Facebook Pixel

What Pulling an All-Nighter Does to Your Health

By HERWriter
 
Rate This
girl in bed reading Via pexels, edited by Kaitlyn Thompson

You know you should get some sleep, but there are more important things for you to do like studying for that big exam or watching cat videos. The Sleep Foundation recommends that adults age 18-64 need 7-9 hours of sleep every night. What really happens to your body when you decide to skip those necessary hours of sleep?

1. You feel more stressed.

According to a paper in Medscape Neurology, when you are lacking sleep the hormone cortisol rises in its levels. This hormone is called the stress hormone, and it can create numerous health issues like decrease in memory, bone density and your immune system in addition to feelings of stress.

2. You’ll have trouble remembering things said to you and people’s faces.

When you don’t get enough sleep, it creates problems with the brain’s thalamus. The thalamus is where your brain recognizes other people and is able to remember faces. Additionally, the lack of sleep affects the prefrontal cortex which allows you to remember things people are saying.

3. You can gain weight.

An increase in cortisol can result in weight gain, and other hormones that are affected can also impact your weight. Your levels of leptin and ghrelin decrease when you go without sleep, and a study in PLOS Medicine found that decreasing levels of these hormones can increase your body mass index and make you feel hungrier.

4. You can lose control of your emotions.

In addition to memory, the prefrontal cortex is what helps to control your emotions. When you are lacking sleep, a study by UC Berkeley found that you are more likely to feel feelings of depression and negativity.

5. Your risk for high blood pressure and diabetes increases.

According to the American Diabetes Association, not getting enough sleep can be linked to high blood sugar levels as well as increased blood pressure.

Editing Note: This article did not filter through the normal EmpowHER editing and fact checking process. It was checked for spelling and grammar.

Read more in Being HER

https://sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need

http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/502825

http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.0010062

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2656292/

http://ts-si.org/content/view/2634/992/

http://www.businessinsider.com/what-pulling-an-all-nighter-does-to-your-body-2012-9?op=1

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/234793.php

Being HER

Why You Should Listen to Your Body

Why You Should Listen to Your Body

The Price of Being Petty

The Price of Being Petty

10 New Year’s Resolutions for Twentysomethings to Have a Happier, Healthier 2017

10 New Year’s Resolutions for Twentysomethings to Have a Happier, Healthier 2017

3 Recipes to Spice Up Your Taco Night

3 Recipes to Spice Up Your Taco Night

All in Being HER

Add a Comment2 Comments

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Just like women, men need some time of their own to be
with their buddies and hang out. Have i love you video been struggling
lately to get your man to really commit.

When people hop online to shop for Christmas gifts, that means they'll
probably hop online while they're at home to help pass the time - and if they're feeling lonely, they'll usually take up internet dating by going to an online personals site.

June 12, 2016 - 6:50am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Just like women, men need some time of their own to be with their buddies and hang out.
Have i love you video been struggling lately to get your man to really commit.

When people hop online to shop for Christmas gifts,
that means they'll probably hop online while they're at home to help pass the time - and if they're
feeling lonely, they'll usually take up internet dating by going to an online
personals site.

June 12, 2016 - 6:50am
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
By submitting this form, you agree to EmpowHER's terms of service and privacy policy
Add a Comment

We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.