Lack of sleep has become a common thing amongst adults, as well as children. People who suffer from lack of sleep or sleep loss find it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. This lack of sleep can be caused by many different factors, so it is important to assess your lifestyle to find what the issue could be.

While most things can be fixed with changes to your daily routine, how do you know when sleeplessness is becoming a bigger issue? Sleep loss and deprivation can lead to multiple health problems.

What Are the Effects of Sleep Loss?

Lack of sleep can lead to various health problems. The purpose of sleep is to repair your body and restore the energy that you lost throughout the day. If you are not giving your body the proper amount of sleep, it becomes almost impossible to function properly and remain healthy.

Most people ignore these warning signs but they should be immediately addressed.

• Sleep deprivation or loss can lead to migraines and headaches. REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is an important stage of sleep. When the body does not get enough REM sleep, it produces proteins that increase chronic pain.
• Sleeplessness can lead to high blood pressure, stress and anxiety. Because sleep is when the body should be repairing itself, the lack of sleep can lead to heart problems and increased anxiety and stress. It is very common for people who suffer from sleep deprivation to have increased stress levels and/or anxiety.
• Sleep-deprived individuals have weaker immune systems. Not getting enough sleep will eventually weaken the immune system because your body is not getting a chance to produce enough cytokines. This inadvertently leaves you more open to viruses and illness.
• In rare cases, sleep loss can lead to vertigo. Vertigo can be described as a spinning sensation or feeling like you can’t find your balance. This will normally happen when you move your head. Vertigo can be an extreme symptom of sleep deprivation or loss but things like lightheadedness and nausea tend to be more common.

How Much Sleep Do People Need?

The average adult gets less than 7 hours of sleep a day, which qualifies as insufficient sleep. To avoid health problems caused by sleeplessness, it is important to understand how many hours of sleep are required for your age group.

Adults need 7-9 hours of sleep a day. The younger the individual, the greater amount of sleep necessary to maintain good health.

With proper attention, care, and a sleep routine, sleeplessness and sleep deprivation do not have to negatively affect your health. Try the BetterSleep app for more tips on how to overcome your sleepless nights.