We all know the popular positive health benefits of getting enough sleep and a correct number of sleep cycles but what happens when you don’t sleep?

Research has shown that slightly over 20% of Americans have a sleep disorder. The same research also found that from 1985, the percentage of adults getting less than six hours of sleep has increased to 31% even though the CDC recommends 7-9 hours of sleep per night.

While work is important, you need to get enough rest for the following day. If you have ever spent time tossing and turning in bed, you already know that the next day will not be good for you.

You will be cranky, tired, and your memory will be foggy at best. However, do you have any idea what sleep deprivation does for your looks, health, weight loss ability, and sex life? The long-term effects are even worse.

In this article, we’ll go over what happens when you don’t sleep. Read on for more.

What Happens When You Don’t Sleep? Accidents Increase

One of the main issues that come with sleep deprivation is an increase in accidents. Many accidents every year result from fatigue. Drowsiness will reduce a person’s reaction time just as much as if not more than alcohol does.

The greatest issue is that people below 25 years barely get enough sleep.
Not sleeping enough or getting poor quality sleep increases accidents and injuries when working. The sleepier you are during the day when you are at work, driving, or operating any machinery, the more accidents you are likely to cause.

You will also take more sick days each year as a result.

You Become Dumber When You Don’t Sleep Enough

When you do not get a good night sleep, your ability to think critically and learning more is compromised. These cognitive processes are the most hurt when you are drowsy and fatigued. You will also be less alert, have a lower attention span, and poor concentration.

You will also not be able to solve problems and reason properly. So, your day to day tasks will be tough, and learning will be more difficult.

The consolidation of memories that often happens when you are asleep will not be able to happen. It will be more difficult for you to remember anything you experienced or learned during the day.

Weight Gain

If you are trying to lose weight, not sleeping is the wrong thing to do. When your body signals your brain that you are off balance, then it is more difficult to lose weight.

Your body will tend to overcompensate for the lack of balance. As a result, you will end up overeating during meals and indulging your cravings. All of these will lead to weight gain.

When you are too tired, the hormones that regulate appetite and hunger are thrown off. The hormone leptin, which suppresses your appetite, a hormone that is your friend when you are losing weight, runs out. You are more likely to go for a snack at night when you do not sleep.

The extra calories will inevitably show on the scale.

Your Libido Will Die-Off

Is your sex life dying a slow death? That could be because you are not getting enough sleep. Because you will constantly feel drowsy and fatigued, then you will be less interested in sex.

The increased tension, lack of energy, and sleepiness will not be of any help.
For men, the lack of sleep or conditions like sleep apnea in men reduces their testosterone levels. You will feel too tired for sex.

Ironically, sex could help you sleep better. In addition, one of the hormones that are secreted during sex is serotonin. A happy hormone that helps you feel more relaxed and in sync. You will have more sleep and enjoy sex more.

Lack of Sleep Could Lead To Depression

One of the main signs of depression is lack of sleep. In most cases, people diagnosed with anxiety and depression have trouble getting enough sleep. It is also true that people who suffer from insomnia are five times more likely to suffer from stress and depression.

These two conditions feed off each other. Sleep helps your life feel more balanced and allows you to be more relaxed. Therefore finding ways to get more sleep could help you deal with any mental health issues you have.

A great way to improve your sleeping patterns is to consider exercises.

You Age Faster

Looking older than you are is only good until you get your ID. After that, it can be quite an esteem killer. When you sleep more, your skin reacts better. Reduced skin health and accelerated aging are signs of lack of sleep.

The hormone cortisol activates. This stress hormone will break down collagen on the skin. Collagen is a protein that keeps the skin elastic and smooth.

When the skin is rigid, you get more wrinkles and acne breakouts. Your skin, regardless of how old you are and how much water you drink will not look good if you do not get enough sleep.

Remember that your skin is your largest organ. It is also one that people see when they look at you. Sometimes you do not need to get a new facial regimen.

All you need is to get enough sleep.

There Is a Risk Of Death

In some extreme cases, insomnia can cause death. For one thing, lack of sleep reduces your immune system’s ability to protect your body from illnesses and diseases. Because of this, you are more prone to sicknesses.

In addition, at some point, you will experience hallucinations that will make it difficult for you to distinguish the reality from the imagination. Eventually, these hallucinations cause cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks, which ultimately lead to death.

These effects are more common in people who sleep less than four hours a night.

Now You Know What Happens When You Don’t Sleep

What happens when you don’t sleep, is that your cognitive function begins to fail. It is, therefore, critical to speak to your doctor when you notice that you are unable to sleep. You may also want to slow down and find out factors in your life that are causing the sleeplessness.

For more health care tips and information, read more on our health section.