Effects of Sleep Deprivation on the Brain

One sleepless night can make you restless throughout the day and can result in headache, muscle pain and excessive tiredness. Thus, effects of sleep deprivation on the brain can be easily perceived. Sleep deprivation or lack of sleep is medically referred to as 'insomnia'. There has been a significant rise in the number of people suffering from insomnia over the years and it is a cause of concern. Mild and short-term effects of sleep deprivation can eventually lead to serious consequences. Knowing the correct cause of insomnia is essential, if you want to get rid of the symptoms fast.

Chronic Insomnia Causes

Inability to sleep well consistently is described as insomnia. Use of certain medications, drugs or stimulants, certain diseases or disorders, hormonal changes (during menstruation), pain in the body, fear, stress, anxiety due to work problems, financial stress, birth of a child and bereavement can lead to sleep deprivation. If the situation lasts for a few days or a few weeks (less than a month) then it is known as acute insomnia. Sleeplessness for extended period can prove to be life-threatening. Normally, certain physical and psychological conditions are responsible for chronic insomnia. Here is a list of causes of chronic insomnia:

• Wrong sleeping pattern, wrong habits like working late night, shift work
• Stress, anxiety, fear
• Environmental noise, extreme temperatures
• Changes in the environment, disruptions to your normal sleep/wake pattern
• Side effects of drugs and medications
• Excessive consumption of drugs, alcohol or caffeine
• A physical or psychological condition: For example, arthritis, restless leg syndrome, depression, kidney dysfunction, heart failure, asthma, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, Parkinson's disease, overactive thyroid, etc.

Effects of Insomnia on the Brain

Spending sleepless nights can affect your nervous system seriously. In the beginning the effects may be mild but if sleeplessness continues, then serious effects can be noticed. Affected brain regions may exhibit following symptoms.

• Dizziness, nausea and headaches
• Increased irritability, increased anger
• Memory loss
• Hallucinations
• Negativity and a pessimistic outlook
• Hampered performance in every field, lack of energy
• Constant yawning, daytime grogginess
• Loss of appetite
• Onset of type 2 diabetes, difficulty in controlling glucose levels
• Lack of concentration, difficulty in performing daily activities
• Hair loss, vision problems, hormonal imbalance leading to various health conditions
• Growth hormones not working
• Weak immune system
• Unusual and stronger reactions to stress, urges for sex, moods, etc., lack of logical decisions
• The person not only starts losing his mental balance but also the physical balance.
• Psychosis, the person may lose contact with reality
• Impairment of abilities, increasing clumsiness, poor thinking skills, slurred speech
• Increased mental reaction time.

Elderly people and women are more likely to get affected by insomnia. Disturbed biological clock can affect brain functioning seriously. Sleep provides rest to the brain which is essential for renewal of the parts of the brain. Brain cannot function normally without sufficient sleep. Lack of sleep results in slower mental response. When the temporal lobe of cerebral cortex gets affected due insufficient sleep, slurred speech can be noticed. Effects of sleep deprivation on the nervous system include heart diseases, high blood pressure, tremors, heart attack, stroke, loss of sex drive, weight gain/loss and other health complications.

An adult normally needs at least 8 hours sleep every night. Sleep helps enhance brain function. It improves connections between nerve cells. Teenagers spend nights in net surfing or studying, which is not good for health. This can affect learning skills and memory in the long run. Lack of sufficient sleep can lead to impaired digestion and metabolism, resulting in obesity and other health hazards. So it is necessary to treat insomnia promptly and properly. Simple changes in lifestyle can help you lead a happy and an active life.