Constant sleep loss affects mental and physical health
A latest study issued in Annals of Behavioral Medicine has found that three back-to-back nights of sleep loss impacts your mental and physical health to drastically decline, as reported by the Hindustan Times.
Soomi Lee, the assistant professor in the School of Aging Studies at the University of South Florida discovered that the primary symptoms emerged following one night of lack of sleep. He also observed the outcomes of sleeping less than six hours for eight continuous nights.
Specialists assure six hours is the least span of sleep that is essential to maintain optimal well-being in adults. However, during the research, the symptoms of deteriorating mental and physical increased, topping on the 3rd day. According to the research, this is the point where the human anatomy got accustomed to consistent sleep loss.
On day six, the research hit a discovery as the participants stated that the level of physical symptoms was the worse. “Many of us think that we can pay our sleep debt on weekends and be more productive on weekdays. However, results from this study show that having just one night of sleep loss can significantly impair your daily functioning,” says Lee.
A study from Midlife from the United States gave information that revealed participants with sleep loss problems show symptoms of angry, nervousness, loneliness, irritability, and frustrating feelings.
The study consisted of 2,000 middle-aged adults who were identified as healthy.
The participants also underwent more physical symptoms, for example, upper respiratory problems, aches, gastrointestinal difficulties, and additional health concerns. Their feelings and symptoms deteriorated considerably as continuous sleep loss dates extended. Their health only recovered back to previous levels until they had six hours of sleep.
Lee asserts that once sleep loss grows into a habit, it’s more challenging for the person’s body to return to full recovery. This maintains the wicked circle of deteriorating health and affects the person’s professional and personal life.
Former research by Lee reveals that losing 16 minutes of sleep from the six-hour schedule can start to affect everyday performances. Her previous findings also explain how insignificant sleep loss can reduce regular mindfulness, which is a crucial method of handling stress and sustaining healthy habits. Lee concludes that the most reliable way to have your best productivity every day is to sleep six hours every night.
