Simba surveyed 2,175 British adults about their sleep habits, physical well-being, and how they look. An AI bot analyzed the data and created visuals showing what happens when people sleep more or less than seven hours nightly. Lisa Artis, Deputy CEO of The Sleep Charity (Simba’s partner), stated that sleep deprivation has visible consequences throughout the body, not just tiredness. Artis elaborated, stating that a lack of sleep increases cortisol (the stress hormone), worsening inflammatory skin issues such as eczema and psoriasis, which leads to irritation, redness, and itching.
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The study showed skin is among the initial body parts to show indications of not getting enough sleep. Artis stated that lack of sleep leads to less blood reaching the skin, making it look pale and lifeless, thus losing its usual radiance and health.
In those who said they didn’t sleep enough, 24% reported their skin was more easily irritated. Other common skin problems included eczema (16%), psoriasis (7%), and lackluster skin (10%). Artis also noted that the skin actively renews and fixes itself during the night. She added that, when resting, better blood flow helps this repair process and improves the skin’s healthy and bright appearance.
In addition, brittle nails were reported by 15% of those not sleeping enough, suggesting a connection between not getting enough sleep on a regular basis and unhealthy nails. This connection might happen because not sleeping enough interrupts the body’s normal ways of fixing things, which are needed to keep nails strong.
Insufficient sleep can also lead to increased weight. The study showed that 26% of individuals with sleep deficiency were overweight, and 32% suffered from bloating. Ms. Artis stated that sleep is crucial for the body to regulate hormones such as ghrelin and leptin, which are vital for managing hunger and fullness.
When sleep is lacking, ghrelin increases, causing heightened hunger, while leptin decreases, diminishing the feeling of being full. “This hormonal disruption leads to excessive eating, particularly a strong desire for sugary, high-calorie foods.”
Ms. Artis also suggests that insufficient sleep might influence how men and women gain weight differently. She explained, “Women are more prone to accumulating fat in their hips and thighs due to hormonal shifts, whereas men may observe more fat around their abdomen because of reduced testosterone.”
Disturbance in the body’s internal temperature balance.
A separate piece of research looked into whether sleep problems were connected to different kinds of constipation in individuals seeking medical care. The results indicated a considerably increased chance of constipation for those who regularly didn’t get enough sleep, pointing to the vital role sleep plays in digestive system well-being.
The necessary duration of sleep is not the same for everyone and depends on several things. The National Health Service suggests that “most healthy grown-ups should aim for approximately seven to nine hours” of sleep. However, age, health status, and personal situation all affect how much sleep someone needs. Naturally, some people need more sleep than others do. Because their bodies are still developing, adolescents, children, and infants need additional rest; newborn babies may sleep from 8 to 16 hours each day.
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