Home Topics Effects Of Sleep DeprivationAccelerated Aging

Sleep and Accelerated Aging

Although countless factors affect the aging process, one of the simplest things people can do to avoid accelerated aging is get enough sleep. Quality sleep allows the body to produce the human growth hormone that helps build muscle mass, thicken skin, strengthen bones and stay youthful.

The cumulative effects of sleep deprivation can be shocking. Constant fatigue creates more stress and irritability daily, both of which can significantly accelerate the aging process. Similarly, lack of sleep creates additional physical stress on the body, putting people at a higher risk for:

heart attack
heart disease
high blood pressure
diabetes
obesity
stroke.

How Sleep Deprivation Affects Our Bodies' Normal Functioning

People who don't get enough sleep on a regular basis are jeopardizing their bodies from functioning normally. Here are some of the ways in which sleep deprivation affects the body:

Affects mental health: Sleep deprivation has mental, as well as physical, complications. While those with depression are more likely to suffer from insomnia, insomniacs or those suffering from other sleep disorders are also more likely to develop depression.
Decreases the production of leptin: Leptin is a hormone that signals the sensation of "fullness" after eating. Without enough leptin, a person's appetite increases, causing him to eat more and crave more foods containing carbohydrates.
Increases cytokines: As part of the immune system, cytokines are that fight disease and infection. As the body's levels of cytokines drop, you become more susceptible to illness and infection.
Increases insulin resistance: As a lack of sleep makes the body more resistant to insulin, a person is more susceptible to diabetes.

Each of these factors contributes to increased physical and mental stress that wears the body down faster than everyday wear and tear would. Because lack of sleep prevents the body from properly restoring itself, those who are consistently sleep deprived tend to look and feel older (experience more physical stress) than others of their age group. As a result, sleep deprivation is directly linked to accelerated aging.

Treating Common Sleep Problems

Whether your sleep issue exists alone or as the symptom of an underlying condition, getting treatment is important to keeping you healthy. Treatment options depend on the particular disorder and your current lifestyle.

In general, sleep therapies are helpful. Those with sleep disorders tend to associate sleep with stress and worry, perpetuating the cycle of poor sleep. Sleep therapies work to undo these negative associations. The key is to create new habits and better sleep patterns.

Other ways to improve sleep include:

avoiding alcohol, nicotine or caffeine before bed
avoiding or treating heartburn
creating an ideal sleep environment by removing TV or other noise from the bedroom and making it as dark as possible
exercising regularly, earlier in the day
listening to soothing music setting regular bed and wake times
not drinking too many liquids before bed
taking prescription drugs
taking a hot bath before bed
writing down worries or stresses before bed.

Finding a routine that helps you get to sleep will be well worth it in the long run and may just add quality years to your life.

Resources

Medicinenet (2007). The Wrinkle Cure. Retrieved July 5, 2007, from the Medicinenet Web site: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?
articlekey=54286.

Reader’s Digest (2007). The sleep cure. Retrieved July 5, 2007, from the Reader’s Digest Web site: http://www.readersdigest.ca/mag/2004/03/sleep.html.

Ultra Prevention (n.d.). Aging. Retrieved July 5, 2007, from the Ultra Prevention Web site: http://www.ultraprevention.com/healing/aging.htm.