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Organ systems affected by sleep deprivation - nutrition
Many people tend to notice the effects of sleep deprivation only on their psychological state, associating problems such as anxiety, depression, lack of concentration, memory loss and stress to temporary situations. However, this approach minimizes the true impact that sleep deprivation has on overall health.
The aforementioned effects should not be taken lightly, as they considerably impair quality of life and increase the risk of various chronic diseases. Lack of sleep severely affects several systems in the body, including the immune, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems. Throughout this guide, we will explore the impact of sleep deprivation on these systems.
The immune system, which protects the body against viruses and bacteria, is one of the most affected by sleep deprivation. Without adequate rest, hormonal changes weaken the body's ability to fight disease. Studies show that sleeping at least 8 hours strengthens the immune system, while lack of sleep weakens it, making us more susceptible to infections.
The cardiovascular system is also severely affected by sleep deprivation. Diseases such as myocardial infarction are more common in people with sleep problems. The risk of suffering a heart attack increases up to three times when we do not get enough sleep, which places lack of sleep alongside smoking and sedentary lifestyles as key risk factors.
The cerebrovascular system shares risk factors with the cardiovascular system. Lack of sleep can multiply the likelihood of stroke by one to four times, as can smoking, which also adversely affects arteries and blood pressure. Underestimating these effects can have serious long-term consequences.
With this information, we can clearly see that lack of sleep not only affects in the short term, but has a progressive impact on our health. If you are interested in learning more about nutrition and health, check out our course offerings.
