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Did you get enough sleep last night?
Well, if you’re one of the millions of Americans who find themselves in a constant juggle between life’s responsibilities, social media, or other modern-day distractions, chances are – you didn’t.
Sleep loss is said to be a silent epidemic that can have adverse effects on the brain and body over time.
Accordingly, adults should sleep for at least 7 hours a night to avoid the increased risk of conditions such as weight gain, heart disease, and depression.
So, what does all of this mean?
Here’s the bottom line: Before you skimp out on another night of much-needed shuteye, keep reading to learn about seven possible lack of sleep side effects that may inspire you to drop everything and take a nap.
→ Body Odor ←
Body odor typically occurs when our sweat interacts with the bacteria on our skin.
This kind of unpleasant, sweat-related odor is known as bromhidrosis. (Don’t worry. If you can’t pronounce it at first, neither could I.)
But there’s another underlying cause of body odor that you may not have been on your radar. And it can be summed up with one all-too-familiar word: constipation.
Previous studies have shown that about 16% of Americans are chronically constipated; so, that currently translates to about 52 million people.
Research also shows that poor sleep quality can lead to constipation since disturbed sleep can hinder the proper functioning of the bowels.
Where am I going with this?
When we move our bowels, our bodies are eliminating toxins produced during the digestion process. If constipation prevents us from moving our bowels freely, those backed-up toxins can seep through the pores of our skin – thereby causing something known as “fecal body odor.”
And I’m sure that’s something we’d all love to avoid.
So, let’s get to bed on time, shall we??
Possible Body Odor Hacks:
Liquid chlorophyll is commonly called “the internal deodorant” and can help keep you fresh from the inside out.
Squatting stools are used by many people (constipated or not) to help give them the “extra push” they may need when moving their bowels.
Additional Thoughts
Although getting an adequate amount of sleep at night is crucial, so are things like drinking enough water, regular exercise, and eating a healthy diet. So, please keep that in mind.
Also, if you’re reading this and you’re currently experiencing chronic body odor, please don’t take it lightly because it can signify a possible medical condition. Be sure to consult with a doctor if it persists.
Next up…
→ Yeast Infection ←
If you thought yeast infections only plague the female population – surprise! Men can get them, too.
In fact, yeast infections aren’t just limited to the reproductive region of the body. They can also show up in your blood, mouth, and skin.
So, how can a lack of sleep lead to a yeast infection?
Candida (yeast) is a type of fungus that occurs naturally in the body. However, when we’re sleep-deprived, the immune system — the system of cells and proteins within us that help fight infection — is compromised.
As a result, the healthy bacteria in our bodies — which help keep that candida from getting out of hand — can no longer properly do its job. Subsequently, this leaves us vulnerable to various kinds of infections. Yes, including yeast.
How is this potentially embarrassing?
Some of the common yeast infection symptoms (in both men and women) include things like genital itching and pain during sex.
Imagine sitting in an important business meeting with your boss or a client. You can’t quite focus because the genital itching takes control of your thoughts. When it’s your turn to talk, you realize you missed half of what was being said. Suddenly, your boss says, “You’re fired.” Or your client abruptly discontinues your contract.
Okay, I know. The example I just gave was a little over the top, but I’m sure you get the point.
Here’s a tip: If you’re currently experiencing genital itching, you may find relief by using a cleansing tea tree oil soap to help combat some of the irritating on-surface bacteria “down there.”
However, to combat a yeast infection from the inside-out, you can also consider supplementing with a non-GMO candida complex, which can help the body’s naturally-occurring yeast levels stay balanced.
→ Excessive Gas ←
Flatulence. We’ve all accidentally “let one slip” and then acted as if we weren’t the culprit.
On average, people pass gas between 12 and 25 times per day. But, if your diet is high in gassy foods, farting may be a little more of a problem for you.
Fun fact: the modern word “fart” comes from the Middle English word “ferten” or “farten,” which means “to break wind.”
But why do we fart, you ask?
Intestinal gas is produced naturally during the process of digestion – when bacteria in the colon break down food. It can also be caused by the air we swallow while we’re eating and drinking.
Still, less than one percent of the gas we expel contains hydrogen sulfide, which is what causes the foul smell that you (and others) may notice.
Some of the various triggers for excessive gas include things like overeating, lactose intolerance, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
So, how does a lack of sleep tie in?
While we sleep, our bodies are resting, repairing, and preparing energy. We use this energy in our everyday activities, which includes digesting food.
If we don’t get the right amount of sleep, those energy reserves are cut short, which may result in indigestion – thereby leading to excessive gas.
And we don’t want that, now do we?
But besides dropping the distractions and calling it a night, you can also consider adding gut-healing probiotics to your daily regimen. Doing so may help you get rid of those annoying “intestinal jitters,” while also helping to promote overall health and wellness.
→ Acne/Pimples ←
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne affects up to 50 million Americans every year.
Those affected spend a combined total of over 400 million dollars annually on over-the-counter treatments, hoping to rid themselves of unwanted pimples and other blemishes.
These blemishes often appear on the face and, unsurprisingly, have been linked to feelings of low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.
How is it caused?
Acne is an inflammatory skin disorder that can result from clogged hair follicles; however, hormone fluctuation can play a significant role in the development of acne as well.
So, what does a lack of sleep have to do with acne?
As we sleep, various hormones become active in our bodies to assist with the process of recovery and repair. Cortisol is one of those hormones, and its role is critical when it comes to helping the body deal with stress. A loss of sleep can result in an increase in cortisol as a stress response. This reaction can ultimately lead to acne breakouts.
So, here’s to a good night’s sleep because, although “beauty is only skin deep,” and there’s much more to a person than their appearance, everyone wants to feel comfortable in their skin; that’s a fact that will never change.
P.S. If you’re suffering from acne, don’t forget to drink plenty of water. You can even try this cool LED photon therapy mask for acne reduction and overall skin rejuvenation.
→ Nail Biting ←
Nail-biting is associated with everything from anxiety to boredom, to hunger.
And get this: some research suggests that people who bite their nails may even be perfectionists.
But whichever way you slice it, one thing is for certain: Nail biting can definitely be a nasty little habit. Literally.
Biting your nails can lead to something called paronychia – a bacterial infection that occurs at the side of or the base of the finger (or toenail) where the nail and skin meet. It can cause pain, swelling, and potentially spread to the rest of the finger if neglected.
Now, who wants to have to deal with that??
Even still, 20-30% of the population is said to be chronic nail biters, coping with side effects other than paronychia, such as tooth decay, gum disease, and excessive jaw clenching.
So, what does a lack of sleep have to do with nail-biting?
Lack of sleep can cause anxiety.
Case in point, a recent neuroscience study revealed that the brain activity when the body is sleep deprived looks a lot like how the brain looks when it’s anxious.
And guess what? Research suggests that nail-biting is closely associated with the psycho-emotional state of anxiety.
Therefore, if you tend to bite your nails, you may want to look into getting a set of rubber finger gloves to help you kick the habit…
→ Bad Breath ←
Halitosis – everyone who has it probably wishes they didn’t. After all, bad breath can be a deal-breaker in plenty of situations. That first date you were hoping for more than likely won’t happen until you figure out a way to “slay the dragon,” so to speak.
Maybe you could simply invest in a bad breath tester to give yourself that extra boost of confidence before you ask for his/her phone number.
Or maybe there’s a bigger problem that a tongue brush and some breath mints simply won’t address.
What causes halitosis?
An estimated 50% of Americans have bad breath, with more than $1 billion per year being spent on mouthwash to help treat the problem.
Poor oral hygiene, smoking, throat infections, and cavities are just a few examples of the usual “smelly breath culprits.”
But the one we’ll be focusing on today is indigestion.
So, what does a lack of sleep have to do with indigestion?
Failing to get the proper amount of sleep puts our bodies in a state of fatigue. This fatigue can throw off the normal digestive process, causing stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus – aka, acid reflux.
Acid reflux that occurs more than twice a week is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and affects 1 in 5 adults in the United States.
And unfortunately, GERD can cause bad breath.
Looks like we have yet another reason to take a nap!
→ Hair Loss ←
Oh, our precious hair. What would we do without it?
However, not everyone feels that way.
For example, some men find great benefit in going bald. Likewise, some women have also shown to prefer a shaved head.
But usually, a healthy head of hair is associated with beauty, fertility, and power. For this reason, some people add hair growth supplements to their daily regimen in attempts to achieve the hair they desire.
Still and all, hair loss can undoubtedly lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.
So, what causes hair loss?
Well, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, it’s perfectly normal to shed between 50 and 100 strands of hair per day. (And since there are over 100,000 hair follicles on the average person’s head, I guess that’s not putting much of a dent in things.)
However, some of the common causes of excessive hair loss include things like constant hairstyling, hormonal imbalances, and a variety of medical conditions.
How is sleep loss and hair loss related?
As previously mentioned, not getting the recommended amount of sleep at night can trigger a stress response in the body.
Studies have linked prolonged stress to the following hair loss conditions:
Alopecia areata – a condition that causes hair on your head to abruptly fall out in small patches
Telogen effluvium – a temporary condition that causes a large amount of scalp hair to shift into the shedding phase
Trichotillomania – an impulse control disorder that causes a person to pull out their hair – in some cases, without realizing it
And no. I’m not a mind reader, but I’m sure these are three conditions we all want to avoid.
So, is getting a good night’s sleep the answer to all of your current or future hair loss problems?
That’s certainly a good question that only a qualified professional can answer. But I do think it’s a great place to start.
And now it’s your turn. Can you think of any other lack of sleep side effects that I may have missed? If so, let’s talk about it! Leave your ideas in the comment section below.
In the meantime, may we all have a goodnight and sweet dreams 🙂