A grotesque digital model shows what humans could look like in 2050 if we don’t start getting enough sleep.
‘Hannah’, created by Bensons for Beds and sleep expert Dr Sophie Bostock, reveals the changes in our bodies when we only sleep six hours a night.
Hannah, a 45-year-old Brit from the future, has chronic back pain, thinning hair, sagging skin, swollen legs and red eyes and bags.
She also suffers from thinning muscles in her arms and legs and is increasingly prone to catching the flu due to a weak immune system.
Due to our hectic modern lifestyle and obsession with smartphones into the wee hours of the morning, people may be losing more sleep than ever.
So by 2050, lack of sleep will cause a plethora of exaggerated chronic health problems like the ones Hannah suffers from.
Generally, experts recommend that adults sleep between 7 and 9 hours per night, and adults who sleep less than 7 hours are at greater risk for health problems.
According to a survey this year, the average Briton sleeps just six hours and 20 minutes a night.
Bensons for Beds and sleep expert Dr Sophie Bostock have predicted what our bodies will look and feel like in 2050 if we continue without sleep
Hannah suffers from chronic back pain, hair loss, sagging skin, swollen legs, droopy eyes, and muscle atrophy (thinning muscle mass) in her arms and legs.
Hannah’s design was based on 19 research articles in academic journals published since 2010 that analyze the effects of lack of sleep on the body.
“Hannah is a thought-provoking example of the holistic impact sleep has on maintaining overall health,” said Dr. Bostock.
“Many of us don’t realize that disordered daily routines and lack of sleep interfere with our circadian rhythms, the 24-hour cycles that control our physiology.”
Fortunately, according to the academic, research on the importance of constant, good quality sleep for health and well-being has accelerated in recent decades.
Studies show that prolonged lack of sleep can increase the risk of conditions that can affect the heart, such as obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
MailOnline takes a closer look at all of Hannah’s terrible ailments and how you can avoid looking like her by the year 2050.
BULGING BELLY
Hannah represents a 45-year-old in 2050, which means she is currently 20 years old and beginning her damaging sleep-deprivation journey.
She also has short- and long-term memory loss and a weakened immune system, making her more vulnerable to respiratory infections such as the common cold and flu.
In 2050, lack of sleep made Hannah too tired to exercise, and she eventually stopped, causing significant weight gain around her belly.
What’s more, sleep restriction has affected Hannah’s hormones “leptin” and “ghrelin,” which control feelings of hunger and fullness.
Without enough sleep, your brain reduces leptin (which your body releases to help you maintain your normal weight) and increases ghrelin (which is an appetite stimulant).
The flow of these hormones could explain late-night snacking or why someone may overeat later in the night.
MEMORY LEAK
Lack of sleep affects a small part of the brain called the hippocampus, which is key to creating new memories.
During sleep, your brain forms connections that help you process and remember new information, a process called “consolidation.”
Sleep offers “optimal conditions” for consolidation by providing periods of reduced “external stimulation”; in other words, the demands of waking life.
Additionally, sleep increases levels of neurotransmitters, the chemicals that allow neurons to communicate with each other throughout the body.
So, Hannah’s lack of sleep means she has less time for these connections, which negatively affects her short- and long-term memory.
According to a survey this year, the average Briton sleeps just six hours and 20 minutes a night (file photo)
Lack of sleep affects a small part of the brain called the hippocampus (highlighted in this digital rendering), which is key to creating new memories.
SKIN AND EYES BAGS
It is not called “restful sleep” for nothing, since lack of sleep can seriously reduce the elasticity of our skin and make us look older.
When we sleep, we produce collagen, the protein that helps keep skin smooth and the main component of skin.
Sleep loss has also been linked to the body secreting more cortisol, the “stress hormone,” which keeps us awake and alert.
Lack of sleep also causes more fatigued, baggy-looking and red eyelids, as well as darker circles and wrinkles under the eyes, which is also thought to be due to loss of collagen.
SWELLY LEGS
Chronic sleep deprivation can raise levels of stress hormones like cortisol, which have been linked to fatal heart disease.
Hannah has a heart disease that prematurely affects her life expectancy; one of the signs of which is swelling of the ankles.
The body releases the hormone cortisol from the adrenal glands, which are located above the kidneys.
Heart disease slows blood flow around the body and causes fluid to build up in the feet, ankles, and legs.
Additionally, heart failure makes the body less able to eliminate sodium, which also causes abnormal swelling.
CHRONIC BACK PAIN
Lack of sleep causes Hannah chronic back and shoulder pain, while the pain prevents her from sleeping, leading to a horrible “vicious cycle.”
During sleep, growth hormones and other chemicals are released that are essential for relieving pain and healing the body.
Additionally, lack of sleep makes certain parts of the brain more receptive to pain signals, leading to a vicious spiraling cycle.
Lack of sleep is also a cause of muscle atrophy (thinning of muscle mass) because it affects the production of hormones involved in muscle development.
Living in a vacuum day after day has caused Hannah to suffer from muscle atrophy and her arms and legs to reduce in size and shape.
Alopecia is the general medical term for hair loss. It is usually most noticeable on the scalp, but can occur anywhere on the body.
HAIR
Chronic lack of sleep has caused Hannah to progressively develop hair loss, known as alopecia, which could lead to complete baldness.
Lack of sleep is believed to hinder blood circulation in the scalp, depriving hair follicles of essential nutrients and oxygen needed for healthy growth.
In addition to sleeping seven to nine hours a night, tips to avoid looking like Hannah include getting up at the same time every day, even on weekends.
Additionally, we should get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week, drink plenty of water, use a comfortable, supportive mattress, and spend as much time as possible exposed to sunlight during the day.
“Hannah is a worst-case prediction of what could happen to someone if they do everything wrong in terms of poor sleep routine and poor mattress support,” said Lisa Richards, Bensons’ marketing director.
‘Of course, she doesn’t represent all Brits, but the reason we wanted to create this model was to make people think more carefully about their overall sleeping experience.
“Using this image makes it easier for people to identify with the problem and the key signs.”