5 Ways Chronic Insomnia Affects Your Overall Health

It isn't uncommon to have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep from time to time. However, chronic insomnia is a significant issue whose effects transcend merely being cranky and out of sorts the following day. According to the American Sleep Apnea Foundation, about 10% of Americans experience chronic insomnia. This condition can have a wide range of adverse effects on your health in ways that you may not even know. Below are some critical insights into how chronic insomnia affects your overall health.

Increases your risk of weight gain

Sleep deprivation is a popular risk factor for becoming overweight and eventually obese. As per a 2004 study, individuals who sleep below six hours daily were nearly 30% likelier to become obese than their counterparts who slept seven to nine hours. Furthermore, recent research has highlighted the link between sleep and the two hormones (Ghrelin and Leptin) that regulate appetite. Leptin signals your brain when you have had enough to eat and suppresses appetite. Your brain reduces Leptin levels and raises Ghrelin, which is the appetite stimulant. Consequently, nighttime snacking and overeating later in the night are not uncommon among people who fail to get regular sleep.

Insomnia ages your skin

Many people experience puffy eyes and pale skin after a few nights of missed sleep. As such, chronic sleep loss can lead to even worse dark circles under your eyes, fine lines, and lackluster skin. Your body releases great amounts of the stress hormone cortisol when you do not get enough sleep. Excess amounts of cortisol in the body can break down your skin's collagen, the protein that maintains your smooth and elastic skin. Furthermore, sleep loss also causes your body to release minute amounts of the human growth hormone. This hormone promotes rapid growth in youth, and is responsible for strengthening bones, thickening skin, and increasing muscle mass as you age. Since this growth hormone is released during deep sleep, staying up all night can make you look older than you are after a long period. Therefore, it is always best to tackle insomnia at its root cause to ensure that you can get some quality shut-eye. Thankfully, if threadworms are the root cause of your persistent insomnia, you can buy Ovex online to treat the constant itching that makes you restless throughout the night.

Increased risk of depression

Many sleep disorders are linked to depression but insomnia, the most common sleep disorder, has the strongest link. Consequently, experiencing chronic insomnia can put you at a greater risk of more severe depression. Also, the connection between insomnia and depression is somewhat symbiotic since they feed on each other. Chronic insomnia aggravates the common symptoms of depression, and it becomes even harder to fall asleep if you have insomnia. Thankfully, tackling your sleep problems is a great way to kill two birds with one stone and restore yourself to optimum health.

Reduced life expectancy

Reduced life expectancy as a consequence of chronic insomnia remains a matter of scientific research. Experts are yet to determine whether this reduction in life expectancy is due to the various health problems mentioned above or a different consequence in people who haven't experienced any other physical health impacts. Nevertheless, it is an undeniable fact that chronic insomnia decreases the years you are expected to live. Some experts estimate that you are 12% more likely to die early due to this condition than people who get seven to eight hours of nightly sleep. However, a more recent study suggests that the link between persistent insomnia and mortality is even stronger, with those suffering from this condition suffering a 97% increased risk of early death.

Compromises your immune system

Your immune system produces antibodies, cytokines, and other infection-fighting substances to protect you while you sleep. It relies on these substances to fight foreign invaders like viruses and bacteria to keep you healthy. Also, some cytokines can even help you sleep better, making your immune system more efficient at defense. Consequently, chronic insomnia deprives your immune system of the necessary time to build up its forces. As such, your body may not fail to fend off invaders, increasing your susceptibility to everyday illnesses. For instance, getting below seven hours of nightly sleep nearly triples your risk of getting the flu. Also, it may take longer than usual to recover from certain illnesses. However, chronic insomnia increases your risk for more severe conditions, including stroke, heart disease, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, and high blood pressure.