5 Signs You’re not Getting Enough Sleep: Besides not remembering much, most of us consider a successful night’s sleep one that isn’t too terribly short or interrupted. Sure, you could go out and splurge on one of those fancy new sleep monitors. But if you’re not getting a good, restful night’s sleep, your body is likely already sending you several signals. If you’re experiencing one of these common symptoms, it might be because you need a better night’s sleep. 

1. You’re irritable and depressed:

irritable and depressed
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We all get cranky and irritable when we don’t get enough sleep, but the quality of sleep you’re getting is also a big factor in your overall mood. “Sleep abnormalities are a hallmark of depressive disorders, with many depressed patients experiencing insomnia,” according to a New York Times depression guide. “Likewise, insomnia or other changes in waking and sleeping patterns can have significant effects on a person’s mood, and perhaps worsen or draw out an underlying depression.” So, if you’re being treated for depression or experiencing symptoms of depression, sleep quality could be a factor.

2. You’re accident-prone:

Accident
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One of the scariest long-term effects of poor sleep quality is something called “micro-sleep.” When this happens, almost like narcolepsy, you fall asleep for a few seconds at a time and it’s completely out of your control. Your body needs sleep and will get it however it can. Micro-sleeping could be the cause of those unexplained trips and falls and can become incredibly dangerous behind the wheel of a car.

3. You’re more aggressive or impulsive:

Are you finding your road rage harder to control? Did you recently make a ridiculous large purchase? You might be surprised that impulsiveness and aggression are both totally exacerbated by a lack of restful sleep, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and Institutes of Health. If you find yourself flipping out at the grocery store cashier for no reason, you might be suffering from the effects of poor sleep quality.

4. You’re forgetful:

If you’re misplacing keys and forgetting the milk at the grocery store more often than usual, a lack of quality sleep might be the culprit. According to a Harvard study, people who don’t get good quality sleep not only experience short-term problems with focus and memory, but this could also be a long-term risk for dementia.

5. You’ve got high blood pressure:

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Along with weight gain, long-term poor sleep quality can raise your blood pressure – putting you at greater risk for both stroke and heart disease. If you’ve recently seen your blood pressure rise, you might want to talk to your doctor about boosting your sleep quality with medication or behavioral therapy.