{"id":59837,"date":"2023-08-10T13:37:55","date_gmt":"2023-08-10T17:37:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=59837"},"modified":"2025-08-11T16:22:27","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T20:22:27","slug":"sleep-deprivation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/sleep-deprivation\/","title":{"rendered":"The effects of sleep deprivation on your body"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tossing and turning in bed is not an ideal way to spend your night, especially when it leaves you feeling drowsy, disengaged, and irritable the next day. Even worse, the tossing and turning may continue the next night, the next, and the next.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can happen for a variety of reasons. No matter its cause, its effects can severely impact your short- and long-term health. Whether treatment involves improving <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep hygiene<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, seeking medical intervention, or reducing daily stress, knowing how to prevent and treat <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is essential.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-is-sleep-deprivation\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simply put, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> occurs when you don\u2019t get <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">enough sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This can happen after low-quality sleep, an inconsistent sleep schedule, or an overall decrease in <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which may be worsened because of a medical or sleep-related disorder.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thensf.org\/how-many-hours-of-sleep-do-you-really-need\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Sleep Foundation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (NSF)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the general recommendation for hours slept per night by age are as follows:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Newborns: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14-17 hours per day<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Toddlers: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11-14 hours<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Children: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10-13 hours<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Adolescents<\/b><b>: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8-10 hours<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Adults: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7-9 hours<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Falling below the recommended average occasionally may tire you out. Still, as long as your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleeping habits<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> return to normal, you shouldn\u2019t expect to suffer from the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">effects of sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. However, if you\u2019re an adult and start regularly sleeping less than seven hours per night, you may begin to notice the onset of symptoms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The body keeps a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nigms.nih.gov\/education\/fact-sheets\/Pages\/circadian-rhythms.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">circadian rhythm<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: a natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and repeats roughly every 24 hours. A part of the brain called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is responsible for keeping the body on a master clock, telling it when to do certain functions, such as releasing certain hormones and regulating digestion. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a result, poor sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can disrupt the body\u2019s natural rhythm and normal functions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">healthcare<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> provider may measure <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> based on how many hours a person spends awake: for example, 12 hours awake versus 24. That said, the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">effects of sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will also depend on the person. If you are used to getting nine <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hours of sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you may notice differences in your attention span, mood, and habits if you stay up a few hours longer. As with the general recommendations for nightly sleep above, keeping track of your time spent awake matters just as much.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is common. The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (CDC) found that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/media\/releases\/2016\/p0215-enough-sleep.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">more than a third of adults<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are not getting <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">enough sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> regularly. Furthermore, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/sleep-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">various <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep studies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have found that around two-thirds of adults report nightly <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep disturbances<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Even though they may seem difficult to fix and common among adults, finding ways to improve your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep problems<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> should be a high priority.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More serious symptoms are associated with longer-<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">term sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that can worsen over time. The stages of sleep deprivation correspond with dramatic leaps in hours spent awake. Keep reading to learn more about possible symptoms you may experience in each of the five states of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"sleep-deprivation-symptoms\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> symptoms<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are many possible <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">symptoms of sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that range from drowsiness to deprivation psychosis. If you\u2019ve been awake for nearly 24 hours, your chances of developing more severe symptoms may increase every hour.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> affects the body gradually, not all at once. It often manifests as irregular <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleeping patterns<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> instead of complete sleep loss. Daytime <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">naps<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mood changes<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may become more frequent as you get less and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">less sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It\u2019s important to know that certain symptoms may develop earlier or later than others.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each stage of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is typically measured by hours spent awake. The following are the effects you can expect at five different <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> stages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Stage 1: 24 hours awake<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anxiety or irritability<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficulty concentrating<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drowsiness\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fatigue<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coordination issues\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increased appetite\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overeating\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Puffiness in the eyes or dark circles under the eyes\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Stage 2: 36 hours awake<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Microsleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> episodes\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficulty processing new information\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trouble making decisions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Severe fatigue\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Craving food\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Behavioral changes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inflammation around the eyes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lowered immunity<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Stage 3: 48 hours awake<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Microsleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> episodes increase<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depersonalization<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Possibility for visual hallucinations<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increased irritability and stress levels<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Extreme fatigue<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Stage 4: 72 hours awake<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Impaired perception\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Delusions and hallucinations<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depressive symptoms and mood\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paranoia\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Stage 5: 96+ hours awake<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6048360\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deprivation psychosis<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficulty keeping track of time\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disordered thinking<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Memory troubles and brain fog<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"causes-of-sleep-deprivation\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Causes of sleep deprivation<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are many potential <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">causes of sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Most depend on a person\u2019s life experiences that may keep them from sleeping, but a few general causes include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General stress and anxiety<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Busy schedules and work obligations\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interpersonal problems\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poor decisions before sleep (using a phone, watching TV, eating, etc.)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/medications-that-cause-insomnia\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Issues related to medications<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are multiple disorders and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">medical conditions<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that may cause <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Contact your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">healthcare<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> provider if you believe you may be experiencing one of the following:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/sleep-apnea-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obstructive sleep apnea<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/narcolepsy-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Narcolepsy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/restless-leg-syndrome-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Restless leg syndrome<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Night terrors\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleepwalking\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleep paralysis\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Knowing if any medications or disorders might affect your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep schedule<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is key. As mentioned, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can have devastating effects on your physical and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mental health<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If you already have <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">health problems<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, don\u2019t add loss of sleep to the list<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medications that may cause <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antidepressants, especially <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/drug-classes\/ssris\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRIs<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blood pressure medications (such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/ace-inhibitors-vs-beta-blockers\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">beta blockers and ACE inhibitors<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/high-cholesterol-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cholesterol medications<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/alzheimers-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alzheimer\u2019s drugs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/drug-classes\/cns-stimulants\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stimulants<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/adderall\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adderall<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine) or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/ritalin\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ritalin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (methylphenidate)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cold and allergy medicine containing pseudoephedrine<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/drug-classes\/corticosteroids\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Corticosteroids<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/smoking-cessation-drugs\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smoking cessation drugs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mountsinai.org\/health-library\/diseases-conditions\/sleep-disorders-in-the-elderly\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Older adults<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may experience a loss of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep duration<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> because of problems related to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">circadian rhythm<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Age can affect the function of the brain\u2019s SCN, making it difficult for the body to release crucial hormones at the right time. Melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate the sleep cycle, but the body secretes less of it with age. This may affect a person\u2019s <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">quality of sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and lead to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep disorders<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\t\t<div class=\"singlecare-dynamic-newsletter-wrapper sin-newsletter-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"heading\">Get our mental health newsletter<\/span>\n\t\t\t<form class=\"form-wrapper\" data-newsletter-form=\"1\" data-subsource=\"Mental Health Newsletter\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"input-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"dynamic-email\">Email<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"email\" id=\"dynamic-email\" class=\"email\" required>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"input-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<input class=\"submit-form-btn\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Click to sign up\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"success-message\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"effects-of-sleep-deprivation\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effects of sleep deprivation<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although symptoms can immediately affect your body, many <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">effects of sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may not go away when you finally catch up on sleep. Not only are cognitive issues common, but <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep loss<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may negatively affect your joints, blood pressure, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">immune system<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and other crucial bodily functions. There are very few bodily functions <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> won\u2019t affect.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The short-term effects of sleep deprivation include abnormal <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">daytime sleepiness<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, irritability, and trouble concentrating. Be warned: These annoying symptoms may become severe disorders if the underlying causes of the sleep problems are not resolved.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The following are the most common long-term <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">effects of sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on the body:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Nervous system issues: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The nervous system uses sleep to form pathways between neurons to improve <\/span><b>concentration<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>memory<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>coordination<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. These, along with your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reaction time<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and decision-making capabilities, may be permanently affected by <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Digestive and weight issues: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleep is crucial to regulating your body\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/17212793\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">leptin and ghrelin levels.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Leptin is a hormone that helps control your appetite by keeping track of your body fat and energy. On the other hand, ghrelin is a hormone produced by the stomach that can tell your brain when you\u2019re hungry. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can affect the regulation of hormones and cause hunger at random times, increasing your risk of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">obesity<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Diabetes risk: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the early morning, your blood sugar (glucose) levels naturally rise while you sleep. Insulin is responsible for managing these glucose levels. However, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may contribute to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3767932\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">insulin resistance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/type-2-diabetes-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Immune system<\/b><b> issues: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleep is a time for your body to conserve energy, but it\u2019s also a time for your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">immune system<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to protect against bacteria or viruses. Without sleep, your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">immune system<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> won\u2019t be as effective against microbes, opening up the possibility for infections or common sicknesses (such as colds) to occur.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mood disorders: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/depression-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depression<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/anxiety-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">anxiety<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are both immediate and potentially long-term <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">effects of sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7222449\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Cardiovascular<\/b><b> disease: <\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People with <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or disorders may be at an <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">increased risk<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/atrial-fibrillation-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">irregular heartbeats<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, high blood pressure (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/hypertension-treatments-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hypertension<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/signs-of-a-stroke\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stroke<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and other types of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">heart disease<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"sleep-deprivation-treatment\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> treatment<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> treatments will depend on their underlying cause. As listed above, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may be an environmental consequence of poor hygiene, a stressful living situation, or excessive caffeine use before bedtime. In these cases, making a few adjustments can significantly affect your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleeping habits<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the result of environmental factors, here are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/how-to-sleep-better\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">some lifestyle changes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you can consider:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cutting back on screen time closer to bed\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eating a cleaner diet\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Managing your stress levels\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Managing your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep environment<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, sleep deprivation could result from a more serious medical disorder, like <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep apnea<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If this is the case, contact a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">healthcare<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> provider to determine a treatment plan. The same can be said for any medications that may cause <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">healthcare<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> provider may administer a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep study<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (or polysomnography) to test your body\u2019s response to sleep. While it can diagnose and rule out potential <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">causes of sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it can also be used as a tool to see if treatments have been effective. Sleep studies can be conducted in sleep labs and be scheduled at a time that fits a person\u2019s typical sleeping hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To track how your body reacts to sleep, medical professionals and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep specialists<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will use the following monitoring tests:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Electroencephalography (EEG): a sensor that tracks brain activity<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Electrocardiography (EKG): a sensor that tracks heart activity and rhythm<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Electromyogram (EMG): a sensor that tracks muscle movement<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Electro-oculography (EOG): a sensor that tracks eye movement\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They may also track your respiratory system and blood oxygen content throughout your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep study<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. These tests should never cause additional pain or discomfort. The main goal is to narrow down your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> treatment options.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are forms of therapy that people experiencing <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may find helpful. For one, if sleep troubles are linked to symptoms of anxiety or depression, getting in touch with a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mental health<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> professional may open up the following treatment options:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Talk therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sleepfoundation.org\/insomnia\/treatment\/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-insomnia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">(CBT-I)<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medication to treat anxiety or depression<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CBT-I is a form of therapy focused on treating <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/insomnia-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">insomnia<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It may help an individual target helpful lifestyle changes and form a connection between their mental and sleep health. A mental healthcare provider can help determine if CBT-I may help treat your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"preventing-sleep-deprivation\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preventing <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It may sometimes be difficult to prevent <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. At some point, everyone will have a night or two in which they get <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">insufficient sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and feel the effects the next day. That being said, reducing the risk of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is possible. The following are a few recommendations to help ensure you get a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">good night\u2019s sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Develop a consistent <\/b><b>sleep schedule<\/b><b>: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Put limits on unhealthy pre-<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep habits<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and set a consistent bedtime<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Make time for <\/b><b>physical activities<\/b><b>: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regular exercise can help improve your sleep and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">quality of life<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Lighten your workload: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shift work<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and other demanding work environments may increase stress and lead to a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lack of sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Take stock of your workload and find ways to prioritize your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">well-being<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Limit caffeine and sleep medications: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although they may help you stay awake during the day, these may result in adverse <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4689974\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">side effects<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that ultimately prevent sleep.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These simple changes may help improve <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep hygiene<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and ensure better sleep overall. However, if a plan for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">healthy sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> isn\u2019t working and you\u2019re still losing sleep, contact your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">healthcare<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> provider. Finding treatment for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">chronic sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can serve as an effective preventive measure for future health issues.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tossing and turning in bed is not an ideal way to spend your night, especially when it leaves you feeling drowsy, disengaged, and irritable the next day. Even worse, the tossing and turning may continue the next night, the next, and the next.\u00a0 Sleep deprivation can happen for a variety of reasons. No matter its [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":145,"featured_media":59838,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8029],"tags":[816],"coauthors":[20963],"class_list":["post-59837","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-education","tag-sleep","wpautop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Sleep deprivation: Symptoms, causes, effects, and treatment<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Sleep deprivation occurs when you do not get enough sleep. Insufficient sleep may cause irritability, anxiety, and fatigue. 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Learn the causes and how to prevent it.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/sleep-deprivation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Checkup\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/singlecare\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-08-10T17:37:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-08-11T20:22:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/sleep-deprivation.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Ben Michalak\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@SingleCare\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@SingleCare\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Ben Michalak\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/sleep-deprivation\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/sleep-deprivation\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Ben Michalak\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5544f52a9fa110b54aeccef93338f005\"},\"headline\":\"The effects of sleep deprivation on your body\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-08-10T17:37:55+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-08-11T20:22:27+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/sleep-deprivation\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1939,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/sleep-deprivation\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/sleep-deprivation.png\",\"keywords\":[\"Sleep\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Health Education\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/sleep-deprivation\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/sleep-deprivation\\\/\",\"name\":\"Sleep deprivation: Symptoms, causes, effects, and treatment\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/sleep-deprivation\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/sleep-deprivation\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/sleep-deprivation.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-08-10T17:37:55+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-08-11T20:22:27+00:00\",\"description\":\"Sleep deprivation occurs when you do not get enough sleep. 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