Side Effects to Lack of Sleep Vs. Exercise

The side effects to lack of sleep are detrimental to both your physical and mental health.

Poor quality sleep affects your overall health by impairing your judgement in decision making (brain fog), making you more likely to overeat, and negatively impacting your mood. Lack of sleep is also linked to serious health consequences like depression, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

There is also research that shows one of the side effects to lack of sleep is a shorter life expectancy and higher risk of death. However, studies suggest that exercise can counteract the negative effects of poor sleep.

Read below to learn how adding exercise to your routine can help improve your sleep patterns and your overall health.

Exercise Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Some of the side effects to lack of sleep include stress and anxiety, which in turn contributes to poor sleep. Exercise is a natural stress and anxiety reliever. It helps reduce the levels of cortisol – the stress hormone – in our bodies, allowing us to feel calmer, improve our mood and promote better sleep.

Exercise Boosts Your Energy Levels

While it may seem counterintuitive, regular moderate exercise can help boost your energy levels. When you maintain an active lifestyle and stick to a consistent exercise routine, your body functions more efficiently. You’ll feel less tired and more focused, even after a night of sleep deprivation.

Exercise also releases endorphins, which give you a positive boost of energy for the whole day. This endorphin boost can help to combat daytime sleepiness and drowsiness.

Exercise Reduces Inflammation

Chronic inflammation is linked to health conditions like heart disease, one of the side effects to lack of sleep. However, studies show that just 20 minutes of exercise can provide anti-inflammatory benefits.

Reducing inflammation in the body is vital to protecting yourself against serious chronic health conditions.

Exercise Regulates Blood Pressure and Increases Insulin Sensitivity

Poor sleep may be linked to heart disease because it spikes blood pressure and inhibits insulin resistance. Exercise combats these side effects to lack of sleep by helping to lower blood pressure and increase insulin sensitivity.

These effects are immediate and last up to 24 hours post workout session.

Exercise Prolongs Deep Sleep

Deep sleep is the most restorative and rejuvenating stage of the sleep cycle. It’s also the most challenging stage to achieve for many. However, people who exercise enjoy more restful deep sleep, not just longer periods of sleep.

Deep sleep is essential for memory consolidation, muscle repair, and the immune system. With a regular routine of exercise consistently, you’ll reduce the loss of deep sleep quality.