What Pulling an All-Nighter Does to Your Health

You know you should get some sleep, but there are more important things for you to do like studying for that big exam or watching cat videos. The Sleep Foundation recommends that adults age 18-64 need 7-9 hours of sleep every night. What really happens to your body when you decide to skip those necessary hours of sleep?

1. You feel more stressed.

According to a paper in Medscape Neurology, when you are lacking sleep the hormone cortisol rises in its levels. This hormone is called the stress hormone, and it can create numerous health issues like decrease in memory, bone density and your immune system in addition to feelings of stress.

2. You’ll have trouble remembering things said to you and people’s faces.

When you don’t get enough sleep, it creates problems with the brain’s thalamus. The thalamus is where your brain recognizes other people and is able to remember faces. Additionally, the lack of sleep affects the prefrontal cortex which allows you to remember things people are saying.

3. You can gain weight.

An increase in cortisol can result in weight gain, and other hormones that are affected can also impact your weight. Your levels of leptin and ghrelin decrease when you go without sleep, and a study in PLOS Medicine found that decreasing levels of these hormones can increase your body mass index and make you feel hungrier.

4. You can lose control of your emotions.

In addition to memory, the prefrontal cortex is what helps to control your emotions. When you are lacking sleep, a study by UC Berkeley found that you are more likely to feel feelings of depression and negativity.

5. Your risk for high blood pressure and diabetes increases.

According to the American Diabetes Association, not getting enough sleep can be linked to high blood sugar levels as well as increased blood pressure.

Editing Note: This article did not filter through the normal EmpowHER editing and fact checking process. It was checked for spelling and grammar.