Sleep Deprivation Effects and What You Can Do

In our modern lives, we are now sleeping less and less than we used to – but are the sleep deprivation effects really worth it? The truth is that in the past the average night of sleep was 9 hours long, and today is just 7 hours. Whilst it might seem convenient as a way to help us get more sleep, there really is a lot more to it than that.The Physical Effects

We all know just what it feels like to be deprived of sleep, but the physical effects run a lot deeper than many of us realise. We will generally have a lack of energy, but we could also experience any number of the following effects:

• An inability for our body to process glucose properly, leading to high blood sugar and weight gain.
• A less consistent heart beat.
• An increase of the signs of aging.
• A lower core body temperature.

Mental and Emotional Effects

As well as the physical effects, sleep deprivation will cause a number of mental and emotional effects. This is because our brain works hard all day, and without enough sleep it just won’t be functioning properly! Some of the symptoms of sleep deprivation include:

• Less control over our speech, leading to signs such as stuttering, slurring and repeating ourselves.
• It will be harder to access our long-term memory.
• Difficulty in learning any new skills.
• A lack of creativity.
• Feeling more pessimistic.
• Hallucinations.
• A lack of ability to make proper judgements.
• More stress and anxiety.
• Feeling sad or even depressed.
• Getting angry a lot easier.

Now you know the sleep deprivation effects, it’s important for you to remember that you should try to get in around 8 or more hours of sleep a night. It’s all very well saying that sleeping less will give you more time, but in the long run it’s ultimately going to give you less.

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