Common Side Effects of Sleep Disorders

An affiliate of the American Board of Radiology and the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, San Diego-based physician Kevin Murphy, MD, founded two related companies, PeakLogic and Mindset. Through his contributions to the field of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, San Diego’s Kevin T. Murphy, M.D., has advanced treatments for brain wave arrhythmia that can lead to mental illnesses and sleep disorders.

Irregularities in brainwaves can impact sleep cycles and result in sleep disorders such as insomnia or excessive sleepiness. Some of the most common side effects of chronic sleep disorders include:

Poor concentration: An ongoing sleep deficit can reduce mental acuity and reaction time. This can lead to under-performance at school or work, or an increased likelihood of being involved in an accident.

Weight gain: Sleep deprivation affects the brain signals that control feelings of satiety and hunger. For this reason, people who are sleep-deprived may eat too much, which leads to weight gain.

Mood disorders: Over time, a lack of sleep can reduce a person’s capacity for emotional regulation. They may experience irritability or anxiety. This can develop into an ongoing mood disorder such as depression.