How well we sleep can have a significant effect on our bodies. Our heart, lungs, immune system and metabolism all depend on the power of this single activity. It is the brain however that both regulates and relies heavily on our sleep habits.
With little or no sleep, our mind struggles to function at optimal levels, and the side effects can prove disruptive and over the long-term, utterly devastating to our daily lives.
Scientists indicate that after 19 to 20 hours of no sleep, we increase the risk for these ten things to happen in our brain.
1 – Brain Damage
Although you might think your decision to forgo sleep will only create temporary problems, Swedish researchers found that long-term sleep problems can lead to some degree of neural injury and even contribute to brain shrinkage.
According to Shape Magazine, this adverse effect combined with the increase in the levels of a toxic protein known as beta-amyloid can boost your risk for brain conditions such as Dementia and Alzheimer’s.
2 – Memory Problems
Poor sleep patterns can impact your ability to focus as well as your capacity to retain or recall even the most basic of information during your waking hours. Our ability to process even the most basic information can become cumbersome task overtime and ultimately, we struggle to navigate even the simplest of situations.
Think of sleep as the main ingredient for adding flavor to your memory recipe. Without it, everything we learn or do during the day is at risk of being lost.
3 – Poor Hand and Eye Coordination
If you are struggling with sleep deprivation, this might not be the time to engage in activities that will require hand and eye coordination. Sleep deprivation can have an impact on your primary motor skills functions, making some events awkward in execution.
4 – Impairs Alertness and Reaction Time
WebMD reports that without adequate sleep, our ability to respond or react sharply decreases by as much as a whopping 32%. It’s no wonder that so many accidents occur as a result of fatigue. According to Sleep.org, the loss of just 19 hours of sleep can leave your comparable to a drunk
5 – Disrupts Decision-Making and Problem-Solving
Our ability to make firm, well-thought-out decisions and solve for x is limited because of poor sleep habits. Studies show that the frontal and parietal lobes of your brain, also known as decision-making centers, slow in activity.
6 – Affects Your Mood
Poor sleep experiences can also have a direct impact on the chemicals in your brain which controls your mood, leaving you irritable and more susceptible to negatively engage or respond to family, friends, strangers, or peers in the most basic of situations. Also, lack of sleep can lead to new or further enhance feelings of depression thanks to changes in serotonin levels that result.
7 – Disrupts Creativity
The amount of sleep you get each night may profoundly affect your levels of creativity. Studies demonstrate that those who can achieve an adequate amount of sleep each night think outside of the box and generate new ideas.
8 – Boosts Risk Taking in Teens
Not only do adults experience a shift in mood and behavior but teens are as vulnerable to the effects of poor sleep experiences.
9 – Stimulates Feelings of Hunger
When your brain does not receive adequate hours of sleep, your mind may trigger feelings of hunger within your body, causing you to overeat or crave fatty food. This action, in turn, may contribute to obesity in some individuals.
10 – Increased Feelings of Fatigue
While it may seem only natural that your body will feel tired as a result of not getting enough sleep, the serotonin levels in your brain may further increase these feelings of exhaustion.
How Can You Improve Your Sleep Experience?
What can you do to improve your sleep? The actions you may take are straightforward. Here are three immediate steps you can take to improve your sleep experience (Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep)
Set a Sleep Schedule
First, set a sleep schedule and stick to it. Consider this action to be your top priority as you set about increasing the number of hours you sleep per night. In addition to setting your sleep schedule, establish a ritual of sorts for the activities you complete at or just before bedtime.
Find Ways to Relax Your Mind
Look for ways to relax your mind and body with comforts of a warm bath or lavender aromatherapy. Stay away from electronics that might stimulate your mind such as a cell phone, tablet, or yes, even television.
Stay Away from Caffeine
Next, be careful of the food you eat or drink just before bedtime. Studies show that caffeine can be a troublesome ingredient in your foods or drink just before bedtime, costing you a goodnight’s rest.
