It's maddening - you're tired and still just toss and turn restlessly in bed. The next day you're exhausted and hope that it will end quickly. And in the evening, the game starts all over again... If you find yourself in the vicious circle of insomnia, you are tired and exhausted during the day and can hardly cope. Not only do concentration and alertness suffer, but massive physical illnesses are also promoted.

How many hours of sleep are optimal for your age?

Which 5 diseases are promoted by a constant lack of sleep

1. high blood pressure

During sleep, blood pressure drops by 10 to 20 percent. This is not really surprising, as we are in a resting phase. That's why it's so problematic when the body can't rest at night and the balance to the active day is missing. The result: blood pressure rises! According to scientists, people who sleep less than five hours are 21 percent more likely to suffer from high blood pressure.

2. colds

Are you wondering why you catch colds so often or simply don't feel well? This is also often associated with a lack of sleep. According to one study, participants who slept less than six hours were four times more likely to catch a cold. A lack of sleep affects our immune system, which is why the body is much more susceptible to colds and flu-like infections. A good night's sleep is therefore important for regeneration.

3. overweight

It has long been known that a lack of sleep promotes obesity - the resulting hunger and cravings during the day lead to increased calorie intake. According to the study, this is particularly true for people who sleep five hours or less per night. Type 2 diabetes can also develop as a result.

4. depression

Constant sleep deprivation can also lead to depression. The reason: neurotransmitters in the brain such as serotonin and noradrenaline regulate waking and sleeping, among other things. They also control our state of mind as well as our perception and thinking. Fluctuations and failures in the responsible nerve centers therefore have a negative effect on the psyche. Sleep and our psyche are so closely linked that a lack of sleep can cause depression, thought disorders and even hallucinations.

5 Alzheimer's disease

In fact, a lack of sleep can also promote Alzheimer's. According to recent studies, so-called beta-amyloids accumulate in the brain after just one sleepless night, as researchers led by David Holtzman from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found out. In Alzheimer's patients, these proteins clump together and form plaques, which has a negative effect on the brain cells.

Don't just let a lack of sleep take care of itself

If you notice that insomnia is becoming a permanent condition for you, you should urgently do something about it. All too often, the physical and psychological problems associated with it are trivialized and neglected. Remember one thing: the aforementioned illnesses are widespread diseases, as is increasingly stress-related poor sleep. So make sure you relax in your everyday life, for example by exercising.

You can find more tips for healthy sleep at MeinSchlaf.de