Dr Neetu Jain, Senior Consultant, Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, PSRI Hospital, explained that sleeping for less than adequate time can severely disrupt the brain\u2019s ability to function. The body experiences a hormonal imbalance: cortisol levels rise, which increases stress, while immunity weakens.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen experienced long term, chronic sleep deprivation reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex \u2014 the part responsible for logic, judgment, and impulse control, while overstimulating the amygdala, which controls emotions like anger and fear,\u201d Dr Jain told indianexpress.com. As a result, people may become more emotionally reactive, anxious, and prone to mood swings. To add to that, sleep-<\/a><\/strong>deprived people suffer from impulsive decision-making, who find it \u201charder to manage conflicts or stress calmly\u201d.<\/p>\n All sleep is not the same, and the quality and timing matter as well. In Ananya\u2019s case, she believes sleeping for hours in the morning would help her make up for staying up all night.<\/p>\n However,\u00a0Dr Arunesh Kumar, Director & HOD \u2013 Pulmonology at Paras Health, Gurugram, pointed out that the issue is not just about odd hours, but about disrupting the body\u2019s natural timing. \u201cThe body\u2019s circadian rhythm is designed around daylight. Long-term disruption can weaken immunity, affect lung function, slow metabolism, and raise the risk of hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n According to him, the impact is not just limited to physical health. \u201cNight wakefulness disrupts hormones like melatonin and cortisol, which regulate sleep<\/a><\/strong>, stress and energy,\u201d said Dr Kumar. When these hormones fall out of sync, people may experience irritability, low mood, poor concentration, persistent fatigue, and even changes in appetite or weight, he added.<\/p>\n While it can be assumed that the body is adaptable and adjust itself to the new sleep timings, the shift is never complete. \u201cThe body can partially adapt, but it never fully resets,\u201d he said, explaining how daytime sleep tends to be lighter and shorter due to light exposure and environmental noise, leaving the body to function under subtle physiological stress.<\/p>\n What should you watch out for? Dr Kumar said that warning signs appear gradually and can look like constant tiredness despite enough hours in bed, frequent respiratory infections, headaches, mood swings, breathlessness, or increasing reliance on caffeine.<\/p>\n Story continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and\/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\nIs catching up on sleep during the day the same?<\/h3>\n
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