The Risks of Sleep Deprivation

If you quickly Google something like “how to be healthier” or “simple health tips,” you’ll basically get all of the same advice from everywhere you look (at least from the people/sites who know what they are talking about): eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. As people become busier and more attached to devices with each passing year, it’s usually that last item that gets neglected the most. Why is sleep so essential to your health? Even more important, what can happen to you if you don’t get enough sleep? Today, I’m going to share some of the most common effects of sleep deprivation and what you can do to make sure you get enough sleep night after night.

The Dangers of Sleep Deprivation

Sleep is just as important to your body as breathing. Yes, you can go a few days without enough sleep and function relatively normally, but over time, your body will begin to break down, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. The effects of sleep deprivation can kick in even after just one night of inadequate sleep, compounding as time goes on.

Physical Effects of Sleep Deprivation

Your body needs an adequate amount of sleep in order to fight disease, heal, and deal with the normal wear and tear your body endures every day. Without it, infections can strike with less resistance, and small, minor injuries can turn into big ones that require extensive treatment. A lack of sleep can also throw off the body’s hormones, making it more difficult to lose weight, keep weight off, and even control your appetite!

Mental Effects of Sleep Deprivation

Your brain is constantly processing information, so much so that most of it is actually happening subconsciously. This can be very overwhelming for the brain, but sleep allows it to regroup and reorganize at the end of every day, eliminating nonessential information (what you had for lunch today) to prioritize essential information (the deadline you have tomorrow). Sleep deprivation prevents this process, leading to fuzzy memories, trouble focusing, and an overall loss in cognitive power.

Emotional Effects of Sleep Deprivation

Truthfully, it’s extremely difficult to be a nice, patient person when you’re constantly exhausted. Tempers become shorter, small problems seem larger, and all this emotional strain can really take a toll on a person as well as those close to them. People with chronic sleep deprivation tend to have much higher rates of depression and uncontrollable mood swings as well, which can drastically impact a person’s quality of life.

How to Prevent Sleep Deprivation

The best way is to start simple. Try going to bed earlier. Read a book at bedtime to help your mind slow down so falling asleep is easier. What is your sleeping environment like? Is your bed comfortable? Is the room quiet and dark? Making sure all of these elements are in place can really help you catch your 40 winks.

However, if you find yourself constantly being tired despite having a healthy sleep routine (as in getting 7-9 hours each night), then your problems could be something more serious, such as a sleep disorder called sleep apnea.

If you have been having persistent sleeping issues and can’t seem to figure out why, then I recommend that you take one minute to complete our sleep test. It’s 8 “Yes or No” questions that will reveal to us how likely you are to have sleep apnea. Once you have completed it, we’ll evaluate your answers, and then a member of our team will contact you with more information and advice on what you should do next.

Don’t Wait to Get Help!

As you can see, sleep deprivation can really hurt your life if allowed to go on for days, weeks, and even months and years at a time. Eventually, the physical effects can lead to potentially deadly systemic health issues, which is something I try to help all of my patients avoid.

If you can’t seem to get enough sleep and find yourself dealing with the issues we outlined above, don’t hesitate to get help, which you can start doing by taking our short sleep test. Sleep apnea is very treatable, and you’ll be amazed at how quality sleep can improve your life in every way.

About the Author

Dr. Kenneth Mogell is a certified sleep dentist who has been successfully treating sleep apnea in Melbourne for over 30 years. At his practice, he can provide sleep testing, anti-snoring devices, as well as custom-made sleep apnea therapy. If you are concerned about you or a loved one’s sleep and health, he can help, so contact him today.