One in three people in the UK suffers from poor sleep, according to the NHS.
After a bad night’s sleep, you can feel fatigued, short-tempered and unable to focus, but it won’t harm your health.
However, the cost of several sleepless nights is more serious.
“Your brain will fog, making it difficult to concentrate and make decisions. You’ll start to feel down, and may fall asleep during the day. Your risk of injury and accidents at home, work and on the road also increases,” said the NHS.
If this continues, it can harm your overall health and make you prone to serious medical conditions.
The NHS lists seven negative consequences of sleep deprivation which seriously harm your health.
Weakened immunity
Prolonged lack of sleep can disrupt your immune system, making you less able to fend off bugs, which means you can catch a cold, flu and other viruses very easily.
Obesity
According to the NHS, studies have shown that people who sleep less than seven hours a day tend to gain more weight and have a higher risk of becoming obese than those who get seven hours or more.
“It’s believed to be because sleep-deprived people have reduced levels of leptin (the chemical that makes you feel full) and increased levels of ghrelin (the hunger-stimulating hormone),” the NHS said.
Depression and anxiety
Chronic sleep deprivation could lead to long-term mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety.
When people with anxiety or depression were surveyed to calculate their sleeping habits, it turned out that most of them slept for less than six hours a night, according to the NHS.
Diabetes
Studies have also suggested that people who usually sleep less than five hours a night have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
This is due to a change in the way the body processes glucose, which the body uses for energy.
Decreases sex drive
Men and women who don’t get enough quality sleep have lower libidos and less of an interest in sex, research suggests.
Men who suffer from sleep apnoea – a disorder in which breathing difficulties lead to interrupted sleep – also tend to have lower testosterone levels, which can lower libido.
Heart disease
Long-standing sleep deprivation also seems to be associated with an increased heart rate, an increase in blood pressure and higher levels of certain chemicals linked to inflammation.
This could put extra strain on your heart, resulting in heart disease.
Decreases fertility
Difficulty conceiving a baby has been claimed as one of the effects of sleep deprivation, in both men and women.
Apparently, regular sleep disruptions can cause trouble conceiving by reducing the secretion of reproductive hormones, according to the NHS.
The NHS advises getting around eight hours of good quality sleep each night.
“Regular poor sleep puts you at risk of serious medical conditions, including obesity, heart disease and diabetes – and it shortens your life expectancy,” said the NHS.
“It’s now clear that a solid night’s sleep is essential for a long and healthy life.”