Sleep is essential to life, in fact on average we sleep one third of our lives. Unfortunately in our modern age we never really get enough sleep. We just don’t have time.
Scientists are beginning to understand that sleep serves a whole range of functions. An experiment in the 1980s showed that rats started to die after just five days of sleep deprivation. Sleep is just as essential as food is for life. We actually need 7 to 8 hours of sleep each day to function properly.
From a survival point of view sleep does not make sense, since we are so vulnerable while sleeping. Nevertheless there are significant effects to our lives if we don’t sleep. What are the effects of lack of sleep ?
- increased risk of type 2 diabetes
People who sleep for five hours or less nightly are more likely to have diabetes. But sleeping for 9 hours or more is also linked to diabetes as this sleep deprivation study indicates. 7 to 8 hours is the magic number to aim for. - decreased memory, retention and mental functioning
Research has shown that these effects are cumulative. Your memory and thinking speed will get progressively worse each night you have interrupted or insufficient sleep. - mood swings, bad temper, emotional problems
Scientists have shown that the region of the brain that controls rational thought (the frontal lobes) have reduced effect in controlling the emotional amygdala region of the brain (interestingly similar brain patterns are observed in people with psychiatric disorders). - obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke
Lack of sleep actually makes you more hungry. Not good if you are intent on loosing weight.
We did find some benefits for lack of sleep. Research has shown that sleep deprivation may help with the treatment of depression. It is thought that the lack of REM sleep somehow effects the mood of people with depression. However it is short lived as patients relapse soon after the deprivation treatment.
Well we think it’s time to get some sleep. Don’t worry if you can’t get to sleep because tomorrow we will look at how you can get 7-8 hours of sleep even with a hectic western lifestyle.
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About Danny Sheehan
Danny lives in Hong Kong but is originally from Australia. He is Married to Maggie and together they have two children with whom they enjoy sharing and enjoying an exciting life with daily. Danny's passions are freedom, adventure and discovery, mainly in nature and science but also spiritually. He is a great believer in living in the NOW.
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Healthy Living