Bensons For Beds’ sleep expert Dr Sophie Bostock created a life-like visual representation of what a person who only had about six hours sleep a night would look like in 2050.

The image shows a virtual woman, named ‘Hannah’, suffering hair loss, hunched shoulders, deep bags under her eyes and swollen legs.

Hannah’s immune system has also been affected by the lack of sleep, leaving her more susceptible to respiratory infections. 

According to Bostock, ‘Hannah’ the virtual woman, has short-term and long-term memory loss, dramatic skin ageing and obesity, with the effects based on scientific, evidence-based research.

“Hannah is a thought-provoking illustration of the holistic impact that sleep has on maintaining overall health. Studies show that prolonged sleep deficiency can put you at a higher risk for conditions that may impact the heart including obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes,” Bostock said.

“Research into the importance of consistent, good quality sleep for our health and wellbeing has accelerated in the last few decades. Many of us don't realise that haphazard daily routines and lack of sleep interfere with our circadian rhythms, the 24-hour cycles which control our physiology.”