8 TERRIFYING Truths About Sleep Deprivation

How well do you sleep? 

If your answer is “very well”, then I must admit, I’m slightly jealous. 

If it’s “pretty bad,” then it seems like you’re in the majority…

A survey carried out for the Mental Health Foundation found the average UK adult gets just three days a week of good quality sleep. And there are more alarming stats:

• 38% said poor sleep negatively impacts their mental health at least once a week

• 48% claim it’s made them feel more angry or irritable, stressed or overwhelmed, or more anxious 

• 33% say they can’t concentrate at work, while 22% admit to making more mistakes

There’s an endless list of what I’m calling potential sleep disruptors - a mix of modern lifestyle, stress and environmental factors. Our ‘always on’ culture, onslaught of screens, diets, high-octane work cultures, packed out social calendars, inconsistent sleep schedules… I could go on. And multiple disruptors can work together to keep us staring at the ceiling rather than the backs of our eyelids. 

Consistently poor sleep is more than just annoying. Here are 8 frightening truths about how sleep deprivation can potentially hit our physical and mental health:

1. Short tempered, anxious, stressed, overwhelmed… bad sleep can make your mood swing in directions you don’t want it to go.
   
   
2. Your immune system takes a hit, as our bodies need good quality sleep to produce and distribute infection-fighting cells and proteins.
   
   
3. The risk of accidents and injuries rises, with drowsiness slowing down things like reaction times and co-ordination.
   
   
4. What to have for dinner? What to wear today? What to watch on TV? It becomes a mission to make even simple decisions. And making decisions quickly? Forget it!
   
   
5. Brain fog takes over, not only affecting decision-making but also focus and memory (both short-term and long-term)
   
   
6. It’s said that people who don’t get enough sleep have higher blood sugar levels, which raises the risk of type 2 diabetes.
   
   
7. Long-term sleep deprivation can also lead to obesity, because lack of sleep messes with the chemicals in your brain that signal you’re full.
   
   
8. Add this to other, more serious potential health implications, such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular issues.

Fixing your sleep starts with identifying the potential disruptors, then finding ways to tackle them. Some examples include:

• Avoiding caffeine late in the day (the earlier the cut off, the better)
• Limiting screen time at least an hour before bed (again, the earlier, the better)
• Sticking to a regular sleep schedule
• Making your bedroom feel like the ultimate zen den
• Jotting down your worries, to free up your brain for rest

You can take a look at this recent blog for tips on how to hone your sleep schedule for better quality snoozing.

The odd night of poor sleep is unlikely to have a big impact on your health (though you might feel a little groggy and irritable the next day). But if it’s happening more times than it isn’t - and despite your best efforts to tackle those disruptors - then it could be time to bring in additional support.

Traditional sleeping tablets can leave you dependent and groggy. Sleepee is an all-natural alternative containing CherryPURE® 50x extract and 10 other powerhouse ingredients to support quality sleep night in, night out.

After 60 days of use, most people said they fall asleep more easily, wake less during the night, and feel more refreshed in the morning. That’s thanks to Sleepee being naturally rich in melatonin to help regulate your body’s sleep-wake cycle, and thanks to ingredients like zinc, passionflower and lemon balm.

Try Sleepee today!