It should be no surprise that our nation is overtired and lacking in sleep altogether. But, what does that do for the way we look? Recent studies led by John Axelsson at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden show that not only are our poor sleeping habits affecting the American people psychologically, but as well as our health in our overall looks. Axelsson, associate professor in the clinical neuroscience department, and his team have now shown just how “ugly” people can get simply by not receiving enough sleep at night.
It has been known that a severe lack in sleep over time may affect the body’s defenses, including the ability to fight off infection which remains present as a factor in illnesses such as diabetes and obesity, but now studies show it really does affect how we look. This is important because in spite the money being spent to cure these physiological imperfections, (as well as the money being spent in cosmetics) all it may take to prevent such costs could just be a full night’s rest. Lack of sleep also affects important organs such as the heart and brain, and has been known to reduce reaction time and may be a factor in some cases of heart disease.
In a study done on sleep deprivation, 23 adults were allowed a full night’s sleep, and then were not allowed to sleep for 31 consecutive hours. Each of the subjects involved in the study were photographed after being well rested, and after staying up for almost a full day and a half. Then, another 65 people were asked to rate how attractive, healthy and tired the 23 adults looked following the experiment. The results from the study were conclusive. People are not the same when they are lacking in sleep. The numbers reveal that when not allowed sleep, the subjects involved in the study looked 4 percent noticeably less attractive, 6 percent less healthy, and 19 percent more tired after 31 hours with no rest.
Most people know that they are recommended to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. Unfortunately, the busy world we live in doesn’t always allow for that.
According to Axelsson, this study proves to be a wake-up call to many people who are consistently getting less than 6 hours of sleep per night, which he states is true of 1 in 5 Americans. The affects of sleep deprivation are clearly seen on the faces of 23 individuals involved in the experiment, as well as a large number of people who repeatedly do not get a full 8 hours of sleep every night.
In conclusion, the results ultimately show us the importance of being well rested. Axelsson states, “A good night’s sleep does not only improve you physiological health, it will also make you look healthier and more attractive, which in turn improves the chance of better treatments in a wide range of social situations.” After testing the idea that lack of sleep may affect our looks, John Axelsson and his crew have now provided clear evidence showing how much more unattractive people can be who don’t sleep enough. He says, “We propose that sleep is a cheap and effective beauty treatment, both acutely and in the long-term. Sleep should be seen as the body’s natural beauty treatment and a clear alternative or complement to other beauty treatment.”
http://bodyodd.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/12/15/5644892-want-to-look-hotter-hit-the-sack
Marissa, I agree that everyone could use a good nights sleep, but in the real world stuff happens like working overtime. The last job I worked my crew had to work 12 to 16 hour shifts during the holidays. This was tough on everyone because no one was getting enough sleep and that led to bad moods. Once the holidays were done, we were back to normal 8 hour days which left us much rested and happier!
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