New Delhi: We have often come across the question of whether we are an early riser or a night owl, and most of us have answered the latter. At times, we are proud to say that we work all night, go to sleep late, and wake up late- something we call a ‘flexible lifestyle’. Be it work, studies, or maybe simply watching a movie, staying up till late at night has a lot of ill effects which we are unaware of, or even if we are- we brush it aside. Sleeping on time and getting adequate sleep is a privilege that we often undermine.
Importance Of Proper Timely Sleep At Night:
There is an internal body clock that regulates when you feel relaxed or drowsy. This 24-hour cycle is known as the circadian rhythm. You feel motivated in the morning after waking up. Your level of tiredness increases throughout time, peaking in the evening.
This need to sleep may be related to adenosine, an organic substance found in our bodies, which disintegrates when we are sleeping. Adenosine level increases throughout the day, and our body becomes tired.
Circadian rhythms are impacted by light. The suprachiasmatic nucleus, a cluster of the hypothalamus, present in our brain, is responsible for sending signals when our eyes are exposed to any form of light. We can tell what time of day it is by looking at the signage.
Our bodies begin manufacturing melatonin as it gets darker in the evening. It is a hormone that induces sleep in us, while our body produces the hormone cortisol in the morning, which awakens and energises us.
Side Effects Of Sleeping Late At Night:
1. Weight Gain:
Our body’s metabolism depends heavily on sleep, and getting too little sleep might interfere with it and cause your body to digest meals more slowly. Even if you restrict your diet, this could make you gain weight. According to studies, people who slept for fewer than five hours gained more weight than those who slept for seven to eight hours.
2. Heart Disease:
In 2011, researchers found that people who get less sleep are likely to generate more chemicals and hormones that are linked to heart disease. Particularly, the risk of developing heart disease is increased by 48% in persons who sleep for fewer than six hours each night.
3. Stress:
The amount of sleep a person gets each night has a relationship to their stress levels. Sleeping too late also increases the risk of mental diseases like depression, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer’s.
4. Forgetfulness:
The central nervous system becomes strained when you don’t get enough sleep for your body. The effects on your brain’s functionality could be disastrous. Additionally, research has revealed that many people’s memory impairment is caused by a lack of sleep.
5. Skin Problems:
Your skin’s health may suffer as a result of the overproduction of cortisol that results from sleep loss. The skin protein collagen, which keeps our skin smooth, is broken down by cortisol. It only takes a few sleepless nights to develop dark circles below the eyes. Regardless of age, chronic sleep deprivation can lead to dry skin and wrinkles.
