New research has
linked a chronic lack of sleep to
elevated risks for poor cardiovascular health, including heart attacks and
stroke, because certain biomarkers in our blood are directly influenced by the
amount of sleep we get each night. The study, published in the journal Experimental
Physiology, was conducted by scientists based at the University of Colorado Boulder; it
finds that sleeping less
than seven hours per night is associated with increased
cardiovascular disease rates and a higher risk of death overall.
The elevated
risks are due in part to
increased inflammation, which is caused by decreasing levels of acid
present in all living cells known as microRNAs, the study reports. MicroRNA
play a key role in regulating
heart health, as it works to suppress other genetic expressions of
proteins that are known to damage vascular health. "They are like our
cellular brakes, so if beneficial microRNAs are lacking, that can have a big
impact on the health of the cell," said Christopher DeSouza, a professor
of integrative physiology at the University of Colorado Boulder, in a press release about the study. "Why seven or eight
hours seems to be the magic number is unclear."
The team arrived
at their conclusion after studying 24 adults between the ages of 24 and 66—half
of which were getting at least
seven hours of sleep per night, with the other group only
sleeping just under seven hours every night—and drawing blood samples
routinely. All the adults didn't smoke or take any kind of medication, were
moderately healthy, and free of previous
cardiovascular issues. The researchers kept a close eye on the
levels of multiple chains of microRNAs throughout the study and noted that
those who slept less every night had much lower circulating levels of the
essential nucleic acid in at least three distinct functions of blood cells.
DeSouza says his
team will continue to research how sleep can influence our health on a
cellular level, and is currently looking into whether those who
don't get enough sleep can reverse the damage by changing their sleep patterns.
Getting a good night's rest is tied to many health issues, including dietary
habits, and previous research shows that it's important to get
adequate sleep every single night. The American Heart Association
recommends between seven and nine hours of sleep; yet, 40 percent of adults in
the United States aren't meeting those recommendations, and the average time
spent sleeping has slipped down to 6.8 hours per night over the past
century, according to DeSouza. "Don't underestimate the importance
of a good night's sleep," he added.
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