Doctor warns that poor sleep could be causing health issues for 10.8 million Brits – with missed sleep impacting stress, cravings, memory, resilience, and immunity.
This warning comes during Sleep Awareness Week (8th-14th March) and World Sleep Day(13th March) – at a time when Brits are waking up to the importance of sleep, prioritising it as part of their overall wellness.
A recent study of 1,000 UK adults, conducted as part of the Platinum Spas Hot Tub’s 2026 Wellness Report, found that sleep ranks as the number one wellness priority for millions of Brits this year. Almost 1 in 5 name it as a main health focus, coming above other physical, mental, and weight loss goals.
Dr. Gracie McLaven, founder and clinical psychologist at Brain Body Wealth told Platinum Spas Hot Tubs,
“Sleep underpins nearly every system in the body, from hormone balance and immune function to mental clarity and emotional regulation. However, when sleep is consistently disrupted, stress levels rise, cravings increase, focus declines, and burnout risk grows.”
5 things that go wrong in the brain and body when you don’t get enough sleep
Dr. Gracie McLaven told Platinum Spas,
1. Your stress levels spike
When you don’t get enough sleep, cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone, becomes harder to regulate. Your nervous system stays on high alert, leaving you feeling tense, overstimulated and “wired but tired”. Keeping you awake even when you’re exhausted.
2. Cravings and appetite increase
Poor sleep disrupts the hormones that control hunger and fullness, making you more likely to crave sugary, high-carb foods. Energy levels become harder to stabilise, often leading to spikes and crashes throughout the day.
3. Your Focus and Memory Decline
During deep sleep, the brain processes and consolidates memories. Without it, concentration drops, decision-making slows and productivity can suffer, making even simple tasks feel more demanding.
4. Emotional Resilience Drops
Sleep plays a vital role in emotional regulation. When rest is lacking, our mood becomes harder to manage, irritability increases and everyday stressors can feel amplified. Over time, anxiety symptoms may worsen.
5. Your Immune System Weakens
Consistent sleep disruption reduces immune cell activity, leaving the body less equipped to fight off illness. You may find yourself getting sick more often and taking longer to recover when you do.
The renewed focus on rest may come as a surprise to some; however, a previous study found that more than half of Brits (53%) say they never feel like they get enough rest, while the average person hasn’t felt properly “rested” for almost two months.
Dr. Gracie adds,
“Rest isn’t laziness or indulgence, it’s a biological and psychological need. It helps us regulate our nervous system, recharge emotionally, and build resilience. Without it, everything from our mood to our motivation and relationships begins to suffer.”
The research forms part of the 2026 Wellness Report from Platinum Spas Hot Tubs, which explores how people across the UK are changing their attitudes to health, wellbeing and lifestyle habits in the year ahead.
Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-sleeping-on-a-bed-6941126/
