Why Lack Of Sleep Can Affect Your Mental & Physical Health

With our increasingly busy lifestyles, it is no wonder that sleep is often at the bottom of the list of our priorities.

However, sleep is incredibly important when it comes to mental and physical wellbeing.

Lack of sleep can have a serious impact on your health – read on below to find out why.

Lack of concentration

Lack of sleep results in you feeling tired and groggy, and so more often than not results in a serious lack of concentration.

You may find it hard to focus on the simplest of things because your mind is in desperate need of rest and relaxation.

Increased risk of diabetes

Not getting enough sleep may increase the risk of diabetes because it changes the way the body processes glucose.

Those who are sleep-deprived have high blood sugar levels and so are at an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Difficulty conceiving

It is particularly important that those who are looking to conceive get enough sleep, as lack of sleep can cause fertility problems.

Weakened immunity

Not sleeping enough can also weaken the body’s immune system, which fights against viruses which causes things like flu and the common cold.

Therefore, if you’re not getting enough sleep you may find you are much more prone to getting ill.

Weight gain

Lack of sleep can actually make you gain weight.

This is because those who don’t get enough sleep have reduced levels of lepin (the chemical which helps make you feel full after eating) and increased levels of ghrelin (which stimulates hunger).

Increased risk of heart disease

Not getting enough sleep can increase the risk of heart disease, as it is linked to an increased heart rate, higher levels of of chemicals associated with inflammation, which can put strain on the heart.

Low sex drive

If you are not getting enough sleep, your libido will also be lower and so you will have less interest in sex, research has shown.

For men, this decreased sex drive may be due to a drop in testosterone levels.

Changes in mood

Lack of sleep can have a big impact on your mood, often leaving you feeling emotional or irritable.

Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to more serious issues such as depression and anxiety, so it’s crucial you get enough sleep if you want to feel happy and healthy.