{"id":2227,"date":"2022-04-05T00:06:18","date_gmt":"2022-04-05T00:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bedguard.com.au\/?p=2227"},"modified":"2022-04-05T00:06:18","modified_gmt":"2022-04-05T00:06:18","slug":"why-skimping-on-sleep-is-risking-your-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bedguard.com.au\/backup\/why-skimping-on-sleep-is-risking-your-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Why skimping on sleep is risking your health"},"content":{"rendered":"

Think that skimping on sleep is no big deal? Time to think again.<\/p>\n

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\"skimping<\/p>\n

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We\u2019ve all done it \u2013 skimped on sleep. Whether it\u2019s because we were burning the candle at both ends, pulling an all-nighter<\/a>, or just partying too long into the night, nearly all of us have experienced the immediate effects of not getting enough sleep.<\/p>\n

But beyond the foggy brain, poor mood and excessive daytime sleepiness<\/a>, what else happens to you?<\/p>\n

Well, to put it bluntly, not getting enough sleep increases the risk of early death. Here\u2019s why.<\/p>\n

Impaired brain function<\/h2>\n

Not getting enough sleep reduces your attention span and ability to concentrate. It also impairs your critical thinking, interferes with your memory and slows reaction times. These factors, combined with excessive sleepiness significantly increase your risk of having a serious accident, particularly if you\u2019re operating machinery or driving a vehicle.<\/p>\n

Increased risk of mental health issues<\/h2>\n

Sleep deprivation can trigger mania in people with a bipolar mood disorder. It can also increase impulsive behaviours, anxiety<\/a> and depression, hallucinations, paranoia and suicidal tendencies in some people.<\/p>\n

Lower immune system<\/h2>\n

Sleep plays an important role in boosting your immune system<\/a>. Lack of sleep compromises your immunity and therefore increases the risk of you becoming sick<\/a> because you\u2019re not able to fight viruses and bacteria. When you do become ill, it will take you longer to recover.<\/p>\n

Increased risk of chronic disease<\/h2>\n

Sleep affects processes that keep your heart and blood vessels healthy, including those that affect blood sugar, blood pressure and inflammation. Lack of sleep has been shown to contribute to chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart attack and stroke.<\/p>\n

Contributes to weight gain<\/h2>\n

Believe it or not, sleep deprivation can contribute to weight gain. That\u2019s because sleep affects two hormones related to hunger and fullness \u2014 leptin and ghrelin. Leptin sends signals to your brain when you\u2019ve had enough to eat. However, if you don\u2019t get enough sleep, your brain reduces the amount of leptin and raises ghrelin \u2013 which stimulates your appetite, making you more likely to overeat. To make matters worse, lack of sleep can lead you to feel too tired to exercise<\/a>, which makes it harder to maintain a healthy weight.<\/p>\n

Stop skimping on sleep for better health<\/h2>\n

As you can see, skimping on sleep is more serious than most people think. However, you can take steps to protect your health by prioritising sleep. Health experts recommend anywhere between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night for good health.<\/p>\n

To ensure you sleep well each night, you should:<\/p>\n