Feeling Sleep deprived? Here’s what happens to your body

I love the spring forward time change because I enjoy the longer days of sunlight. However, the first couple of weeks of the time change brings about sluggishness that is not pleasurable.

According to a recent issue of the foundation’s journal of Sleep Health, the recommendation is as follows:

  • Older adults, 65+ years: 7-8 hours
  • Adults, 26-64 years: 7-9 hours
  • Young adults, 18-25 years: 7-9 hours
  • Teenagers, 14-17 years: 8-10 hours
  • School-age children, 6-13 years: 9-11 hours
  • Preschool children, 3-5 years: 10-13 hours
  • Toddlers, 1-2 years: 11-14 hours
  • Infants, 4-11 months: 12-15 hours
  • Newborns, 0-3 months: 14-17 hours

So if you are not getting enough zzz’s here’s what happens to your body:

Your Stress Hormones Are Off

Sleep helps to regulate stress hormones and keep the nervous system healthy, so when you’re not getting enough of it, your hormones and nervous system fall out of whack. Hormones are responsible for your mood, energy, and appetite—so when these two are thrown off, sleep deprivation can take a toll on your whole body and quality of life.

Lack of Alertness

You can have a higher likelihood of a car accident. Drowsy driving accounts for thousands of crashes, injuries, and fatalities each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

New Memories Are Gone

Without sleep, the memory inbox of the brain shuts down, and you can’t create new experiences to memory. Your mind gets rid of the toxin beta-amyloid during sleep, so if you don’t give it a chance to cleanse, the protein builds up, increasing your risk of developing dementia later in life.

Spike In Appetite

Because sleep deprivation wreaks havoc on your hormones, it also messes with your metabolism as well as your eating habits. Since appetite is regulated by the interaction between metabolic and hormonal signals, when your hormones are imbalanced, the communication wires can become crossed.

Your Skin Suffers

While you sleep, your damaged cells have an opportunity to repair themselves. If you deprive your body of rest, you’re cutting into the restorative process. Furthermore, collagen production accelerates when you sleep, helping to combat visible signs of aging like wrinkles and loss of volume.

Sending sleeping beauty vibes! 💋

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