How a bad night’s sleep can impact your health

When it comes to sleep, quantity and quality are key to good physical and mental health. Even one night of poor sleep can have a negative impact on your health and quality of life, and long-term sleep deprivation is linked to a wide variety of serious health concerns.

The effects of one night of bad sleep

If you didn’t sleep well, you can feel it the next day. It can feel a bit like trying to trudge through knee-deep mud just to get through your day. Let’s take a look at the ways a bad night’s sleep can impact your body and mind:

• Decreased focus and impaired memory. The Cleveland Clinic says that even missing as little as 1.5 hours of sleep can negatively impact your cognitive function. This can make school, work, and social interactions a challenge during the day.
• Mood changes. Feeling grumpy? A lack of sleep can make you moody, irritable, and emotional.
• Increased risk of accidents. Drowsy driving is behind hundreds of fatal car accidents a year according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. If you didn’t sleep well, think twice before getting behind the wheel of a car.

How long-term sleep deprivation can impact your health

Weeks, months, or even years of poor sleep can have a huge impact on your health. Long-term sleep deprivation can be caused by extreme stress, anxiety, and other chronic health issues, but it can also cause other serious health problems.

• Premature aging. Sleep deprivation increases stress which increases hormones that can cause our skin to age prematurely. They don’t call it “beauty sleep” for nothing!
• Increased risk of diabetes. Harvard says that decreased sleep may lead to type 2 diabetes “by influencing the way the body processes glucose”.
• Increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Studies have linked sleep deprivation and a variety of cardiovascular issues like high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.
• Increased risk for mental health issues like dementia, anxiety, and depression.
• Decreased immune defenses. Sleep deprivation can negatively impact your immune system which means you may get sick more often. Johns Hopkins Medicine says sleep deprivation can make you three times more likely to catch a cold.

Speak to your doctor if you’re experiencing chronic, long-term sleep issues.

If your mattress is contributing to your poor sleep, The Original Mattress Factory is here to help. Our team can help you find the right mattress for you with an educational, no-pressure sales approach.

Ready to start your mattress buying journey? Come to The Original Mattress Factory first. No one knows more than our team about what makes a great mattress great. Whether you buy from us or not, you’ll be better prepared to make a smart mattress buying decision. Find a store near you.