Millennials' disregard for a healthy sleep can cause some serious risks

Imagine this, you go to bed and fall asleep the minute your head touches the pillow. Seems a little unrealistic, right? Millennials tend to remain on the brink of exhaustion the entire day, yet find it hard to fall asleep at night. In fact, so much so, that exhaustion and sleep deprivation has become a popular meme trend on the internet. While we laugh and find them relatable, it's important to think about the reality behind the joke.

We stay up all night or we sleep later than we ought to and we end up feeling exhausted all the time. Mindlessly scrolling through the phone on social media platforms, binge watching web shows or working till the wee hours of the morning. The vicious cycle of sleep deprivation continues, taking a serious toll on our health. To understand this further, let’s take a look at some risks which arise from a lack of proper sleep.

1) Increased risk of cancer

John Hopkins Medicine reported that working overnight reduces our melatonin level which encourages the growth of cancer cells. Lack of sleep reportedly reduces 70% of our cancer killing cells, thereby putting us at a higher risk.

2) Mental Health issues

An important reason behind sleep deprivation may be stress and anxiety, according to an article by Harvard Medical School. This makes us unsteady, irritable and keeps us anxious through the day. In the long run, this can potentially lead to major mental health issues.

3) Higher chances of obesity

A research by National Center for Biotechnology Information concluded that when we do not get adequate sleep, our body’s metabolism fails to regulate itself. Chronic partial sleep deprivation is associated with an increased risk of obesity and diabetes. Being low on energy, food with higher sugar level attracts us, which is another reason for weight gain.

Also Read: Too much, too little sleep linked to increased heart disease risk: study

4) Poor work performance

If we do not get a good night’s sleep, it will surely hamper our performance at work. Due to a lack of rest, the functional capacity of our mind gets affected. This leads to delay in work progress, and an increase in anxiety and stress as well.

So, here’s a simple piece of advice. Make sleep a priority! Work, Instagram and Netflix can wait for the next day. Instead, take a shower and read a book before going to bed. These habits will have a positive impact on your sleep quality.