Getting sufficient sleep is integral in ensuring your overall well-being is in tip-top shape. Not only is having a good night’s rest a key driver of every physiological system in the human body, but it also supports physical growth and development.

However, amidst hectic schedules and heavy workloads, we tend to short-change the importance of having ample shut-eye. Unbeknownst to our knowledge, many of us suffer from sleep deprivation due to this bad habit.

Contrary to popular belief, sleep deprivation is more than just incessant yawning, nodding off at your desk, or dozing off mid-sentence. Experiencing drastic mood changes, memory loss, and weaker immunity are extreme examples of poor sleep quality, which is why we cannot afford to ignore this sleep issue.

If you have been experiencing any of these symptoms, it is best to heed your body’s warning signs and get some well-deserved rest. However, what constitutes sufficient sleep? Did you know that getting less than seven hours of rest a night is enough to land you a case of sleep deprivation? The repercussions start subtle but gradually culminate into severe health problems. Thus, to avoid long-term medical conditions, a lifestyle change is a must. Let us share how you can identify the warning signs of sleep deprivation.

1. Weight gain

Sleep deprivation can sabotage both your health and waistline. A scientific study has found that individuals who sleep fewer than six hours each night are more likely to suffer from obesity and weight gain. This group had displayed reduced levels of the appetite-suppressing hormone leptin and elevated levels of the hunger-stimulating hormone ghrelin.

With a decrease in the production of leptin, false signals are transmitted to your brain. Your body is tricked into thinking that it still requires sustenance, which propels you to reach for snacks and give in to cravings when experiencing fatigue.

Additionally, a lack of proper rest can hinder your fat cells’ ability to respond to insulin, a hormone that regulates energy levels. As such, you may find yourself constantly exhausted. Your body will then crave junk food to get you through the day – which widens your waistline and cause weight gain.

2. Poor skin complexion

Puffy eyes, dark undereye circles, and acne breakouts are common skin issues that sleep-deprived individuals face. Increased fine lines, uneven pigmentation and reduced elasticity in your skin are also tell-tale symptoms of poor sleeping habits. This is because the immune system takes a big hit when your body lacks regenerative sleep, causing your hormones to go haywire.

During the eight hours of rest at night, your body undergoes skin restoration and repair. Aside from the increased melatonin production to protect your skin from damaging free radicals, your cortisol levels – also known as the stress hormone – are reduced, allowing your facial complexion to retain its youthful glow.

However, the lack of sleep causes elevated cortisol in your system, increasing oil production in your skin and hindering cellular repair. This slows down the skin repair process and eventually lead to acne breakouts and poor skin texture.

3. Drastic mood changes

Have you ever encountered a lack of emotional control after a poor night of sleep? It is because partial sleep loss hinders you from thinking clearly and negatively affects your overall mood and outlook on life. Research has shown that restless nights make you more susceptible to poor constructive thinking, causing you to be unaware of your emotions.

It also makes you over-reactive to emotional stimuli, and you may find yourself lashing out at the people closest to you or getting worked up over trivial matters. Hence, you may find that sadness, anger, and anxiety are some of the common emotions you experience with sleep deficiency.

Sleep deprivation and stress can also create a vicious cycle. Anxiety keeps you up at night, and a further lack of sleep increases your chances of cracking under the pressures of everyday life. In essence, your mental health is significantly impacted, and it may result in depression or insomnia.

4. Decreased productivity and performance

Chronic sleep deprivation can affect your overall productivity and ability to reason and focus. This means that essential functions such as problem-solving or decision making are harder to carry out.

Furthermore, it has been reported that inadequate sleep leads to poorer work performance since your fundamental concentration and intellectual processes are weakened. In the long run, poor sleeping habits, such as pulling all-nighters, will also lead to dementia and a severe decline in cognitive abilities.

In contrast, proper nighttime sleep promotes new learning, memory consolidation, and enhanced creativity. Hence, it is best to set aside time to unwind and get a good night’s rest for increased productivity and performance.

However, beyond this simple lifestyle change, switching out an old bed for a quality mattress can improve your sleeping habits immensely. Your worn-out mattress can be a cause of your sleep deprivation, and you may find that a bed that better suits your body type and sleeping position can provide you with better sleep.

Furthermore, if Singapore’s humid weather is playing a part in your restless nights, you can consider upgrading to a natural latex mattress. Due to the material’s organic open-cell structure, latex helps to increase airflow, making the mattress highly breathable.

At Four Star, our DETENSE | Artic Silk® Advanze Aire Flex™ mattresses feature innovative Japanese technology that improves airflow and increases mattress breathability. The natural latex found in the mattress also distributes pressure evenly across your whole body, increasing your blood circulation while keeping your body cool during sleep.

You can also pair these mattresses with our customisable storage bed frames, which features a German Hydraulic lift system, allowing you to easily lift your bed to store your essential items and declutter your room. A less crowded room also has more space for air to circulate, resulting in a cooler bedroom.

Conclusion

By taking note of these sleep deprivation tell-tale indicators and making positive lifestyle changes to your sleep routine, you can do wonders in boosting your health. Making this change also allow you to enjoy optimal work productivity and performance. Additionally, you may want to consider investing in a premium bed from a reputable mattress shop in Singapore to improve your sleep quality.

So if your mind is made up and you want to begin your search for a new mattress to address your sleep deprivation issue, head on over to our Four Star stores today and experience our extensive catalogue first-hand!