Sleep is as important to human body as the air we breathe
& the food we eat. The wear & tear of body takes place when we sleep.
Thus sleep keeps us physically & mentally fit.
Sleep deprivation is a term used to describe a state
caused by inadequate quantity of sleep or poor quality of sleep. This can be
either short-term or chronic. In short term, a
lack of adequate sleep can affect judgment, mood & ability to learn, retain
information & thereby may increase risk of serious accidents & injury.
In the long term, chronic sleep deprivation may lead to numerous health
problems including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease & even early
mortality.
Sleep deprivation affects every system of the body -
Cardiovascular System:
Sleep plays a vital role in your body’s
ability to heal & repair blood vessels & heart. Sleep deprivation can
lead to higher risk of chronic health problems like high blood pressure, heart
disease, & stroke. For people with hypertension or pre-hypertension, even
one night without enough sleep can cause an elevated blood pressure all through
the next day.
Immune System: During sleep, the
immune system produces protective cytokines & infection-fighting antibodies
& cells to fight off bacteria & viruses. Sleep deprivation disrupts
immune system. Recovery from illness may also take longer due to sleep
deprivation. The cytokines & other protective substances also help get
better sleep, giving immune system more energy to defend against illnesses.
Respiratory System: Since sleep
deprivation weakens immune system, it increases vulnerability to respiratory problems
like common cold & influenza. A chronic lung disease will eventually worsen
due to sleep deprivation.
Central Nervous System: Sleep is of vital importance
for proper functioning of central nervous system. Sleep deprivation leaves brain
exhausted & thus affecting its functioning. It leads to a feeling of
fatigue, impairs attention, alertness,
concentration, reasoning & problem solving.
Digestive System: Several studies have linked insufficient sleep & weight
gain. It has been observed that people who habitually sleep less than six hours
per night are much more likely to have a higher than average Body Mass Index
(BMI) & that people who sleep
eight or more hours have the lowest BMI. Poor sleep is also associated with
increases in secretion of insulin following a meal, which in turn promotes fat
storage leading to weight gain, a risk factor for diabetic patients.
