"How did you sleep last night? "
"Not so great but I had a strong coffee and I am good to go!"
Well, not so fast! Here are some very serious consequences of sleep deprivation.
Not getting enough sleep causes accidents
People not getting enough sleep are behind some major disasters - like Chernobyl in 1986 or the massive Exxon Valdez oil spill to name a few.
Not less deadly is driving when tired - I still remember my college years, driving home after working all night in the labs and completely not remembering the way I got home. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that fatigue is a cause of 100,000 auto crashes and 1,550 crash-related deaths a year in the U.S.
Sleep loss can make you dumber
While we sleep our brain analyzes everything that happened to us during the day. It makes important connections and not getting enough sleep impairs our ability to learn and problem solve. The saying "Sleep on it" is actually a true, physiological necessity for making right choices.
Lack of sleep kills sex drive
You heard it! If nothing else, this one will encourage you to get enough sleep!
Insomnia leads to depression
People with insomnia are five times more likely to develop depression. The unfortunate part is that when you are depressed you have a hard time going to sleep and vice versa. But breaking the circle can improve both problems.
It ages your skin
“It’s during deep sleep -- what we call slow-wave sleep -- that growth hormone is released,” says sleep expert Phil Gehrman, PhD. “It seems to be part of normal tissue repair -- patching the wear and tear of the day.”
You snooze, you lose - literally! Lack of sleep increases hunger and appetite, especially for high-fat, high-carbohydrate foods. And because sleep deprivation impairs our judgment too - that piece of chocolate cake looks so good right about 2 pm for a quick pick me up.