Sleep is important for overall health. When you don't get enough sleep (sleep deprivation), it does more than just make you feel tired. It can affect your performance, including your ability to think clearly, react quickly, and form memories. This may cause you to make bad decisions and take more risks. People with sleep deprivation are more likely to get into accidents.
Sleep deprivation can also affect your mood, leading to
- Irritability
- Problems with relationships, especially for children and teenagers
- Depression
- Anxiety
It can also affect your physical health. Research shows that not getting enough sleep, or getting poor-quality sleep, increases your risk of
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Kidney disease
- Obesity
- Type 2 diabetes
Not getting enough sleep can also mean that you don't get enough of the hormones that help children grow and help adults and children build muscle mass, fight infections, and repair cells.
Sleep deprivation magnifies the effect of alcohol. A tired person who drinks too much alcohol will be more impaired than a well-rested person.
