Sleep deprivation is a very dangerous state to be in. It causes all manner of health and social problems, both physically and mentally. It’s no wonder that sleep deprivation is used as a torture method in some countries! It truly is one of the most uncomfortable states you can be in. Alarmingly, almost half of all surveyed people say they feel sleepy during the day, most days.
But, like with many things, it can creep up on you. One minute you feel ok and the next you have all sorts of terrible symptoms that can all point to sleep deprivation.
Here are 7 signs that you might be sleep deprived:
You feel low
Around 75% of adults with depression suffer from insomnia. There is no doubt a correlation. When you sleep, your body has a chance to reset itself, regenerate and clear your mind of memories and information no longer needed. When you don’t get enough sleep, your mind can feel foggy and your mood can lower.
You’re not concentrating
If you aren’t focusing on your work in the way you normally do, it could be that you haven’t had enough sleep recently. Much like with depression, when your mind cannot properly clear itself of unwanted information, it can get bogged down and will find it harder to process new information as it comes in.
You’re putting on weight
There is a strong correlation between obesity and sleep deprivation, according to research by Harvard. When we sleep, our bodies regulate hormones that control our metabolism and appetite. When these get disrupted through sleep deprivation, we process food differently, and can become overweight as a result, even without changing our eating habits. Our bodies also go into panic mode, because it thinks we will need extra energy in the future - therefore, it begins to store food as fat on the body. Lastly, when we are tired, we crave glucose - carbohydrates such as cakes, pasta and high sugar drinks. We want the energy boost! Unfortunately, this can lead to obesity and actually cause future sleep deprivation due to sugar level spikes.
You’re snapping
When you are sleep deprived, your hormones are all over the place and this can cause excess adrenaline and testosterone. As a result, you might become more agitated and angry at friends and colleagues. One sign of this could be snapping at people over minor events.
You’re relying on coffee
Coffee can create a catch-22 situation with your sleep and health. The less you sleep, the more caffeine (found in coffee) you need. The more caffeine you intake, the poorer your sleep quality will end up being. As a rule of thumb, try to stick to under 400mg of caffeine per day (4 cups). The less you have, the better you will sleep.
Anxiety is through the roof
The physical stress that sleep deprivation puts on your body causes a natural fight or flight response. When you are sleep deprived and your body is tired, your anxiety will heighten. You might feel worried about little things, such as going out and seeing friends, or doing certain tasks. Combined with hormonal imbalance and the mental stress of not being able to clear toxic waste from the brain, it’s clear that anxiety and sleep deprivation go hand in hand.
You have high blood pressure
If you have recently visited a doctor and been told your blood pressure is high, it might be for a combination of reasons. Diet, lack of exercise and stress can all cause this problem to occur. Another cause of high blood pressure is sleep deprivation. The lack of hormone regulation that occurs at night can make it hard for your body to regulate this mechanism and therefore blood pressure goes through the roof. The consequences of high blood pressure are a higher risk of stroke, heart disease and heart attack - so it is worth getting under control.
Ergonomics For Sleep Deprivation
One of the ways you can be proactive about your sleep is by investing in ergonomic furniture, especially an Adjustable Bed Base EB01 available through Flexispot. This innovative bed is ideal for anyone who seeks to maintain a frequent and regular sleep cycle, waking up fully rested and happy in the morning. It is customisable, so you can adjust to your preference. The back can angle up to 60 degrees and if you and your partner wish to have different angles, you can put two of the twin XL beds together to make a king double.
We want to help you sleep better so that the rest of your health and wellbeing can improve. Pick up the phone and talk to us today about adjustable beds or any other furniture that might help you become more comfortable at home. You can get in touch with us via the website.
