When You Don’T Get Enough Sleep

According to the National Sleep Foundation, about 60 percent of Americans between the ages of 13 and 64 report having problems with sleep every night or almost every night. Studies find that the average person gets less than seven hours of sleep per night. In general, adults need at least seven to nine hours of sleep each night. A lack of sleep or getting poor quality sleep can lead to a wide range of short-term and long-term health problems.

Health Problems from a Lack of Sleep:

* Anxiety, depression, and alcohol abuse

* Obesity

* Heart disease

* High blood pressure

* Diabetes

* Stroke

* Gum disease

Sleep is also important to maintain proper mental function and stabilize mood. Poor sleep can also hurt immunity (see below), stress management, cell repair, and metabolism. Any time the body does not get enough sleep, it is not going to function optimally. It only takes one night of poor sleep to affect decision-making, learning, and reaction time.

Immunity

Immunity is about more than avoiding sniffles and the flu (though both of these can be serious for your health and disrupt your life!). The risk for cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes increases with sleep deprivation.

During sleep, molecules in the blood that kill cancer cells rise sharply. Also, inflammation increases in the body after only a two-hour sleep deficit. Inflammation is linked to many chronic diseases. These include cardiovascular problems, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and skin problems.