A lot of us burn the candle at both ends thinking we’ll catch up at some stage, but getting less than eight hours sleep a night may be more damaging to our health than we think.
1) Not enough sleep can lead to binge drinking and smoking
It’s an indirect consequence, according to researchers at the University of Copenhagen. Sleeping poorly can lead to binge drinking, smoking heavily, and less physical activity – overall, damaging your health. Poor sleep habits makes it more difficult to moderate behavior.
2) People are more susceptible to catching colds if they don’t sleep enough
An Australian study concluded in 2009 that people who get less than seven hours sleep are three o four times more likely to catch a cold, than their counterparts on eight or more hours.
3) Lack of sleep can contribute to an early death
Men who had regular patterns of sleep for seven or less hours have been found to have a 21 percent chance of dying in any given time period. Women fared better with a 5 percent higher chance, the University of Warwick study in 2007 concluded.
4) Sleeplessness can alter your genes
Sleep deprivation can disrupt hundreds of genes that are essential for good health. It only takes a week of poor sleep to disrupt genes associated with immunity and stress, according to University of Surrey research.
5) Missing sleep has more negative impact for you than a hangover
21,000 UK workers were monitored by researchers from Cambridge University and Rand Europe to study the effects of those who slept for six hours or less a night. The results: lack of sleep has a larger impact on a person than a big night on the booze.
6) Beware: It may make you cut off your penis (Yup - sigh)
More of interest than scientific, an interview with the Wu-Tang Clan-affiliated artist, also known as Christ Bearer (Andre Johnson) admitted to a combination of “PCP and meth and Molly (MDMA) and alcohol. And no sleep. That was the main thing, no sleep,’ as the attributing factor to cutting off his penis.
7) Lack of sleep increases the chance of having a stroke
The University of Alabama at Birmingham has discovered a four time increase of suffering a stroke if you average six or less hours of sleep a night.
8) Less than 6 hours can cause obesity
In 2004, a review of studies discovered sleeping less than six hours a night can increase hunger hormones and in turn, increase your body mass index.
9) Lack of sleep equates to lack of memory
The new memories made where you need to recall new tasks can be affected when lack of sleep occurs. Specifically, sleep patterns can alter your ability to make new memories, according to research conducted in Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
10) It can make you anxious
A study has been published in the Journal of Neuroscience, suggesting that a lack of sleep in the previous night can create anxiety the following day.