Sleep Deprivation and Weight Gain- How are they affecting each other?
We occasionally get headaches, migraines, lightheadedness, and weariness when we don't get enough sleep. We are unaware of the physical and physiological impacts that lack of sleep can have on us, though. Weight growth is one of those physiological impacts that can have a physical impact on us. We will examine whether getting too little sleep will ultimately have an impact on our weight in this post.
Effects of Lack Sleep
It is advised that an average adult have 6 to 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night, which is enough time for healing. However, the truth is that because of job, children, sleep disorders, and other factors, we don't get enough sleep. However, studies have shown that when we continuously get less than 6 hours of sleep each night for a week, we typically gain 2 pounds. But how can that occur if you aren't eating or sleeping? More research has revealed that when you don't get enough sleep, your body's physiology is off. Your body's hormones fluctuate when you're sleep deprived.
Although you might not notice or feel the effects right away, the hormonal changes have long-lasting impacts. The hormone Leptin, which controls appetite and hunger, is decreased during these hormonal shifts, while the hormone Ghrelin, which causes the feeling of hunger, is elevated. You are feeling more hungry as a result of the Leptin decline and the rise in Ghrelin, which may cause you to overeat. Your body's cravings shift in addition to this hormonal change. More fatty, sweet, and greasy foods are what you are now desiring.
You lack reasonable thought since you didn't get enough sleep, and your body isn't in the ideal condition to make wise decisions. Because you are seeking junk food, you are more prone to make impulsive decisions when you eat it. According to studies, you are also more prone to overeat the next day and consume more calories than is advised overall because of the rise in ghrelin.
Treatment Options
You should seek out a doctor that not only specializes in weight management but also in sleep medicine to treat sleep deprivation so that they can accurately assess you and your symptoms. Your doctor may discover during the examination that you may have sleep apnea or poor sleeping habits, which would explain why you are sleep deprived. Having episodes of sleep apnea, in which your breathing stops while you are asleep and you run out of oxygen, lowers the quality of your sleep by causing less oxygen to enter your bloodstream. Poor sleep habits can have an impact on your sleep because if you use your phone or watch television right before bed, your mind is overstimulated and you are now in a fight-or-flight state rather than a peaceful one.
It's as easy to alter your sleep habits as to stop using your phone at least 30 minutes before bed or to stop watching television to "fall asleep." You can get a "at home" sleep study, which is completed in the comfort of your own home, prescribed by a doctor who specializes in sleep medicine to check for Sleep Apnea and see whether you have it. To find out more about sleep medicine, get in touch with our Los Angeles office.
