A new study conducted by researchers from the University of South Florida explored the risks of not getting enough sleep. Their findings suggest that getting fewer than six hours of sleep can have a significant impact on consumers’ overall well-being -- even if it’s just one night.
“Many of us think we can pay our sleep debt on weekends and be more productive on weekdays,” said researcher Soomi Lee. “However, results from our study show that having just one night of sleep loss can significantly impair your daily functioning.”
The importance of quality sleep
For the study, the researchers analyzed data from nearly 2,000 middle-aged adults that were part of the Midlife in the United States study. Over the course of eight days, the participants tracked their sleeping patterns and physical and mental health.
The study showed that a lack of sleep can impact consumers both mentally and physically, and going without enough sleep for longer periods of time led to more severe negative symptoms. From a physical standpoint, the most commonly reported ailments were gastrointestinal issues, upper respiratory issues, and body aches. From a mental health standpoint, getting fewer than six hours of sleep resulted in greater frustration, irritability, and nervousness.
Moving forward, the researchers recommend that consumers do their best to get at least six hours of sleep each night. Not getting enough sleep can have a significant impact on our general health and wellness, and even one night of shortened sleep can be detrimental.