Now we can imagine what people will look like if they don’t start getting enough sleep. Their eyes will be perpetually puffy, their hair will be thinning, and their bellies will be distended. They will suffer from chronic back pain. And that’s just a few details in the portrait of a digital model that scientists have named Hannah.
Hannah was created by a research team from Bensons for Beds, featuring sleep expert Sophie Bostock. The model illustrates the alarming changes our bodies undergo when we sleep only six hours a night. This is what the inhabitants of Earth will look like by the middle of this century if they continue to make a habit of skimping on sleep.
The issue is that our current lifestyle and obsession with smartphones, especially at night, are causing people to lose more sleep than ever before.
Typically, scientists recommend that adults get between 7 to 9 hours of sleep. Those who sleep less than 7 hours face numerous health problems. According to a survey conducted this year, the average Briton sleeps only six hours and 20 minutes a night.
What Happened to Hannah?
Sleep experts are sounding the alarm: if people continue to pay so little attention to their nighttime rest, by 2050 they will encounter a multitude of serious health issues similar to those that plague Hannah.
Hannah’s development is based on 19 studies examining the effects of sleep deprivation on the body. The findings from these studies have been published in academic journals since 2010.
This digital 45-year-old British woman from the future suffers from chronic back pain. It’s clear to see that she has thinning hair, sagging skin, red bags under her eyes, and swollen legs.
She also experiences muscle wasting in her arms and legs. Due to a weakened immune system, she falls ill with the flu more frequently, as reported by the Daily Mail.
What caused these ailments to attack her?
Distended Belly
Hannah represents a 45-year-old woman in 2050, meaning she is currently 20 and just beginning to ruin her health by depriving herself of sleep.
By the time she reaches 45, she will feel too exhausted to exercise. This will lead to a significant increase in her belly size.
Moreover, sleep deprivation affects the hormones leptin and ghrelin, which regulate feelings of hunger and fullness. Without enough sleep, the brain lowers leptin levels (which your body produces to maintain a healthy weight) and raises ghrelin levels (which stimulates appetite).
Changes in these hormone levels can explain nighttime snacking and the new deposits around her belly.
Memory Decline
Sleep deprivation impacts a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which plays a crucial role in forming new memories. During sleep, the brain creates connections that help process and retain new information; this process is known as “consolidation.” Sleep creates optimal conditions for this.
Additionally, sleep increases the levels of neurotransmitters—chemical substances that help neurons communicate with each other.
Thus, for Hannah, sleep deprivation means a lack of time to form these connections, negatively affecting her long-term and short-term memory.
Bags Under the Eyes and Premature Aging
When we sleep, collagen—a protein that helps keep skin smooth and is a primary building block for it—is produced in the body. It’s no surprise that when sleep is insufficient, a person appears more tired and older.
Lack of sleep is also associated with increased production of the stress hormone cortisol, which keeps us alert and attentive.
Furthermore, sleep deprivation leads to puffiness and redness of the eyelids, as well as dark circles and wrinkles under the eyes, which are also a result of collagen loss.
Swollen Legs
Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to elevated cortisol levels, which are also linked to serious heart diseases. Hannah likely has heart disease affecting her lifespan. One sign of this is swollen ankles.
Heart disease slows down blood circulation in the body and leads to fluid accumulation in the feet, ankles, and shins. Additionally, heart failure reduces the body’s ability to excrete salt, which also causes abnormal swelling.
Back Pain
Lack of sleep has “gifted” Hannah with chronic pain in her back and shoulders, which prevents her from sleeping.
Sleep deficiency is also a cause of muscle atrophy (thinning of muscle mass), as it disrupts the production of hormones involved in muscle growth.
Due to her poor sleep habits, Hannah’s muscles have atrophied, causing her arms and legs to shrink and become deformed.
Hair Loss
Chronic sleep deprivation has led to Hannah developing alopecia—hair loss that can result in complete baldness. It is believed that lack of sleep complicates blood circulation in the scalp, depriving hair follicles of essential nutrients and oxygen.
Don’t Be Like Hannah!
To avoid looking like this digital model, adults should aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night, according to scientists. They also recommend waking up at the same time every day, even on weekends.
Additionally, one should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise each week, drink plenty of water, use a comfortable mattress, and spend more time in the sun.
Hannah’s example prompts reflection, says Dr. Bostock.
“Many of us don’t realize that a chaotic daily routine and lack of sleep disrupt our circadian rhythms,” the expert noted. She also reminded us that prolonged sleep deprivation is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.