Spanish sleep expert warns chronic sleep loss threatens health and safety

Dr. García‑Borreguero, a leading sleep specialist in Spain, says that sleeping only six hours a night impairs cognition to the same level as a blood‑alcohol concentration of 0.05%, the legal limit for driving. He warns that chronic sleep deprivation, which he calls “social jet‑lag,” raises the risk of type‑2 diabetes and obesity by up to 30% and triples the likelihood of developing depression. The expert links poor sleep to hormonal imbalance, metabolic disorders and increased anxiety.

A complementary perspective from Chile highlights how sustained insufficient sleep undermines mental health, causing irritability, reduced concentration, mood swings and heightened vulnerability to anxiety and depression. The article recommends regular sleep schedules, limiting caffeine and evening screen use, exercising, and reserving the bedroom for rest as simple measures to improve sleep quality and overall wellbeing.