Some health issues might seem like they’re only relevant to older people, but that’s not always the case. Insomnia, which affects nearly ten percent of the population, can cause short-term issues like fatigue and sleepiness during the day, but it can also lead to long-term health risks such as heart disease and diabetes down the road. While these are extreme cases, they help you see how insomnia can damage your body in both small and large ways over time.
Obesity
According to recent research by Oxford University, lack of sleep could be a factor in obesity. Studies have shown that subjects who slept six hours a night for two weeks became as insulin-resistant as those forced to stay awake for 48 hours straight. This means that those with insomnia are more likely to become obese, putting them at an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. Many healthcare professionals recommend treating these conditions by addressing poor sleep habits first.
Cardiovascular diseases
Studies (Insomnia and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease) have show that lack of sleep has also been linked with heart disease, which is another reason why it’s important for you to get enough rest each night if you want to stay healthy!
Heart disease can increase your risk for stroke as well as hypertension (high blood pressure), so if you want to keep your ticker operating smoothly for as long as possible then make sure that when it’s time for bedtime then it’s actually time for bedtime!
Cancer
According to research, people who have sleep disorders like insomnia may be more likely than those who don’t to develop cancer. This could be because lack of sleep can lead to stress and low moods, which can lead to inflammation in the body. Inflammation has been connected with many cancers such as breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colon cancer.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when your body becomes resistant to insulin or is unable to produce enough insulin. Although there are several well-known links between type 2 diabetes and sleep, it’s not exactly clear why insomnia causes an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
However, it has been suggested that weight gain—which has also been linked with insomnia—may be a significant contributor. It may also play a role in how age affects your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Researchers from Northwestern University found those who had at least one bout of severe insomnia each week were 1.5 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than individuals who slept well every night for seven years straight.
Heart attack
Insomnia and heart attacks are linked in a number of ways. There have been a lot of studies that show that people who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to have heart attacks and strokes than people who do get enough sleep.
The reason for this is that not getting enough sleep can raise blood pressure and increase inflammation in the body, which can lead to these problems.
Stroke
According to a new study (Sleep and Stroke), there’s a link between insomnia and stroke. While sleep deprivation can raise blood pressure in most people, it’s only really to for people who have existing hypertension or other underlying health conditions.
Additionally, research has shown that sleeping less than six hours per night over several weeks increases your risk of stroke significantly—even more so if you suffer from other insomnia symptoms like non-restorative sleep.
If you think you might be suffering from insomnia symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor to see what treatment options are available for both insomnia causes and its effects on your overall health.
Check out my article Summer Season. Simple Steps For Losing Weight.
