You might rethink your sleeping habits after seeing this…
In today’s fast-paced world, balancing screen time, work responsibilities, and the stresses of daily life can make it challenging to get enough quality sleep.
According to experts, adults should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night to maintain good health.
Research from the National Institutes of Health indicates that sleeping less than seven hours can lead to more health problems compared to those who meet the recommended amount.
Yet, a 2024 Gallup poll revealed that 57 percent of Americans feel they aren’t getting enough rest.
Further insights from Sleep Cycle, a sleep tracking app, analyzed over 15 million hours of sleep data across the U.S.
The findings, published in 2023, highlighted that states like Hawaii, Nevada, and Maryland experience some of the poorest sleep patterns in the country.
On the other hand, states like Montana, Colorado, and Vermont ranked as the best for getting a good night’s sleep, according to Sleep Review.
For many people, getting more valuable rest is easier said than done. However, a recent study that sheds light on the physical consequences of inadequate sleep might motivate you to prioritize bedtime tonight.
A British mattress and bedding company partnered with a self-described “sleep evangelist” to create a haunting 3D model showing what our bodies might look like in 25 years if we consistently miss out on sleep.
A lack of sleep can seriously affect the body
JJ Shim
Bensons for Beds worked with Dr. Sophie Bostock to illustrate the long-term effects of getting just six hours of sleep a night — one hour less than the recommended minimum.
They developed a model named Hannah to highlight these consequences.
This issue goes beyond just getting enough beauty sleep to look refreshed.
Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to significant and lasting damage to the body.
The 3D model of Hannah reveals clear signs of prolonged sleep loss, including thinning hair, hunched shoulders, and prematurely aged skin.
These visible changes were inspired by academic research into the effects of insufficient sleep, as well as its internal impacts on overall health.
Sleep deprivation has been linked to a number of health issues
JJ Shim
Dr. Bostock explained: “Hannah is a thought-provoking illustration of the holistic impact that sleep has on maintaining overall health. Studies show that prolonged sleep deficiency can put you at a higher risk for conditions that may impact the heart — including obesity, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.”
Sleep deprivation is also tied to visible signs of aging, such as sagging skin, dark circles, and drooping facial features.
Lack of rest can result in memory loss, reduced immunity, and higher susceptibility to illnesses like colds and the flu.
Additionally, it has been linked to impaired cognitive abilities, elevated blood pressure, diabetes, increased inflammation, depression, and kidney issues.
Lisa Richards, Marketing Director at Bensons, elaborated: “Hannah is a worst-case scenario prediction of what could happen to somebody if they do everything badly in terms of poor sleep routine and poor mattress support,”
She added: “The reason we wanted to create this model was to make people think more carefully about their overall sleep experience. Using this visual makes it easier for people to identify with the issue and the key signs.”