40 Troubling Ways Sleep Deprivation Harms People

Shannon June 6, 2019

Pain and sleep are closely linked to one another. Credit: Shutterstock

8. Coping with Pain

People who suffer with chronic pain often wake up in the middle of the night, because their symptoms are too much to handle. However, many studies have shown that a lack of sleep contributes to a lowered pain tolerance. So, it is actually a vicious cycle. There may be other causes of pain during sleep, like a bad mattress.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

Snoring can wake you and your partner up. Credit: Shutterstock

7. Snoring

Oh, snoring…You’re awful. Snoring is caused by vibrations in the throat, and it is more common in people who are overweight or have breathing issues. If you have a partner who snores, you already know that it is almost impossible to fall asleep. And if you the one who is snoring, you may even wake yourself up in the middle of the night. According to SleepEducation.org, around 40% of men and 24% of women snore. There are several methods to combating snoring- from quitting alcohol, eating right, losing weight, and changing sleeping positions.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

People with sleep apnea lose oxygen in the middle of the night. Credit: Shutterstock

6. Sleep Apnea

Similar to snoring, sleep apnea is when someone suddenly stops breathing in the middle of the night. Cutting off oxygen to the body is extremely harmful, and it may even lead to death. Sleep Apnea is more common in people who are overweight or morbidly obese. According to SleepEducation.org, sleep apnea is linked to diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

The less you sleep, the sooner you will die. Credit: Shutterstock

5. Increase Likelihood of Death

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but if you lose sleep, you’re cutting down your life expectancy, similar to smoking cigarettes. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation can take years off of your life. It really should not be that surprising, considering how many other health issues it has a part in.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

Obviously, if you don’t sleep enough, you will be tired during the day. Credit: Shutterstock

4. Sleepiness During the Day

It should come as no surprise that if you don’t get enough sleep throughout the day, it will result in feeling sleepy throughout the work day. You might find yourself nodding off at your desk, or desperately wanting to take a nap in the early afternoon.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

When you lose sleep, it is so much harder to keep up a daily routine. Credit: Shutterstock

3. Daily Routines

When you think of healthy habits, what comes to mind? Maybe it involves a morning run, a cup of coffee, and a full breakfast before heading to work early. Having a daily routine is linked to increased levels of happiness and productivity. However, if you’re dragging yourself out of bed in the morning, you probably can’t imagine running a mile before work.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

You may gain weight if you are losing sleep. Credit: Shutterstock

2. Weight Gain

We already mentioned a few times on this list that losing sleep means that you will have less impulse control. This can lead you to eating unhealthy foods, and this will ultimately lead to you gaining weight. This can also hurt your metabolism, so your food will not digest properly. Overall, it is best to get a good night’s sleep when you are on a diet. Even better- get a good workout so that you feel tired enough to have a good night’s sleep.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

Losing sleep has been linked to having a stroke. Credit: Shutterstock

1. Stroke

According to the National Stroke Association, more than half of stroke victims have serious sleep problems. This will only make matters worse, since this can lead to the elderly patients falling in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, or have less time asleep where the body is healing. Since losing sleep is also linked to heart issues, it would make sense that sleep problems could have contributed to the stroke happening in first place, too.

<< Previous