Could a Lack of Sleep Make You Sick?

It’s not always easy to get to sleep, but if you don’t get enough sleep regularly, it increases your risk for many health problems.

If getting enough sleep feels like a constant struggle for you, know that you’re not alone. Sleep disorders are a growing problem, and the most common sleep disorder is sleep apnea. Getting the proper sleep apnea treatment is essential for many reasons, but one of the most important is improved sleep quality. Getting a good night’s sleep on a regular basis is one of the best things that you can do for your health, and if you don’t get enough sleep, it could actually increase your risk for a number of health concerns. The following is a list of some of the health concerns that a lack of sleep increases your risk for:

#1. Obesity

When you don’t get enough sleep, it actually alters the way that your body handles food and your appetite. People who don’t get enough REM sleep tend to reach for foods that are fattier, saltier and sweeter than those who do get enough sleep. That’s because a lack of sleep can impair the way your body regulates your appetite, increase your blood pressure and skew your metabolism -- all of which can lead to overeating. Unfortunately, obesity in itself can lead to a whole host of other health concerns, including diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.

#2. Diabetes

As we mentioned above, not getting enough sleep on a regular basis could lead to obesity, which also increases your risk for diabetes. However, obesity isn’t the only way that sleep apnea could increase your risk for diabetes. There is also evidence that sleep deprivation in and of itself could also lead to diabetes. When you don’t get enough sleep for a prolonged period of time, your body’s reaction will often closely resemble insulin resistance, which is a precursor to diabetes.

#3. Heart Disease

In 2008, a study from the University of Chicago found a link between an increase in coronary artery calcification and shortened sleep. Consequently, an increase in coronary artery calcification is a precursor to heart disease. Additionally, a lack of sleep can intensify hypertension, which, again, could increase your risk of heart disease.

#4. Osteoporosis

One study that was published in the journal, Experimental Biology and Medicine, found that bone mineral density decreased in rats that were sleep deprived for a long period of time. The study also showed that a lack of sleep lead to a decrease in fat in the bones and an increase in megakaryocytes, which are the cells that produce platelets. Not getting enough sleep can affect your bones in many other ways as well, including bone healing, aging and blood cell differentiation.

#5. Stroke

Warwick Medical School recently published a study about the adverse effects of sleep deprivation on your heart, and they found that, if you sleep fewer than six hours per night, it could increase your chance of getting or dying from a stroke by 15 percent. The increased risk can be blamed on the chemicals and hormones in your body that get released when you don’t get enough sleep. 

It’s not always easy to get a good night’s sleep, but it’s important to try. After all, your health depends on it. However, if you suffer from sleep apnea, getting a good night’s sleep may be more difficult than you think. Luckily, you have CPAP Liquidators on your side, and we have the used CPAP machines you need to save money and enhance your sleep. Contact your doctor today to find out if CPAP therapy is right for you.