Doctor warns that poor sleep could be causing health issues for millions of 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, 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. Cravings and appetite increase Poor sleep disrupts the hormones that control hunger and fullness, making…
