What Happens to Your Body When You Sleep Less Than 6 Hours a Night

Getting a good amount of high-quality sleep, which is recommended to be at least seven hours per night by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is crucial for maintaining good health both physically and mentally. Unfortunately, between 50 million to 70 million adults in the U.S. suffer from sleep deprivation at any given time, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Sleep deprivation can have severe and wide-ranging health consequences. Studies have shown that getting less than the recommended amount of sleep can significantly increase the risk of death. This article will explore what happens to your body if you sleep less than six hours a night and reveal why getting a good night’s sleep is one of the best things you can do for your health.

1. Increase Cardiovascular Symptoms

According to Taryn Fernandes, MD, insufficient sleep can increase heart rate, vasoconstriction, and elevated blood pressure levels, leading to hypertension and cardiovascular diseases like stroke, coronary heart disease, and myocardial infarction.

2. Disrupt Hormonal Balance

Getting adequate sleep is vital for regulating the body’s hormonal balance; lack of sleep can interfere with the normal production of hormones like cortisol, insulin, and growth hormone. Poor sleep also contributes to obesity, which is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

3. Affect Mental Health

Getting inadequate sleep has been linked to anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and decreased motivation. Lack of sleep may increase susceptibility to psychiatric disorders such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, which plays a crucial role in memory consolidation, emotional regulation, and cognitive functioning.

4. Weaken Immune System

The body produces cytokines, a type of protein that aids in fighting infection, inflammation, and stress during sleep. Lack of sleep can lower the production of cytokines, which can weaken the immune system, making it more vulnerable to illnesses.

5. Increase the Risk of Metabolic Disease and Diabetes

Getting less than seven hours of sleep per night regularly is harder to manage diabetes, increasing insulin resistance, making individuals feel hungrier, making it harder to maintain a healthy diet and weight, and raising blood pressure, which can make hypertension doubly likely and pose a danger to those already at high risk of diabetes.

6. Impact Physical Endurance

Studies have shown that getting less than six hours of sleep at night is associated with decreased time to physical exhaustion, reduced aerobic output, reduced peak and sustained muscle strength, impaired metabolic capabilities, and increased injury risk, which can affect overall performance in sports, classrooms, or work.

Finally, inadequate sleep can lead to dry eyes, dark circles, and blurry vision. It is essential to get the proper amount of rest, or worse conditions such as conjunctivitis or blepharitis may develop due to increased friction in the eye.