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Problems With Lack of Sleep

Most people require between seven and nine hours of sleep per night to operate at their best, though many will insist that they really don't require that. That's not to say that it's not possible to get by on less than seven hours per night, but according to research reported in the "Washington Post," consistently depriving yourself of sleep can cause a host of health problems. The body's natural rhythm is to sleep during the deepest part of the night and function during sunlight hours. Interfering with that routine throws off many of the body's routine functions.

  1. Cardiovascular Difficulties

    • When human beings get too little sleep, the body flips into an alert state, increasing blood pressure and the brain's release of stress hormones, both of which create a risk for heart attack and stroke, according to a report in "The Washington Post." A study performed at the University of Chicago and reported in "The Journal of the American Medical Association" also showed a link between too little sleep and heart disease. Subjects who slept less than five hours per night were two and a half times more likely to develop plaque buildup in their heart vessels. Researchers theorized that because blood pressure typically falls during sleep, the subjects went longer periods with higher blood pressure, and this in turn dislodged artery plaque.

    Weight Gain

    • A 2004 study by the University of Chicago found a link between lack of sleep and weight gain. Shortened sleep cycles in the study subjects resulted in increased production of the hormone ghrelin, which tells the body that it's hungry and it needs to eat. Simultaneously, levels of the hormone leptin, which signals the body that it's full and can stop eating, went down. The sleep-deprived individuals not only ate more, but they chose the wrong foods: sweets, cake and other items with high refined sugar content. Researchers theorized that their bodies were demanding the immediate energy provided by simple carbohydrates.

    Cancer

    • Some studies have found a correlation between graveyard shift workers and an incidence of breast and colon cancer, according to "The Washington Post. Researchers believe that light exposure during normal sleeping hours reduces the brain's production of melatonin, a hormone that helps prevent cancer.

    Impaired Functioning

    • In addition to the health risks inherent in getting too little sleep, a sleep deficit also impacts cognitive function and alertness. Sleepdex.org indicates that according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 20 percent of all drivers admit to having fallen asleep at the wheel of a vehicle at least once. In an average year, sleepy drivers are responsible for 100,000 motor vehicle accidents and 1,550 fatalities. Drowsy shift workers contributed to the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Lack of sufficient sleep slows reaction time and impairs concentration.

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