability to think and process information.
The drowsiness that arises due to lack of sleep can also be one of the causes of people forgetting easily and losing the ability to concentrate and make decisions.
5. The appearance of signs of premature aging
When you don't get enough sleep, your skin will look pale and your eyes will look puffy. If it lasts long term, lack of sleep can trigger the appearance of various signs of premature aging, such as wrinkles, fine lines, or wrinkles around the eyes.
Not only that, a study also revealed that lack of sleep can increase the risk of acne. This condition occurs due to increased production of the hormone cortisol.
In addition to causing various health problems above, lack of sleep is also the cause of the high number of traffic accidents and work accidents. Therefore, the impact of lack of sleep on health and safety cannot be underestimated. Lack of sleep also often causes headaches, either on the left, right, or all over the head.
If you experience sleep deprivation or experience symptoms of insomnia, you should consult a doctor for further examination and appropriate treatment.