A night without sleep: what happens in your body

Many important processes take place in the body during sleep. Not sleeping for one night can therefore already have an impact on your abilities and well-being. You can find out exactly what the consequences of a sleepless night are here.

How much sleep a person needs depends on the individual, because the need for sleep is determined by our internal clock and this is genetically determined. Some people get by with six hours of sleep a night, others need eight or more to wake up feeling rested. But even those who are short sleepers and are still in top shape in the morning will clearly feel the consequences of a sleepless night.

Why sleep counts every night

Not sleeping for just one night can have a negative impact on various aspects of your physical and mental health, because sleep is responsible for so many vital functions in the body:

While sleeping:

• the neural network in the brain regenerates,
• information from the waking state is processed and stored in memory,
• Growth hormones are released, which support body growth and regeneration,
• the heart rate and blood pressure decrease,
• the immune defense is strengthened through the increased presence of defense cells,
• the metabolism runs at full speed, energy stores are replenished,
• Metabolic breakdown products are transported away in the brain.

Sleep is not only important for physical recovery and regeneration, but also for memory formation and learning, a strong immune system and the regulation of metabolic processes. So we need sleep – every night.

Not sleeping one night: This is what happens

If you skip the night’s sleep, it messes up our entire system. According to sleep doctor Anna Heidbreder in the Utopia interview, spending a night without sleeping has a noticeable effect:

“In fact, just one night without sleep significantly increases your risk of catching a cold virus the next day. It has been shown that people who are vaccinated produce fewer antibodies when they do not sleep. It is also said that when you drive your car after night duty, you have a level of alertness similar to that of 0.5 per mille.”

You can find the whole interview here:

Other effects of a sleepless night:

• Neurocognitive functions: Your ability to process information deteriorates. Long-term memory is impaired, your attention span shortens, and you complete tasks more carelessly.

• Sensitivity to stimuli: The brain has a harder time distinguishing between important and unimportant stimuli. Loud noises and beeps can therefore cause greater stress.

• Behavioral changes: Not sleeping for a night puts you in a bad mood? Not necessarily, because according to scientists, sleep deprivation can also lead to euphoria. However, this is accompanied by an increased willingness to take risks. You also have difficulty concentrating, react more slowly to unforeseen events and are more irritable.

• Immune deficiency: There is evidence that sleep deprivation can cause illness in both the short and long term. People who sleep less than six or seven hours per night are at increased risk of infection. After 24 hours without sleep, the immune system is significantly less effective at warding off diseases. Certain immune cells work more slowly and the immune system cannot remember pathogens that are already known, which weakens your defense mechanisms.

• Cravings for unhealthy foods: Lack of sleep can cause the hormone ghrelin to be released. This not only signals feelings of hunger to the brain, but also influences the reward center. This can result in increased cravings for high-calorie and unhealthy foods, especially fast food.

Tips for falling asleep

In order for your body to function at its best, it is important to get a regular night’s sleep. Not sleeping for a night should be the exception – but it’s easy for most people to cope with: sleep doctor Anna Heidbreder explains that you can catch up on sleep. However, if you suffer from sleepless nights or other sleep disorders for longer than three months, it is necessary to have this checked by a doctor.

At the same time, you can try out some tips for better sleep. Anna Heidbreder recommends:

• If you can’t fall asleep, think of something inconsequential that makes you feel familiar and comfortable.
• With meditation, podcasts, or audio books, you can try to focus your brain on something else that will let you unwind. However, the rule here is that you have to find out for yourself what works. Because podcasts and audio books can also have a stimulating effect.
• Try relaxation techniques like progressive muscle relaxation. A relaxed body can also relax the mind.

Read more on Techzle\.com:

• Fall asleep better: These 6 tips can help
• Natural sleeping pills: These 4 will help you fall asleep
• Why sleeping on your stomach is unhealthy