Eight Horrible Things That Can Happen If You Don't Get Enough Sleep.

 
Most of us know that getting a good night’s sleep is important, but few people actually make those eight or so hours between the sheets a priority. To make matters worse, stimulants like coffee and energy drinks, alarm clocks, and external lights; including those from electronic devices interferes with our natural sleep/wake cycle. 

Usually people are advised to get around seven to eight hours sleep a night (although that claim has been brought into question). It seems to be a symptom of the ever-accelerating pace of modern life – in 1942, just 3 percent of people in the U.S got five hours or less sleep; in 2013, that figure was 14 percent. Seventy years ago, Americans slept an average of 7.9 hours a night, nowadays it’s around 6.8 percent. That said, we can't blame long working hours and smartphones entirely, as a recent study suggested that our ancestors probably actually got less sleep than we do. 

Regardless, what are the impacts on our bodies of sleep deprivation? There are many health effects linked to a lack of sleep, both physical and psychological. Check out this cool infographic from Business Insider, showing eight of the negative effects a prolonged lack of sleep can have on your weary mind and body.