The endocrine system and sleep

Lack of sleep affects different systems of the human organism, one of the systems that receives more impacts is the endocrine system. There are many affectations that our body suffers at a hormonal level when it does not rest properly, increasing or decreasing the levels of secretion of various hormones in our body. That is why the health impacts caused by not sleeping well are usually devastating if they are sustained over time.

To prevent and counteract the possible effects of diseases related to lack of sleep, a deep and uninterrupted rest of at least 8 hours is required in adults, providing the necessary time to repair the damage received during the day.

During the development of this guide we will be addressing some of the most important elements that revolve around sleep and its negative impact on the body in the absence of prolonged rest, for this we will focus this time on the endocrine system, one of the systems of the human body that is most impacted when we do not get enough sleep.

Impact on growth hormone

Growth hormone is regulated by the hypothalamus and secreted by the pituitary gland. When we do not sleep adequately this hormone is impaired, since it is secreted at the beginning of the night. Similarly, interrupting sleep has been shown to significantly decrease the secretion of this hormone.

Impact on Thyrotropin

Thyrotropin is known to be the hormone responsible for stimulating the thyroid. The levels of this hormone are significantly low during the day and increase in the evening. There is a strong relationship between sleep and thyrotropin secretion. When we do not get enough rest, the levels of thyrotropin in the body increase by 200% compared to when we sleep well. Another aspect that should be taken into account is that the inhibitory effect on Thyrotropin only occurs when we sleep adequately at night, since several studies have shown that sleeping during the day does not cause this effect.

Impact on cortisol

The hormone cortisol has a high point of secretion during the last hours of the night, peaking during the day. Several studies have linked slow sleep as one of the most important factors in inhibiting cortisol secretion. Similarly, it has been shown that changes and interruptions in sleep cycles can affect the way this hormone is secreted.

Melatonin

Melatonin is one of the hormones that has a curious relationship with sleep. This hormone is synthesized by the pineal gland and released into the bloodstream. Contrary to what we have seen in the previous examples, Melatonin does not increase or decrease in response to variations in our sleep. Its behavior is atypical compared to the other hormones, since it tends to concentrate in large quantities at nightfall, in dark conditions. Once Melatonin is released, the desire to sleep increases and the organism is favored to fall asleep.

These characteristics of Melatonin make it an essential hormone for regulating sleep periods in the human organism. It is valid to clarify that once darkness disappears and light arrives, its secretion is inhibited. That is why it is recommended to condition the room to avoid the entry of light and consequently cause the loss of sleep.