Many important processes take place in the body during sleep. Not sleeping for one night can therefore have an impact on your abilities and well-being. Find out exactly what the consequences of a sleepless night are here.
How much sleep a person needs is very individual, because the need for sleep is determined by our internal clock, which is genetic. Some people get by with six hours of sleep a night, others need eight or more to wake up rested. But even those who are short sleepers who are still in top shape in the morning will clearly feel the consequences of a sleepless night.
Why every night’s sleep counts
Not sleeping for a single 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:
In sleep:
- the neuronal network in the brain regenerates,
- information from the waking state is processed and stored in the memory,
- Growth hormones are released, which support body growth and regeneration,
- the heart rate and blood pressure decrease,
- the immune system is strengthened by increased presence of defense cells,
- the metabolism runs at full speed, energy stores are replenished,
- Waste products of metabolism in the brain are removed.
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 miss a good night’s sleep, it messes up our entire system. According to sleep medicine specialist Anna Heidbreder in an interview with Utopia, even spending a night without sleeping can have 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 if they do not sleep. It is also said that you have the same alertness as if you were driving after a night shift.”
You can find the whole interview here:
Further effects of a sleepless night:
-
Neurocognitive functions: Your ability to process information deteriorates. Long-term memory is impaired, 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 signal tones 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 easily irritable.
-
Immune deficiency: There is evidence that sleep deprivation can make you sick in both the short and long term. People who sleep less than six or seven hours a night have an increased risk of infection. After 24 hours without sleep, the immune system is significantly less effective at fighting off diseases. Certain immune cells work more slowly and the immune system cannot remember previously known pathogens as well, which weakens your defense mechanisms.
-
Cravings for unhealthy foods: Lack of sleep can cause the hormone ghrelin to be released. This not only signals 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
Regular nighttime rest is important so that your body can function as well as possible. Not sleeping for a night should therefore be the exception – but most people can cope with it: sleep medicine specialist Anna Heidbreder explains that you can catch up on sleep. However, if you suffer from sleepless nights or other sleep disorders for more than three months, it is necessary to have this checked out by a doctor.
At the same time, you can try out some tips for better sleep. Heidbreder recommends:
- If you can’t fall asleep, think of something trivial 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 help you switch off. However, you have to find out what works for you individually. 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:
- Sleep better: These 6 tips can help
- Natural sleeping pills: These 4 will help you fall asleep
- Why sleeping on your stomach is unhealthy
** marked with ** or orange underlined Links to sources are sometimes affiliate links: If you buy here, you are actively supporting Techzle\.com, because we then receive a small part of the sales proceeds. More information.