10 Ways Sleep Deprivation Affects Your Health

High stress and forgetfulness are just two of the symptoms of losing sleep
70 million Americans are sleep deprived. But sleep isnt a luxury its a necessity.
And being sleepdeprived shouldnt be a badge of honor. The truth is those hours of lost sleep add up to a bigger health deficit than you may realize says sleep medicine specialist Nancy FoldvarySchaefer DO MS.
We need sleep so we can restore nutrients replenish the spirit and refresh the mind Dr. FoldvarySchaefer says. Hidden health hazards accumulate during periods of sleeplessness and they cant be covered up with concealer or reversed with caffeine.

Plus sleep deprivation can have even worse effects on kids and their development. A lack of sleep in children and teens can cause behavior problems impaired learning poor concentration and decreased school performance.
Depending on your age an average person may need up to nine hours of sleep a night so be sure not to skimp on it and put your health at risk. Dr. FoldvarySchaefer shares 10 ways sleep deprivation is harmful to your health.
How does lack of sleep impact your health?
Beyond a groggy feeling in the morning and sleeping past your alarm sleep deprivation touches many parts of your body and mind. Everything from your cardiovascular system to your immune system can be affected by not getting your solid seven to eight hours each night.
Here are some ways that sleep deprivation can affect your overall health
Constant feeling of tiredness
Finding your batteries depleted by the early afternoon? This is a clear sign of lack of sleep. And no even a cup of coffee isnt going to cure this. Sleep deprivation causes fatigue low energy and excessive sleepiness throughout the day. This can affect your ability to complete daytoday tasks do things you love and take care of others.
Changes in mood
Its no secret that lack of sleep makes you grumpy your mood is the first thing to go if youre sleepdeprived. But this isnt one of those moods you can just shake off. When youre not running on enough sleep it can cause you to feel easily irritated emotional and quicktempered.
Increased forgetfulness
Wait where did I put my keys? Suddenly your brain is running a blank on the most routine things. Your ability to remember and react to things is one way that your brain is affected by a lack of sleep. If youre losing sleep so is your brain.
Sleep loss can also cause neurological