Lack Of Sleep Leads To Increased Appetite

The longer you stay up working, the hungrier you get. It is simple; your body needs an additional source of fuels for every hour you stay up working late trying to push through.

This is mainly due to the fact that they have cravings for sweets and snacks. Chronic sleep deprivation has been proven to cause your body to produce more ghrelin (appetite stimulating hormone) and less leptin (appetite-inhibiting hormone); which would explain why sleep-deprived people are almost always hungry. But is this related to sleep-eating? We don’t know for sure.

Increased sensibility to colds

Yes, sleeping is necessary for your immune system too! A research study demonstrated that people who sleep less than 7 hours a night are at higher risks of developing trivial infections than those who sleep more than 8 hours. Another research investigation demonstrated that in people who only got 4 hours of sleep for several nights in a row, they yielded a weaker immune response to the flu vaccine compared to those who got 7.5 to 8.5 hours.

Crankiness and inappropriate mood changes     

Sleep-deprived people tend to be extremely irritable and emotional, to the point where even the weirdest things make them cry.

A possible explanation for this could be the fact that a sleep-deprived brain functions on lower energy levels, and thus stores negative memories easier and faster than positive ones. Additionally, a study demonstrated that the amygdala (which is the part of the brain responsible for processing fears and anxiety) communicates less efficiently with the part of the brain responsible for emotions control in sleep deprived individuals.

Reduced motor skills

You tend to be dizzy, to trip or to spill over your cup of milk when you missed a couple of nights of sleep? That is typically expected in a sleep deprived individual. Again, this has to do with brain alertness. When you lack sleep, you are unable to focus on trivial tasks, important tasks and even fine motor movements. You almost always miss the target. And this could also be caused by your vision problems too, yes, the ones that develop because your eyes can barely open due to your lack of sleep.

Relationship problems

You might not think that way at first, but your lack of sleep could affect your partner and your family too. With your sleep deprivation, you become cranky, irritable and can easily snap at your partner (and even your children). Additionally, you might become too tired for family activities, and watch out if important ones (such as your child’s first recital, your first anniversary together or your granny’s birthday party) are coming up!

See Also: Don't Ruin Your Sleep - Stop Staring At A Screen Before Bedtime

Decreased judgment

With a brain half awake, it becomes easier for you to take decisions that you are highly likely to regret. Making an important decision when sleep-deprived is almost the same as making the same decision when on sedating drugs or when intoxicated with alcohol.

Coffee and energy drinks are a quick fix for sleep deprivation, we all have turned to them at a certain point in our lives. However, don’t make it a habit. Once your body has sent you signals that you are sleep deprived, go to bed and do what is right, for every debt needs to be repaid.