The ABZzzs of Sleep Deprivation: 7 Signs You’re Not Getting Enough Sleep

By  //  October 26, 2021

Experts recommend seven hours of sleep per night for optimal health. Failure to sleep enough results in physical symptoms such as brain fog, exhaustion, and stress. Over time, a few sleepless nights turn into sleep deprivation, with sleep debt accumulating over weeks or even months. If you’ve been tossing and turning lately, here are seven signs that you owe the sandman a few dreams. 

Remedies for poor quality sleep

Research shows that insufficient sleep over a long period stifles metabolism. As a result, chronic insomniacs might see weight gain or even glucose intolerance, a precursor to diabetes. 

If you have been experiencing sleepless nights, the following tips can help turn things around:

Avoid consuming caffeine right before going to bed

Resist the urge to take naps during the day

Keep off electronics just before bedtime

If you’re looking for a more design-based approach, you can consider using a sleep chair. Sleeping in a recliner chair such as The Perfect Sleep Chair brings numerous benefits for you and your counted sheep. These perks include reducing acid reflux, alleviating back pain, helping with sleep apnea, and improving sleep quality after surgery. 

Mood swings

According to statistics, inadequate sleep can affect your mood. That means that if you’re not sleeping, you might lose sleep over harsh words and attitudes you’ve held towards loved ones in your exhaustion.

One study even shows that people who struggle to sleep are unable to read facial expressions. The lack of sleep combined with this limited body language fluency might even result in paranoia. 

Loss of libido 

Sleep apnea has been associated with loss of libido. The lack of sufficient sleep causes a feeling of fatigue which drives away the urge to have sex. 

Men suffering from sleep apnea have been reported to have lower levels of testosterone and sometimes erectile dysfunction due to a decline in blood flow.  

Memory loss

Usually, you process all your day’s memories and thoughts when asleep. Lack of sleep interrupts this process, and the result is that your memory worsens day by day. 

Some studies also associate sleeplessness with “false” memories. That means that if you aren’t dreaming while you sleep, you might start dreaming while awake instead.

Under-eye circles

Often, dark undereye circles, red, puffy eyes, and pale mouth corners come with sleep deprivation. Even a tiny difference in sleep hours soon starts to affect your appearance. 

Therefore, if you want good-looking skin and clear eyes, prioritize sufficient sleep every night. After all, people don’t call it “beauty sleep” for no reason. 

Weight fluctuations

If you’re gaining weight rapidly or struggling to shed pounds, it may be a sign you’re not sleeping enough. Some studies show that people who sleep for less than six hours each night are more likely to be overweight or underweight.

Muddled judgment and thinking

Lack of sleep affects your brain’s capacity to process emotions. This reduction will affect your judgment and thought patterns throughout the day. 

If you can’t parse through your thoughts and feelings reasonably, it can affect your job and your relationships. 

Health concerns

Many studies have associated poor health with no sleep. For example, a rise in blood glucose levels and blood pressure may result from a lack of sleep. 

So if you notice you keep catching the sniffles, it may be because you’re not catching the Zs. 

Before you go

Lack of enough rest can cause severe issues interfering with your day-to-day life activities. If you want to improve and lead a better life, it’s time that you trade counting sheep for better sleep.