It’s the public health crisis that rivals obesity and smoking, affecting more than 25 percent of the U.S. population, and killing thousands in the blink of an eye: sleep deprivation. It can devastate your body, compromise your mind and immune system, and lead to diabetes, depression and even death.
According to Liz Vaccariello, editor-in-chief of Reader’s Digest, not enough sleep has potentially devastating consequences. “The stats are crystal clear, and it’s very disturbing. The CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] in 20111, declared sleep deprivation a public health crisis,” explains Vaccariello, whose magazine recently profiled the topic in an articled called “Sounding the Alarm on Sleep.” One quarter of all transportation accidents in the U.S. are linked to sleep deprivation, she points out.
Aside from sleep deprivation leading more than 1,500 transportation-related deaths annually, it can also cause major health issues. “It can make you sick, fat and stupid,” Vaccariello tells The Doctors in the video above. Without proper rest, there can be an increased risk of depression, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and even early death, she explains. Moreover, without adequate sleep, there are changes in our brain chemistry, hormones and metabolism that affect our satiety and physiology. One study showed that people who get two hours less sleep a night than they should are more likely to gain weight. Studies also show that memory, concentration, judgment and decision making can all be affected by lack of sleep.
The good news is that getting enough rest can have an immediate and positive impact on your health. “If I [get a good night’s sleep] tonight, tomorrow is going to be a better day,” points out family medicine physician Dr. Rachael Ross.
Get tips for a better night’s sleep here.
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