A new study led by Uppsala University has revealed that even just a few nights of poor sleep can trigger molecular changes that are linked to a higher risk of heart problems. The researchers focused on how sleep deprivation affects certain proteins in the blood, which serve as biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases.
Their findings, published in the journal Biomarker Research, provide fresh insight into how lack of sleep can influence heart health, even in young and healthy individuals.
Jonathan Cedernaes, a physician and researcher at Uppsala University who led the study, pointed out that almost half of all Swedes regularly experience poor sleep, especially those who work night shifts or irregular hours.
This motivated the team to understand the biological mechanisms behind how sleep loss could increase the risk of heart diseases like heart attacks, strokes, and atrial fibrillation. By understanding these mechanisms, they hope to find new ways to prevent heart problems linked to poor sleep.
It is well known that heart health is influenced by various lifestyle factors, including sleep, diet, and physical activity. However, to clearly identify the specific effects of sleep loss, the researchers carried out their study in a controlled laboratory setting. They ensured that diet, physical activity, and other variables were carefully regulated so that the effects of sleep could be studied in isolation.
The study included 16 young men who were healthy, of normal weight, and had regular sleep habits. The participants spent time in a sleep laboratory under two different conditions. In one session, they slept normally for three consecutive nights.
In the other session, they were restricted to just four hours of sleep each night for three nights. During both sessions, the researchers collected blood samples from the participants in the morning and evening, and also after 30 minutes of high-intensity exercise.
The analysis of these blood samples showed significant changes in the levels of about 90 proteins. Many of these proteins are linked to inflammation and have been associated with heart diseases such as heart failure and coronary artery disease.
What surprised the researchers was that these inflammatory markers increased even in these young, healthy men after just a few nights of poor sleep. This suggests that the harmful effects of sleep deprivation on heart health can begin early, not just in older people or those with existing health issues.
Cedernaes emphasized that many large studies on sleep deprivation and heart health often focus on older adults who are already at risk for heart problems.
This study, however, demonstrated that sleep loss triggers the same harmful biological responses even in younger people with no history of health problems. This discovery highlights the need to prioritize good sleep habits for heart health starting at a young age.
The study also looked at how exercise affects the body after sleep deprivation. Surprisingly, some of the positive protein responses from exercise still occurred even if the person was sleep-deprived. However, the researchers noted that exercising while sleep-deprived puts a slightly greater strain on the heart’s muscle cells.
This finding aligns with previous studies suggesting that while exercise is beneficial, it does not fully replace the need for proper sleep. Good sleep and regular exercise both contribute to heart health, but they cannot completely make up for each other’s absence.
Cedernaes concluded by saying that further research is needed to understand how these biological changes might differ in women, older adults, or people who already have heart disease. He also noted that studying different sleep patterns could help develop better guidelines for preventing heart problems through lifestyle changes like sleep, exercise, and diet.
The findings from this study serve as a wake-up call about the importance of sleep for protecting the heart. Even a few nights of poor sleep can start a chain of molecular reactions that raise the risk of heart diseases.
Regular exercise remains crucial for heart health, but it should not be seen as a replacement for adequate rest. More research in this area could lead to better prevention strategies and health recommendations in the future.
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The research findings can be found in Biomarker Research.
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