Too little sleep: 8 serious health consequences

Little is known about the detrimental effects that the habit of sleeping too little can have.

Everyone knows that sleep deprivation has immediate detrimental effects, such as lack of concentration, reduced proactivityThe effects of too little sleep, such as lack of concentration, reduced proactivity, dullness and drowsiness, are not well known. However, little is known about the long-term detrimental effects that can result from the habit of sleeping too little.

Harmful effects of not getting enough sleep

Human beings need to rest between 7 and 9 hours a dayHowever, many adults do not get that amount of sleep because of the hustle and bustle of work life. Those who sleep only 5 or 6 hours (or even less) may be exposing themselves to certain risks. According to a study by the University of Texas, seven nights of sleep deprivation can cause significant genetic alterations that can lead to heart disease and obesity, among other pathologies.

In order to summarize and warn of the need to sleep the hours that our body demands, we offer you a list of 8 pernicious effects of the habit of sleeping too little sleep.

1. Increases the risk of cerebrovascular collapse.

Research by the Mayo Clinic, in the United States, revealed that sleep deficit increases the probability of suffering a stroke.. Adults who usually rest less than 6 hours have up to a 400% risk of presenting the symptoms of stroke.

2. Obesity

Resting few hours increases appetite and the amount of cravings for high-fat and high-calorie food. This is explained by the fact that when we are unable to fall asleep, we suffer from some hormonal readjustments that lead us to be hungrier..

Sleeping 6 hours or less facilitates the production of the appetite-related hormone ghrelin, while inhibiting leptin, which is in charge of regulating food intake, as pointed out by research published in the Journal of Academy Nutrition and Dietetics.

3. Increases the risk of diabetes

The publication Journal Sleep revealed that adolescents who do not sleep well offer more insulin resistance, a fact that warns of the close relationship between poor sleep and the chances of developing diabetes in the medium or long term.

4. Memory loss

Everyone has noticed that when tired, it is easier to forget things.. However, the effect of permanent lack of sleep can cause lasting problems in cognition.

During sleep, memory storage processes take place, which allows us to 'reorder' the cognitive material we have learned. If we do not rest enough hours, we do not benefit from this restructuring and cause brain deterioration, as pointed out by a study conducted at the University of California.

5. Bone deterioration

A research conducted by the Medical College of Wisconsin warned that lack of sleep can lead to osteoporosis.

The study was conducted on mice. The scientists warned that the mineral and structural density of the bone mass and the spinal cord was diminished in rodents in circumstances of sleep deprivation..

6. Increases the risk of developing cancer

The American Cancer Society found that getting too few hours of sleep increases the risk of some types of cancer, such as colorectalsuch as colorectal or breast cancer.

7. Increases the risk of myocardial infarction

Sleep deprivation can cause your body to manufacture more of the chemicals and hormones that can lead to the development of heart disorders, according to research published in the European Heart Journal. The study found that those who get little sleep, such as less than 6 hours, have a 49% increased risk of heart disease, according to a study published in the European Heart Journal. 49% risk of suffering a cardiac pathology..

8. Too little sleep can kill

A research published in the Journal Sleep revealed that those who sleep less than 7 hours have shorter life expectancy shorter life expectancy.. Those who sleep few hours are four times more likely to die in the next 15 years due to different pathologies.