Experts reveal the 'serious toll' sleep deprivation has on the body even if you only lose a few hours

Fitness and diet may be a large part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but sleep is arguably one of the most important.

In recent months, horrifying images were created to portray what someone might look like if they constantly ran off six hours of a sleep a night.

The images of a 3D model named Hannah showed various physical signs of long-term sleep deprivation such as thinning hair, a hunched posture, and aged skin.

She was described as 'a worst-case scenario prediction of what could happen to somebody if they do everything badly in terms of poor sleep routine and poor mattress support'.

But, as well as poor sleep affecting your physical appearance, it can have long-term and serious affects on your health.

Experts at Dreams’ Sleep Matters Club explained: "Sleep is a natural and essential part of our day. As babies, we spend much of our time sleeping, while as adults, we often wish we had more time to sleep.

"Scientists haven’t yet determined an exact reason why we sleep, but they all agree that our brains and bodies must recharge and repair. While we sleep, our brain clears toxins and keeps everything running smoothly, helping our body function at its best."

They went on to share: "Sleep deprivation (a lack of sleep), whether it’s losing a couple of hours one night or more extreme situations, like the countless sleepless nights of new parents, can take a serious toll on our bodies. While it’s normal to go through periods of not getting enough sleep, it’s never pleasant and can affect our overall health.

"When we don’t get enough rest, it can impact our concentration, mood, and ability to carry out everyday tasks. It can also mess with our memory, and over time, sleep deprivation can contribute to long-term health issues, including problems with the immune system and heart health."

Sleep deprivation can causes a lot of problems (Getty Stock Image)

In terms of just how much sleep we should be getting, it all comes down to sleep cycles.

"To feel fully refreshed when we wake up, we must go through all four sleep cycle stages and reach deep sleep," the experts claim. "Your sleep flows through stages of light, deep, and REM sleep every 90 minutes, each vital for physical repair, mental clarity, and emotional balance."

To help you work out when to go to bed to make sure you're getting those precious four sleep cycles (as a minimum), Dreams has created a sleep calculator which you can access here.