What a Lack of Sleep Really Does to Your Health

Admit it; your entire family thinks you are evil when you don’t get enough sleep. Just like you think the people in your family are evil when they don’t get enough sleep. Ever find yourself rolling your eyes and explaining that your kids woke up an hour earlier than usual after going to bed an hour later than usual the night before as a way of explaining their crankiness? Newsflash, people, you’re just as cranky when you don’t get enough shut-eye, but that’s not the only problem with not getting enough sleep.

Lack of Sleep Makes You Fat

Do you even need to hear anymore? No one wants to be fat, so get some sleep. According to medical professionals, not sleeping enough is bad for your waistline (your thighs, your arms, your stomach…). Women who don’t get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night are at a greater risk of suffering from obesity. The problem is that women who don’t get enough sleep don’t function as well, which means your metabolism is slower and your eating habits may be off.

Lack of Sleep Makes You Eat Poorly

When you’re tired, your body craves things such as carbs and fatty foods. When you eat these foods you are doing what….getting fat. Not only are you getting fat, you are putting yourself at risk of heart disease, diabetes and other health problems that could actually kill you. So essentially, not getting enough sleep could kill you through your diet.

Lack of Sleep Leads to High Blood Pressure

When your body doesn’t get enough sleep, you run the risk of increasing your blood pressure. Stress is a common side effect of not getting enough sleep, and stress can also increase your blood pressure. This is not a coincidence and you should do whatever it takes to get at least 7 to 8 hours of good sleep each night.