A lack of sleep can cause the body to react as if it's in distress, releasing more of the stress hormone, cortisol. Cortisol is responsible for your fight or flight reaction to danger, increasing your heart rate in anticipation of a fight
Sleep deprivation can cause the body to react as if it is in distress, releasing more cortisol, the stress hormone. Cortisol is the hormone that triggers your fight or flight response in the face of danger, raising your heart rate in preparation for a fight. Sleep disruptions can further disrupt your HPA axis, causing cortisol production to be distorted. Insomnia and other forms of sleep loss have been shown to cause your body to generate extra cortisol during the day, maybe to boost alertness.
Explanation:
The body's natural stress reaction kicks in during times of tension, starting with a cascade of hormones that make us feel more alert and cause subsequent physiological changes.
