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We all know not getting enough sleep at night can make us cranky in the morning. What we don’t know is how lack of sleep impacts the rest of your body as well. It can affect your health, looks and even your ability to lose weight.

Sleep Loss Dumbs You Down

Sleep plays a critical role in thinking and learning and lack of sleep can hurt these cognitive processes. It impairs attention, alertness, concentration, reasoning and problem solving. During the night, various sleep cycles play a role in “consolidating” memories in the mind. If you’re not getting enough sleep, you won’t be able to remember what you learned and experienced during the day.

Serious Health Problems

Sleep disorders and chronic sleep loss can put you at risk for:

– Heart disease
– Heart attack
– Heart failure
– Irregular heartbeat
– High blood pressure
– Stroke
– Diabetes

According to some estimates, 90% of people with insomnia also have another health condition.

Lack of Sleep Ages Your Skin

Many people have experienced sickly, yellow skin and puffy eyes as a result of missing a few nights of sleep. It turns out that chronic sleep loss can also lead to lackluster skin, fine lines and dark circles under the eyes.

When you don’t get enough sleep your body releases more stress hormones. In excess amounts, this hormone can break down skin collagen, the protein that keep skin smooth and elastic.