There are several critical hormones affected by the regularity (or lack thereof) of your sleeping schedule. Evidence from the National Institute of Health has shown that sleep deprivation affects the body’s production of cortisol, growth hormone (GH), leptin and ghrelin1. These hormones regulate stress levels in the body, as well as appetite. Additionally, regulated hormone production also affects the ability of the body to make efficient use of glucose, which is used by the body’s cells to induce activity. If your cells are prevented from recognizing and making use of available glucose, then your risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease increases. Evidence exists to suggest that people who average only five to six hours of sleep per night double their risk of developing diabetes2.
Another detrimental effect of inconsistent glucose production is that you end up feeling more tired and hungry, as the glucose in your body is not being properly utilized to spur activity. You feel hungry and end up eating more, which can lead to weight gain and other health problems.
Compounding the detrimental hormonal effects of sleep deprivation is the decrease in leptin and increase in ghrelin, both associated with lack of sleep3. Leptin is a hormone that moderates your appetite and is produced largely at night. The hormone ghrelin increases your appetite. Studies have shown that spikes in ghrelin production can cause people to crave foods that are high in carbohydrates and sugars.
The net hormonal effects of sleep loss result in the subsequent craving of glucose-rich foods, all while the body is unable to adequately process the glucose. This combination can be devastating to your long-term health and short-term sense of wellbeing.
Sleep deprivation can also compromise cortisol production. Cortisol is a hormone that is useful in moderation, but sporatic spikes and drops in production can be harmful to your health. For individuals who don’t get regular and adequate amounts of sleep, cortisol levels elevate at night and decrease six times slower compared to individuals with a healthy sleep schedule. Elevated levels of cortisol are yet another contributing factor to diabetes that’s directly correlated to a poor sleep schedule.
Growth Hormone (GH) which repairs cells and causes cell reproduction is also suppressed by sleep loss4. Studies have shown that this relationship is particularly prevalent in men but is present in women as well5. Men who fail to attain sufficient sleep also suffer from lagging testosterone production, which can suppress the libido.
If you’re in need of solutions for a better night’s sleep, then please contact Dr. Gary Core’s office in North Phoenix. Dr. Core was diagnosed with sleep apnea nearly 8 years ago and has since garnered world-class expertise on the subject. He is a diplomat of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy and has crafted over 700 custom appliances to help his patients get a better night’s sleep.
1http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3065172/
2http://breakingmuscle.com/health-medicine/how-sleep-deprivation-fries-your-hormones-your-immune-system-and-your-brain
3See note 2
4https://www.sleepio.com/articles/sleep-science/hormones-and-sleep-a-two-way-street/
5See note 1
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