Consequences may arise from little sleep. Impaired memory and quality of life are just two examples. Your immune system may also suffer. You might also need help with problem-solving and reacting to situations quickly. In addition, you might be more susceptible to several health problems, including heart disease and some types of cancer.
Impaired Memory and Quality of Life
Insufficient sleep can have negative consequences on your mental health. It reduces cognitive flexibility, affecting your ability to adapt and thrive under changing circumstances. Sleep deprivation can also lead to problems with attention and memory. Insufficient sleep can also make you more irritable and more likely to experience conflict.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School studied the sleep habits of women. They also asked participants to rate their cognitive skills, including memory and thinking. The study found that women with insufficient sleep performed worse on memory and reasoning tasks. In contrast, women who slept seven to eight hours per night performed better on tasks requiring concentration.
Immune System Compromise
Sleep deprivation can compromise the immune system in several ways. For example, lack of sleep can decrease the number of T cells, which help the body fight off infections. It can also impair the production of specific immune proteins called cytokines. This can reduce the body’s ability to fight off infections and cancer.
Sleep-deprived people have lower immune responses and have a longer recovery time after illness. Heart disease is also associated with insufficient sleep, obesity, and inflammation. A regular sleep schedule is necessary to regulate the body’s natural circadian rhythm.
Impaired Performance
Impaired performance in a variety of cognitive tasks is linked to insufficient sleep. In investigations of sleep-deprived individuals, researchers have observed a decline in quickness and accuracy. However, the impairment decreased over time after the first two nights of sleep restriction. The five-hour sleep restriction group showed the most significant impairment compared to the seven-hour group. The accuracy of the tasks also followed a similar pattern but decreased further in the five-hour group. On the other hand, the control group’s outcome didn’t change at all during the study.
Sleep deprivation has been shown to impair performance in various tasks, especially those that require visuomotor skills. It also impairs the capacity and duration of iconic memory, inhibiting spatial attention engagement. In addition, it affects saccadic eye movements. The link between decreased oculomotor functioning and cognitive performance is currently being investigated.
Impaired Mood
Sleep deprivation may ruin the way you feel. For example, you are less likely to control your temper, become impulsive, or act out when you aren’t well-rested. These symptoms can harm mental health and relationships. In addition, chronic lack of sleep can lead to psychiatric problems such as irritability, paranoia, and hallucinations.
Lack of sleep can also impair one’s ability to make sensible decisions. Your judgment is impaired because your emotional response is disrupted. Lack of sleep limits your ability to focus on the benefits and drawbacks of potential actions. Similarly, it limits your ability to learn from mistakes.
