According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society, it is essential for every adult to get at least seven hours of sleep every night to maintain overall health. A report recently published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that about 35 percent of adults, globally, are not able to reach the minimum sleep required. We understand that it is not easy with peoples’ life becoming more and more busy today. But you must make an effort to sleep well if you want to remain healthy. Here we tell you about the different parts of the body that are affected by lack of sleep.
Your brain cannot process information
When we sleep our brain processes the information that it has gathered all day long. When you miss your required amount of sleep, the brain stops retaining the information. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), sleep deficiency can be linked to suicide, depression and risky behaviour.
Your eyes look weak
According to a study published in Sleep Journal, sleep deficiency could lead to hanging eyelids, swollen eyes, red eyes and dark circles under the eyes. Along with appearance, lack of sleep can also lead to unrest in eye muscles, causing eye spasms and twitches.
You experience changes in your sense of smell
According to a study published in 2019 in eLife, sleep deprivation causes changes in how the brain interprets food smells. Along with this, lack of sleep affects a person’s immune system and makes it too weak to fight off infections. This can cause a cold and runny nose, which affects sense of smell.
You may be at risk of heart failure
According to the CDC, sleep helps in moderating the blood pressure of an individual. Lack of sleep keeps the blood pressure elevated for a longer period. Increased blood pressure is linked with chronic hypertension, heart disease and stroke.
You may experience skin inflammation
When we sleep, the body repairs damaged cells. According to the National Sleep Foundation, lack of sleep can cause inflammation in skin cells leading to skin problems like acne, eczema and psoriasis.
You may also want to read about Insomnia: Causes and treatment
