Last Updated on 7 March 2024 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic
Insomnia can affect your life in multiple ways. It keeps people awake for the better part of the night. It results in irritation, tiredness, low productivity and a number of other issues, both social and medical. The Sleep Health Foundation in Australia found that one in every three individuals suffers at least a mild form of insomnia. Considering the prevalence of insomnia and how it can affect several aspects of an individual’s life, it is becoming a major health risk.
Here are five ways insomnia can affect your life:
Impaired judgment
Sleep deprivation often results in an inability to make the right choices. Those with insomnia may think that they have adapted to the condition. However, even if they are as productive as others, it still decreases a person’s mental alertness. When making a decision, such individuals fail to rationalise their choice, often resulting in incorrect judgment.
Changes in appearance
Dark circles and puffy eyes are all too common among insomniacs. If a person remains deprived of proper sleep for long, their overall skin appearance changes well. Fine lines and loss of lustre are a result of the decrease in growth hormones involved in tissue repair. These hormones are usually released during sleep, the lack of which can make the skin look unhealthy.
Weight gain
Weight gain is common among people who do not get enough sleep. Longer waking hours result in an increased appetite which can lead to weight gain. Digestion may also be affected by sleep patterns.
Mental health struggles
An inability to get normal, routine sleep for a long time can affect your mental health. Studies have shown that mental health problems such as depression and anxiety are common among individuals who get less than six hours of sleep. Furthermore, diagnosis of these problems is also much more likely in insomniacs than in people able to get normal sleep.
Life expectancy
Yes, long term Insomnia can affect your life expectancy in a number of ways. For instance, an increase in weight can lead to high sugar and/or blood pressure. It may eventually lead to heart disease. Additionally, impaired judgment can often put the lives of these people at risk. It can potentially result in decreased immunity, making you more susceptible to infections.
We understand how difficult it can be to live with insomnia. However, you don’t have to fight alone.
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