All of us know we should get 7-9hours of sleep every night, yet, majority of us don’t reach that goal. And if we do, we might not be fully refreshed. This could be due to hormone imbalances or stress, such as pulling an all-nighter to cram for a test/paper. These lead to continuous release of cortisol and affect our health. When our cortisol levels are at an imbalance, we feel anxious, fatigued, unmotivated. I’m sure everyone feels that way from time to time.
Lack of sleep prevents the brain from making new memories, has negative effects on immune system and cardiovascular system, and imbalances our cortisol and blood sugar levels which can lead to weight gain, as seen in those who work the graveyard/night shift. It also accumulates toxic proteins, such as beta amyloid found in Alzheimer’s Disease, in the brain.
In the morning, cortisol levels should be high and provide us energy to get through day. They then gradually decrease throughout the day, reaching their lowest in late evening/bedtime. The levels keep decreasing after about 4hrs of deep sleep. At its lowest point, which will be 6-7hrs of sleep, cortisol then slowly rises and wakes us up naturally after 7-8 hours of sleep, repeating the cycle again.
If cortisol levels do not decrease in the evening, due to stressors or pituitary imbalances, it can lead to serious health issues.
Not only is cortisol important for our energy, but, it also has profound effect on our entire physiology. From affecting our endocrine system, which produces all our hormones including thyroid, insulin, and sex hormones, to affecting our digestive and immune systems. It also affects our neurotransmitters, the brain chemicals that determine energy, mood, mental clarity, and sleep.
You see, once cortisol is elevated, sleep deprivation is the least of your concerns because the more nights that go by with cortisol high instead of low, the more likely you are to develop digestive issues, hormone imbalances, mood changes, and/or issues related to your immune.
