When was the last time you missed out on a bunch of sleep? How did you feel the next day? You were probably feeling really tired, grumpy, foggy, and maybe even a little on edge. On top of just feeling crappy, sleep loss can have some serious side effects. Your memory will suffer, your sex drive will disappear, and you will not be able to lose weight or make gains.
In this two part series, we are going to discuss several nasty things that can happen to you when you do not get enough sleep. If you’re searching for the best personal trainer in Raleigh, call CrossFit Invoke. We even offer free fitness classes for you and your friends.
Accidents, Hazards and Safety
Not getting enough sleep can create serious safety issues for you, everyone around you, and even entire cities can suffer the consequences. Some of the biggest disasters in history were caused by sleep deprivation. These include the 1979 nuclear accident at Three Mile Island, the Exxon Valdez oil spill, and the 1986 nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl.
Locally, sleep loss is the cause of many highway accidents as well. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that each year, around 2,000 people die from around 100,000 fatigue related auto-crashes. Young people under the age of 25 seem to suffer most from fatigue related crashes.
Other studies have shown that work-related injuries are significantly higher when employees complain about excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue. There are also more sick days associated with recovery, per work-related accident.
You Will Get Dumber
If you do not get enough sleep, then you will get dumber. Sleep is critical to many bodily functions, and the cognitive process is a major one. Without sleep, you will not be able to stay alert or focus your attention. Your ability to concentrate, reason, and solve problems will be impaired. This makes learning extremely difficult. Sleep also plays a critical role in consolidating and organizing memories. This is the process that allows us to be able to remember what we’ve learned that day and recall it when needed.
Sleep Loss and Serious Health Problems
Excessive sleep loss, or sleep disorders like insomnia, can really put a person a risk for some serious health problems. These include the following:
- Heart disease
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Irregular heartbeat
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Diabetes
Lack of Sleep Kills Sex Drive
Men and women who suffer from loss of sleep also have to deal with more intimate problems. Some sleep specialists claim that being sleep-deprived can lower libidos and create a major loss of interest in sex. Other factors also include depleted energy, sleepiness, and increased tension.
A 2002 study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism stated that men suffering from sleep apnea (a respiratory problem that interrupts sleep) showed lower testosterone levels than men who got the right amounts of sleep. Nearly half of the men that participated in this study also secreted abnormally low levels of testosterone during the night.
So, as you can see, not getting the right amounts of sleep can really be bad for you, and can create disastrous situations. Be sure to join back with us for part two where will we discuss more reasons why missing out on sleep sucks. To jump ahead to the second part in this series, click here.
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CrossFit Invoke is the go-to box for getting a top rated personal trainer in Raleigh. When you want to push yourself and get in the best shape of your life, make the call to us. CrossFit Invoke even offers free fitness classes in Raleigh. We want you to be able to come out and see what we’re all about without any obligation to join. When you’re ready for a new challenge, give us a call or just drop in!
