Lack of Sleep Can Be Deadly, Study Proves

Sleep deprivation is known to be unhealthy, however, the magnitude of which is not entirely known. A new study may be able to shine some light on the problem. According to the study, a lack of sleep can be deadly. Not only does it increase mortality, but a lack of sleep appears to increase the risk of heart disease and cardiovascular death dramatically. Although previous research has found a link between lack of sleep and potential health risks, this is the first study to find a link between duration of sleep and mortality rates.

It is already known that getting enough sleep is important. Previous research has tied sleep deprivation to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity, depression, infection, and accidents. Another recent study found that sleep loss affects the body's inflammatory response, possibly leading to everything from arthritis to heart disease. Yet another recent study found a link between lack of sleep and hypertension. In the past it was not absolutely clear that sleep deprivation causes bad health. Now, however, the link is undeniable as evidence continues to mount.

In the most recent study, researchers looked at the sleep patterns of ten-thousand government workers. All participants were aged 35 to 55. The researchers analyzed the data and tracked the participant's mortality rates for nearly twenty years, until 2004. The results were adjusted to account for all other risk factors such as smoking and body mass index. The study found that participants who cut their sleep from seven or more hours of sleep per night to five or less hours of sleep had a 1.7-fold increase of death in general. Moreover, the risk of cardiovascular death more than doubled.

Researchers are not entirely sure why there appears to be a higher increase in cardiovascular death. It is believed to be because of increased blood pressure, or hypertension, which is a known side effect of lack of sleep. Hypertension increases an individual's chances of heart attack, stroke, and a myriad of other problems. All of this is what possibly contributed to the increased likelihood of cardiovascular death.

Obviously, more research needs to be done. Hopefully future research will able to answer some of the questions posed by this study's findings. In the meantime, researchers are hoping the findings are a wake-up call to Americans. Our society has one of the highest rates of sleep deprivation in the world. More than forty percent of Americans get five or less hours of sleep per night. Our busy modern lifestyle is obviously taking its toll. Experts recommend seven to eight hours of sleep per night. Isn't your health, or better yet, your life worth it?

Source

Reuters