Do you know what happens to your body when you lose sleep for a day? Most people don’t have a clue. The fact is that losing just one day of sleep can have some pretty severe consequences on your health. If you think you need to stay awake to work or take care of your baby 24 hours and only taking some supplements and vitamins can prevent bad things from happening, you may want to think twice. As a matter of fact, numerous studies confirmed these serious side effects that come with sleep loss. We’ve compiled some studies and come up with this post. Here you’ll find out what happens to your body when you lose sleep. Let’s get started.
You’re Prone to Accident
Losing just one night of sleep can profoundly affect your ability to think clearly and make good decisions. Research by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine revealed that those who were sleep-deprived were even more prone to make poor decisions than those who were well-rested. The study also found that sleep deprivation led to an increase in risky behavior. So, if you’re sleep-deprived, you’re more likely to make poor decisions and engage in risky behavior. This can lead to accidents. In fact, drowsy driving is a leading cause of car accidents.
Your Brain Is Getting Foggier
If you think you can continue working after several shots of a caffeine boost, you may want to think again. A sleep-deprived brain is not a well-oiled machine. When you’re sleep deprived, your brain can’t function properly. This leads to impaired judgment and decision-making and problems with memory and learning. One study found that people who were sleep deprived had difficulty remembering words and solving simple math problems. Another study found that sleep deprivation led to an impaired judgment in moral decisions.
Your Heart Is Suffering
Not only does your brain suffer, but your heart does too. Sleep deprivation can lead to an increased risk of heart disease. One study found that people who slept less than six hours a night were more likely to develop coronary artery disease than those who slept enough a night. The study also found that people who were sleep deprived had higher levels of inflammation, which is a risk factor for heart disease.
Your Cancer Risk Increases
Cancer cells grow more rapidly when you’re sleep-deprived. One study found that women who slept less than six hours a night were more likely to develop breast cancer than those who slept seven to eight hours a night. The study also found that men who were sleep deprived had an increased risk of prostate cancer. Not only that, but sleep deprivation can also lead to a higher risk of colorectal cancer. So do you still want to skip your good night’s sleep this night?
Sleep is essential for our health in so many ways, and losing even one night of sleep can have serious consequences. If you’re having trouble sleeping, there are some things you can do to improve your sleep habits. You can try cutting out caffeine, exercising daily, and avoiding screen time before bed. You should also make sure that your bedroom is dark and quiet and that you have a comfortable mattress.