An expert has predicted what the future could hold for sleep-deprived Britons using a series of images, the Mirror reports.
Meet "Hannah" (the name of a British woman who took part in the experiment - ed.): a red-eyed vision of what people could look like in the near future, with balding hair, wrinkles, short and swollen legs, a round belly and a myriad of other ailments.
The reason? Poor sleep habits. Sleep expert Dr Sophie Bostock thinks we're in the midst of an 'epidemic of tiredness', as new figures show the average Briton is sleeping just 6 hours and 24 minutes a night - and the consequences look pretty severe.
Hannah's 3D visualisation, based on scientific evidence, shows the dramatic physical effects that lack of sleep and the inability to 'switch off' can have on the body. The image shows a host of skin problems including jaundice and wrinkles as well as alopecia (hair loss).
But in addition to physical changes, the sleep deprived also suffer from short-term memory loss, increased sensitivity to pain, and spontaneous shoulder and back pain. Sleep deprived Britons have also become more vulnerable to respiratory infections such as colds and flu.
Too much fatigue to exercise combined with limited sleep, which affects the hormones that control feelings of hunger and satiety, have also led to significant weight gain. Worryingly, this lifestyle has also led to atrophy of Hannah's muscles - her arms and legs have reduced in size and shape.
Dr Bostock said:
"Research into the importance of consistent, quality sleep for our health and wellbeing has accelerated over the last few decades. Many of us don't realize that indiscriminate routines and lack of sleep disrupt our circadian rhythms - the 24-hour cycles that control our physiology."
"Hannah is a thought-provoking illustration of the overall impact sleep has on maintaining overall health. Studies have shown that prolonged sleep deprivation can put you at higher risk of conditions that can affect the heart - including obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes," the expert added.
The evidence underpinning the experiment was gathered from published research papers in academic journals since 2010. These include the physical effects on the human body - including the brain, immune system, muscles, skin, eyes and hair - that lack of sleep can have on the body.
Using this information, the team worked with animators and artists to create Hannah, a visual representation of the consequences of sleep deprivation and the sleep deprivation dilemma in the UK.
Lisa Richards, marketing director at Bensons, said, "Hannah is the worst case scenario of what could happen to someone if they do everything wrong in terms of sleep."
"Of course, it doesn't represent all Brits, but the reason we wanted to create this model was to get people to think more carefully about their overall experience during sleep. Using this visual form makes it easier for people to identify with the problem and the underlying signs of the long-term effects of sleep deprivation."
Ways to avoid such symptoms include being physically active, getting out of bed at the same time of day whenever possible to improve your circadian rhythm, seeking natural light during the day, eating before bed, avoiding screen time before bed, and investing in a supportive mattress to help sleep better. | BGNES
