How can lack of sleep affect my health?
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Dr. Michael Roizen answered:Nothing feels more rejuvenating than a good night's sleep. Getting enough good sleep (seven to eight hours, night after night) is a key to keeping your blood pressure low (aim for 115/75).
If you're barely getting 6 hours a night -- all lots of people manage -- just sleeping one more hour makes a big difference, because not getting that much increases your high blood pressure risk by a huge 37%. Why? When you don't get enough sleep, your nervous system goes into overdrive, boosting your stress hormones and throwing your whole body into high gear. Your pupils dilate, your heart rate speeds up, your digestion slows, and -- worse -- not only does your blood pressure spike but, over time, those stress hormones turn temporary spikes into permanent high blood pressure.
Think you can make up for missed ZZZs by sleeping in on the weekends? Sleep debt isn't easy to pay off. People who get just 6 hours on week nights, then crash for 10 hours on both Saturdays and Sundays, still show strong signs of sleep deprivation. You don't just feel groggy. Chronic lack of sleep is linked to everything from inflammation and depression to obesity. Lack of shut-eye throws your appetite hormones into a gimme-more mode, and affects blood sugar levels in ways that up the odds of big weight gains. Go to bed early tonight.
Nothing feels more rejuvenating than a good night's sleep. Getting enough good sleep (seven to eight hours, night after night) is a key to keeping your blood pressure low (aim for 115/75).If you're barely getting 6 hours a night -- all lots of... More -
Dr. Dawn Marcus answered:A survey of students ages 17 to 30 years old showed that people sleeping only 6 to 7 hours nightly were 50 percent more likely to report having poor health compared with people getting a full night's sleep. Those sleeping less than 6 hours nightly were twice as likely to have poor health. A large survey of over 200 million adults in the United States found that almost one in five had trouble sleeping. Those individuals with sleep problems were more likely to have health problems with obesity, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, anxiety, and depression. So make sleep a regularly scheduled priority to improve your energy level, your mood, your function, and your health.
A survey of students ages 17 to 30 years old showed that people sleeping only 6 to 7 hours nightly were 50 percent more likely to report having poor health compared with people getting a full night's sleep. Those sleeping less than 6 hours... More -
Brooke Randolph answered:We all need sleep. It is essential for both your physical and mental health. If you do not get enough sleep you will crave more calories, think more slowly, have trouble with memory, and even experience psychotic symptoms in cases of long-term sleep deprivation.We all need sleep. It is essential for both your physical and mental health. If you do not get enough sleep you will crave more calories, think more slowly, have trouble with memory, and even experience psychotic symptoms in cases of... More -
RealAge answered:Are you a chronic sleep skimper? Short sleep can throw off your two appetite-regulating hormones (ghrelin and leptin) in ways that make you eat more, gain more and get more blood-sugar problems, boosting heart attacks and strokes. Missing sleep also increases body-wide inflammation, which gunks up your arteries and fuels cancer. Could it get worse? Yep. Ignoring your body's clock messes with the sleepy-time hormone melatonin, which doubles as a cancer deterrent.
Are you a chronic sleep skimper? Short sleep can throw off your two appetite-regulating hormones (ghrelin and leptin) in ways that make you eat more, gain more and get more blood-sugar problems, boosting heart attacks and strokes. Missing... More
