5 Health Hazards of Insomnia

Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders. It is a condition in which you face great difficulty in falling asleep. You do not get the amount of sleep you need. It may look like a very normal problem, but it can have very serious health effects. If you leave this condition untreated for long, it may affect you not only physically but psychologically and emotionally also. If you are sleeping during the afternoon or evening assuming that this way you can make up for the loss of sleep during the night, you are wrong. That is not what “getting enough sleep” means. Getting an adequate amount of sleep means sleeping throughout the night. If you have sleepless nights, it may lead to more serious health problems that include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression and obesity – just to name a few. Low Self-Esteem and Depression People suffering from insomnia experience extreme fatigue, even though they are not engaged in strenuous physical activities. They experience more severe depression and have longer illnesses as compared to those who are getting quality sleep at night. This type of sleep disorder may also lead to problems of low self-esteem. It is very important for you to keep in mind that your mental ability, productivity, performance and overall emotional well-being depend on the quality and quantity of sleep you get. Weight Gain Insomnia may also lead to the problem of weight gain and obesity. It has been found that people suffering from sleeplessness during the night tend to increase their waist circumference and body mass index (BMI) more quickly. As compared to those who do not have such sleeping problems, their chances of becoming obese are double. Sleep deprivation results in certain hormonal changes that lead to increased appetite. You eat more than the actual needs of your body and so you are very likely to gain weight. Memory Loss Insomnia may also affect your mental ability. An adequate amount of good quality sleep is very important to protect your memory from interference. When your body goes through the trauma of sleepless nights, it damages your memory. The long-term effects of untreated insomnia may even include complete memory loss. IQ Impairment According to a recent research report from the University of Virginia, insomnia may also impair your cognitive and IQ development. Sleep deprivation is supposed to be one of the major reasons for students having poor peer relations and getting lower grades. Your ability to relate to others is also seriously affected by insomnia. You can avoid this type of intellectual impairment by getting enough sleep during the night. Physical Effects Insomnia may also lead to physical impairment. When you stay awake during the night, your body suffers a lot. It does not get the rest it needs. As a result, it may impair your coordination, which may cause delayed reaction time. Besides that, it may also cause tremors and clumsiness, increased levels of fatigue, reduced endurance and reduced cardiovascular performance. Therefore, the problem of insomnia should never be ignored and you must seek immediate treatment for it; otherwise, the condition may only get worse.