Thyroid disorders, state of fatigue, memory lapses… Doctor Nancy Foldvary-Schaefer, specialist in sleep medicine, revealed the harmful repercussions of lack of sleep on the body.
- A good sleep pattern has many beneficial effects on physical and mental health: it boosts morale, stimulates creativity and promotes the proper functioning of the body.
- The French sleep an hour and a half less on average than 50 years ago, according to Inserm.
Different factors can disrupt the sleep rhythm: insomnia, outside noise, sleep apnea, nocturnal awakenings or even restless leg syndrome. One in three French people is affected by a sleep disorder, according to the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm).
“We need sleep to replenish nutrients, recharge and refresh our minds (…) Hidden health risks accumulate during periods of insomnia and they cannot be concealed or reversed with sleep. caffeine”underlined Doctor Nancy Foldvary-Schaefer, specialist in sleep medicine, in an interview granted to Healthessentials. The health professional notably revealed the ten consequences of lack of sleep on health.
Mood swings, irritability… The harmful effects of lack of sleep
According to Doctor Nancy Foldvary-Schaefer, mood is the first element to deteriorate during a lack of sleep. We feel more irritated, more emotional and our state of mind can vary throughout the day.
Faced with lack of sleep, we also feel very tired and exhausted. Having choppy or short nights causes low energy and excessive sleepiness which can impact the ability to stay active and perform daily tasks at work and in personal life.
It has been said: a lack of sleep generally causes drowsiness. This state of fatigue is often accompanied by dizziness which can disturb the balance and therefore expose to the risk of accidents, falls or injuries.
Cognitive abilities are also impacted by lack of sleep. We may tend to forget more easily. For example, we no longer remember where we put our keys or our wallet. Neurological disturbances such as blurred vision, memory lapses or slowed reaction time can also be identified. “Lifelong sleep deprivation also increases the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. Sleep helps clear neurotoxins from the brain that can lead to Alzheimer’s disease.”
Lack of sleep increases the risk of cardiovascular disease
The immune system is weakened when you sleep less than seven hours a night. Our organism has more difficulties to fight against external attacks. According to Inserm, the risk of developing a cold is four times higher in the event of lack of sleep. The remission is also longer.
Lack of sleep increases the risk of cardiovascular pathologies, in particular high blood pressure. Blood sugar may also be affected. Chronic bad nights can cause glucose intolerance or higher than normal blood sugar levels. Inserm indicates in particular that nights of less than six hours increase the risk of type 2 diabetes by 28%.
Bad nights: an increase in stress levels
Fatigue and drowsiness can lead to snacking on sweets and snacks. In question ? Lack of sleep can alter the levels of certain hormones (ghrelin, leptin and cortisol) which can accentuate feelings of hunger. Weight gain can therefore be linked to a lack of sleep.
The body needs rest to produce hormones properly. In the absence of a good night’s sleep, abnormalities in thyroid function and growth hormone secretion may occur. They can be characterized by hyperthyroidism, an excessive production of thyroid hormones, or hypothyroidism, an inability of the thyroid gland to produce enough thyroid hormones.
A high state of stress is often linked to lack of sleep which can lead to high levels of cortisol, in other words the stress hormone.