We all know how important sleep can be, it’s one of the most crucial life processes. The quality of overall life decreases as we take down hours from sleep time.
But can sleep deprivation cause something more than that?
We mean, checking off time from the ultimate relaxation of our body could be life-threatening.
Unfortunately, yes!
We have some cases, studies and research to prove that.
This would be enlightening but it would surely help take down the Netflix-nights.
As we all know, Heart attacks and strokes are the leading causes of deaths around the globe.
But one thing that we are unaware of is that the likelihood of this happening increases by 50 per cent when you combine sleep deprivation.
“People are more than twice as likely to die from these cardiovascular events when they sleep less than six hours a night.”
And if you have already had a heart attack or stroke, you are more than 3 times as likely to die from cancer when you sleep less than six hours a day.
Being awake 24 hours is equivalent to having a blood alcohol content of .10%
Read: How lack of sleep affects the blood sugar levels
That means if you are protecting yourselves by avoiding the intake of any harmful substances, the efforts would be worthless if you are sleepless.
This is why you must feel a little hungover when you don’t sleep for 24 hours.
The hangover is not the only tangible effect on your mental health.
You will not be able to concentrate on the activities you are performing so that will increase the risk of hurting yourself while the performance.
You won’t be able to drive safely, even if you get the car out of the garage there is a good chance that you will be involved in an accident.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that drowsy driving was responsible for 72,000 crashes, 44,000 injuries, and 800 deaths in 2013.
So that is a well-enough number to keep you away from driving without proper sleep.
And if you think this is where the toll of lack of sleep on the brain stops you are incorrect.
In another study, people with inadequate sleep had a higher load of beta-amyloid in their brains.
Beta-amyloid is a waste product that should be cleared during sleep.
If not, they can cause High concentrations which is a well-known risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease.
After impacting the brain, sleep deprivation won’t leave any other part.
In a 1984 study, which collected urine samples of 6 young sleep-deprived males, the researchers found an astonishing increase in urinary urea and decrease in glucose and urinary electrolytes.
The participants were not denied any access to other things that might have affected the metabolism like food or water.
The conclusion stated sleep to be an important factor in the well being of the metabolism.
Now as we have seen what lack of sleep can do to your health, we know that it’s much more important to care of it than we earlier did.
We cannot just do away with sleep without giving it the proper time it deserves.
The effects of sleep deprivation are not just spooky but can also be life-endangering.
So, have adequate sleep, keeping in mind the consequences of not having one.
Confused about how to begin the optimization of your sleep schedule? Start from here!
What is the best time to sleep at night