Sleep deprivation is when an individual has been deprived of sleep. Sleep deprivation can result from not having enough time to sleep or from difficulty sleeping due to problems such as insomnia or other sleep disorders.

The current medical consensus defines sleep deprivation as less than or equal to 5 hours of sleep per night.

Sleep deprivation can result in irritability, confusion and hallucinations, decreased motor skills and reaction time, depression, anxiety, loss of concentration, decision-making problems, and even death. Sleep deprivation also leads to increased stress hormones like epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline). These hormones can negatively affect your mood, memory, and learning abilities.

In addition to these effects on the individual’s health and well-being, there are also significant economic costs associated with sleep deprivation. For example, the estimated yearly cost of highway accidents due to drowsiness is $12 billion in the United States alone. This figure does not include costs associated with pain and suffering from those injured in crashes or from the families of those killed.

Sleep deprivation is a serious issue that can harm your health. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night. If you consistently get less than six hours per night, you can develop a sleep disorder such as insomnia or obstructive sleep apnea.

The dangers of sleep deprivation are severe and include:

• Impaired performance on tasks that require attention, concentration, and memory.

Sleep deprivation can lead to problems with concentration and memory. This happens because sleep loss reduces the activity of certain brain chemicals responsible for alertness and attention span. In addition, studies have shown that sleep-deprived people tend to make more errors when performing tasks than those who’ve had a good night’s rest.

• Increased risk of accidents.

Drivers who get less than seven hours of sleep are twice as likely to be involved in a car crash. When you’re sleep-deprived, your reaction time is slower, your attention span is shorter, and your brain doesn’t work. You may not be able to respond quickly enough to avoid an accident or react appropriately when one occurs.

• Increased risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension

A link has been established between insufficient sleep and increased risk of heart disease and stroke risk. A study published in 2013 found that people who slept six hours per night were twice as likely to suffer from high blood pressure than those who slept eight hours per night — even if they were otherwise healthy and did not smoke or drink alcohol excessively. These findings suggest that not getting enough sleep could be as harmful to your cardiovascular health as having an unhealthy diet or being overweight or obese.

• Increased risk of depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.

Being tired affects your mood and emotions, causing irritability and depression. When you’re tired, it can be difficult to control emotions such as anger or sadness, leading to aggressive behavior or depression. It’s essential for people who suffer from anxiety or depression to get enough sleep so they don’t exacerbate their symptoms.

• Increased Risk Of Diabetes.

Short-term sleep deprivation affects insulin sensitivity (4), which means that the body does not typically respond to insulin, and glucose levels rise.

• Sleep deprivation can even affect your physical appearance

People who don’t get enough sleep may look older than their actual age because lack of sleep causes premature skin aging due to cortisol release during the day (cortisol is the primary stress hormone).

• Increased risk of obesity and premature death from all causes.

Sleep loss has been linked with weight gain, a higher body mass index (BMI), and an increased risk of obesity-related conditions like diabetes and heart disease. In one study, men who slept less than six hours per night were more likely to die from any cause than those who slept seven hours per night. A similar association has been found between sleep loss and increased mortality in women.

People who don’t get enough sleep tend to eat more high-calorie snack foods than people who get a whole night’s rest. Lack of sleep also can interfere with normal appetite control mechanisms in the brain. The result is that people who don’t get enough sleep tend to gain weight faster than those who do get adequate shut-eye each night.

• Sleep deprivation causes cognitive impairment.

Our brains need sleep to function correctly. Without sufficient sleep over time, our brains become fatigued and unable to perform tasks efficiently or accurately. This cognitive impairment can have serious consequences in professions such as medicine and transportation, where alertness is critical for safety.

• Reduced sex drive and fertility in both men and women.

Sleep deprivation affects your libido by decreasing testosterone levels in men and poor sperm quality and quantity. In women, sleep loss can lead to reduced fertility. A study published in 2017 found that women who slept less than six hours per night had a 32 percent drop in their odds of getting pregnant each month compared with women who slept seven-plus hours per night. Increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol in both sexes occur due to sleep deprivation.

• Decreased Immune Function

Sleep deprivation reduces immune function, which makes people more susceptible to infection. A recent study showed that sleep-deprived people exposed to the common cold virus had a significantly higher risk of developing a cold than those who got adequate sleep.

• Memory loss.

Getting enough sleep helps you remember what you have learned during the day so that it can become part of your long-term memory. Sleep deprivation makes it harder for the brain to make new memories or learn further information.

Although we need to get enough sleep every night, many people find it challenging to do so because they work night shifts or have other commitments during the nighttime hours. In addition, some people suffer from a sleep disorder such as insomnia that makes it difficult for them to fall asleep or stay asleep.