What happens to your body if you sleep less than 5 hours a day

The first thing we sacrifice in the modern rhythm of megacities, when we realize that 24 hours in a day to achieve goals is catastrophically insufficient – sleep. Many experts and moms argue that in vain. There is a well-established opinion that a person needs to sleep at least 8 hours a day. But what if you simply don’t feel like sleeping? Together with Olga Begasheva, a neurologist and somnologist from Osteo Poly Clinic, we are going to find out whether lack of sleep is so terrible and how many hours of proper rest are enough to restore the body.

How much sleep is needed?

The need for sleep is genetically determined, and on average it is from 5 to 8 hours. And in some cases, even 10 hours of sleep is the norm. Problems with falling asleep occur mainly in old age and are more common in women. By the age of 50, insomnia affects almost 40% of all women. And after the age of 65, sleep disorders no longer increase. An American survey of 70-year-olds showed that on average, if they have sleep problems, they sleep only 6-7 hours, if not – 7.5 hours.

The need for sleep increases during the period of intense growth in children – this first spikes at age 6-7 and around age 13-16. Long and healthy sleep is also necessary for athletes. During intense physical activity, somatotropic hormone is needed, which is released in the first third of the night and affects the growth and development of the body.

What happens to the body during sleep?

Sleep is as much an altered state as wakefulness. It is essential for recovery, for immunity, for growth, for memory. But the most important function of sleep is to preserve the person as an individual: it is memory and imagery. At this time, our inner self is restored and rested.

An experiment was conducted: among the subjects organized a competition, who will be awake more nights. Unfortunately, during the experiment, the person who, by the way, and won, began to gradually go insane. It was an irreversible condition. Since then, such experiments have been banned, but the results of the study proved that sleep is the main function of restoring not only the body, but also the internal state. This is a very important psychological aspect.

Another important point concerns circadian rhythms. The thing is that according to the “internal clock” from one to three in the morning the stomach is restored – this is its biologically active time, from 3:00 to 6:00 – the intestines, in the morning the adrenal glands are actively involved, cortisol is produced. And, naturally, those people who abuse sleep disorders and have a sleep deficit, as a result get health problems.

What problems arise with sleep deficiency?

First of all, performance suffers: headaches, memory and attention disorders, a person is no longer able to cope with the amount of work that was done before. The mood changes very sharply. It is called a simple philistine word “depression”, but in depression in the academic sense is understood as a violation of the production of all neurotransmitter systems. First of all, dopamine, and this hormone affects mood, strength, endurance. Then – norepinephrine – and this is concentration, attention, this is the function of bringing the begun to the end. After – serotonin – it affects, again, the mood, maintaining the tone of blood vessels and muscle tone.

In severe cases, sleep deficiency leads to serious psychosis, and insomnia is one of the severe syndromes. In age groups, the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, sclerosis and other diseases appears. That is, in sleep, due to its lack, there is no recovery of cells of the nervous system.

Lack of sleep leads to a drop in immunity, the production of antibodies, memory, attention is impaired. Moreover, it increases the chances of shortening life due to sudden disruptions in circadian rhythms. That is, the one who lives long is the one who has these circadian rhythms clear. The key to health is the so-called Swiss mode – to fall asleep and wake up at the same time every day.

What are the main causes of insomnia?

Insomnia is the hardest condition for the body. If a person has a toothache, pulpitis, he necessarily goes to the dentist and treats the problem. This also applies to any other disease. But in case of insomnia, a person is sometimes in such a difficult condition for a long time, years. The body, finding itself without help, loses its last resources. Although to date, treating insomnia is no more difficult than a tooth. The topic is studied, there is such a somnology and specialists – somnologists who deal with it.

There are psychological causes:

• stress;
• anxiety;
• neuroses.

Physiological:

• Hormonal imbalance;
• insufficient insulin production (e.g., in diabetes mellitus);
• painful sensations.

External:

• Regimen disorder;
• excessive consumption of tonic drinks;
• overeating or starvation;
• unventilated room;
• gadget abuse.

What to do about insomnia?

Insomnia comes in many forms. There are shifts in the phases of sleep or a manifestation of a reaction to stress – then the duration of such a period is only 2-3 months. After the state of the person can return to normal, and sleep is restored. But there are long, severe, so-called endogenous insomnia. Treatment of such diseases is engaged in either a psychiatrist or a somnologist.

In the study of insomnia, polysomnography is carried out. Also diagnosis is made by interviewing, collecting anamnesis. In addition, other possible somatic causes are also distinguished. Often problems with the liver and intestines are detected. In this case, the body does not produce serotonin – its deficiency affects sleep disorders. With the problem of intolerance to various products, for example, lectins, gluten, they become toxic to the nervous system. In these cases, doctors conduct a comprehensive diagnosis, complete treatment, intensive general strengthening of the body. Xenon therapy, massages and relaxing procedures are also recommended for the treatment of insomnia.