{"id":26265,"date":"2024-02-10T18:23:28","date_gmt":"2024-02-10T12:53:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/sleep-deprivation-dangers-how-pulling-an-all-nighter-affects-your-physical-and-mental-health\/"},"modified":"2024-02-10T18:23:28","modified_gmt":"2024-02-10T12:53:28","slug":"sleep-deprivation-dangers-how-pulling-an-all-nighter-affects-your-physical-and-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/sleep-deprivation-dangers-how-pulling-an-all-nighter-affects-your-physical-and-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Sleep deprivation dangers: How pulling an all-nighter affects your physical and mental health"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Most people have sacrificed sleep at some point, but those extra waking hours could come at a price.<\/p>\n

While it can be tempting to burn the midnight oil \u2014 whether it\u2019s to get some work done, knock out a home project or care for a loved one \u2014 forgoing rest can wreak havoc on your health<\/u>.<\/p>\n

Fox News Digital spoke to experts about the short- and long-term effects of pulling an all-nighter \u2014 and how to rebound after a period of missed sleep.<\/p>\n

DOES THE ‘SLEEPY GIRL MOCKTAIL’ REALLY WORK? EXPERT WEIGHS IN ON THE VIRAL SLEEP TREND<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Here’s a deep dive.<\/p>\n

What does staying up all night do to the body?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Pulling an all-nighter<\/u> can have several impacts on the body, both physically and mentally, according to Dr. Leah Joseph, a primary care physician with New York-based Teladoc Health.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Pulling an all-nighter can have several impacts on the body, both physically and mentally, doctors warned.<\/span> (iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“The physical effects include weakening your immune system, which makes you more susceptible to illnesses,” she told Fox News Digital.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Your body may also release a higher level of cortisol, which leads to elevated stress levels<\/u>.”<\/p>\n

In addition, sleep deprivation can result in impaired memory, concentration and overall cognitive function, Joseph noted.<\/p>\n

GOOGLE SEARCHES FOR ‘SLEEP’ REACHED ALL-TIME HIGH IN 2023, NEW STUDY NOTES<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

“The mental effects include mood changes, which can contribute to irritability, anxiety or depression,” she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“It also affects your decision-making, as your judgment may be negatively affected.”<\/p>\n

Alex Dimitriu, M.D., who is double board-certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine and is founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in California, also warned of adverse effects.<\/p>\n

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“Even a single night of insufficient sleep leads to a buildup of toxins in the brain similar to those seen in people with Alzheimer’s disease.”<\/p>\n

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“There is evidence that even a single night of insufficient \u2014 or worse yet, absent \u2014 sleep leads to a buildup of toxins in the brain similar to those seen in people with Alzheimer’s disease<\/u>,” he told Fox News Digital.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Similar to Alzheimer’s, even one night of lost sleep can cause fatigue, impaired impulse control, mood instability, diminished attention and memory \u2014 all symptoms similar to ADHD.”<\/p>\n

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Staying up all night can significantly disrupt your sleep schedule and circadian rhythm, a doctor warned.\u00a0<\/span> (iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“Underslept” people are more likely to suffer from a variety of psychiatric conditions<\/u>, Dimitriu said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Those include depression, anxiety, substance use, memory impairment and possibly an eventual increased risk of dementia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“The brain needs sleep to clean up and reset,” he said.<\/p>\n

Physically, lost sleep causes increased carb craving, diminished immunity and increased stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, he added.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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“The brain needs sleep to clean up and reset.”<\/p>\n

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“The increased stress hormones, in turn, can elevate heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar.”<\/p>\n

Is an occasional all-nighter safe?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

While pulling an occasional all-nighter may include include fatigue<\/u>, irritability, impaired cognitive function and a temporary disruption of the sleep-wake cycle, Joseph said it may not cause significant long-term damage on its own.<\/p>\n

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Consistently skipping sleep over an extended period can lead to chronic sleep deprivation, which can have severe consequences over time.\u00a0<\/span> (iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“Occasional all-nighters may not cause significant long-term damage if followed by sufficient recovery sleep,” she said. “The human body is resilient and can generally recover from short-term sleep deprivation.”<\/p>\n

Consistently skipping sleep over an extended period can lead to chronic sleep deprivation, however, which can have more severe consequences over time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Those impacts can include an increased risk of cardiovascular disease<\/u>, diabetes, obesity, impaired immune function and mental health issues, Joseph said.<\/p>\n

NEW YEAR CAN BRING BETTER SLEEP AT NIGHT IF YOU FOLLOW THESE 9 SMART STEPS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sleep deprivation will affect different people in different ways, she noted, as individual factors and resilience play a role.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“An all-nighter never killed anyone,” Dimitriu agreed. “However, they add up, and you will still feel miserable after a night of no sleep, and will not perform at your best.”<\/p>\n

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The physical effects of all-nighters include weakening of the immune system, which makes people more susceptible to illness.<\/span> (iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

What to do after an all-nighter<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Staying up all night can significantly disrupt your sleep schedule and circadian rhythm, Joseph said.<\/p>\n

“The circadian rhythm is a natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and repeats roughly every 24 hours,” the doctor said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“When you stay up all night, you throw off this cycle, leading to several potential effects on your sleep schedule.”<\/p>\n

SLEEPING LONGER OVER THE WEEKEND COULD HELP PREVENT HEART ATTACKS, SAYS STUDY<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

After pulling an all-nighter, it may take some time for the body to readjust, and this can lead to temporary insomnia or difficulties falling asleep at the usual time, according to Joseph.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Some potential effects that someone can suffer from include delayed sleep onset, irregular sleep patterns, increased sleep debt and difficulty regaining normalcy,” she said.<\/p>\n

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Exposure to morning sunlight can help regulate the circadian rhythm and get back to a regular sleep schedule, experts say.<\/span> (iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

To mitigate the impact on your sleep schedule, prioritize getting back on track as soon as possible, said Joseph.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Some strategies include shifting to an earlier bedtime, spending time outdoors during daylight hours to help regulate your circadian rhythm, and establishing a consistent sleep routine by going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, according to Joseph.<\/p>\n

“Personally, I also like to limit caffeine close to bedtime and stay hydrated,” she said. “If I do need a nap, I limit it to 20 to 30 minutes.”<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Dimitriu also recommended getting some sunlight exposure in the morning to reset your rhythm.<\/p>\n

“Morning light is really important to getting you to bed at night,” he said.<\/p>\n

Getting outdoor physical activity<\/u> during the day, eating a light dinner and going to bed a little earlier than usual can also help regulate sleep cycles, the doctor advised.<\/p>\n

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“Prioritizing regular, sufficient sleep is essential for your overall well-being,” a doctor advised.<\/span> (iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Both experts agreed that the best strategy is to plan for healthy sleep and avoid all-nighters.<\/p>\n

“Your performance after a night of not sleeping can be markedly diminished,” Dimitiu said. “All-nighters are often the result of poor planning, so try to plan ahead and avoid nights of lost sleep.”<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Joseph added, “While occasional all-nighters may not have severe long-term consequences, making them a habit can contribute to health issues over time.”<\/p>\n

“Prioritizing regular, sufficient sleep is essential for your overall well-being<\/u>.”<\/p>\n

For more Health articles, visit <\/u><\/strong><\/i>www.foxnews.com\/health<\/u><\/strong><\/i>.<\/strong><\/i><\/p>\n

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Melissa Rudy is health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@fox.com.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n[ad_2]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[ad_1] Most people have sacrificed sleep at some point, but those extra waking hours could come at a price. While it can be tempting to burn the midnight oil \u2014 whether it\u2019s to get some work done, knock out a home project or care for a loved one \u2014 forgoing rest can wreak havoc on …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26266,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26265"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26265"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26265\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}