Could 3 sleepless nights increase your heart disease risk?

New Delhi, May 26 (NationPress) Individuals experiencing inadequate sleep for just three nights may face a heightened risk of heart disease, as revealed by a recent study. With the chronic lack of sleep becoming a significant public health issue, researchers from Uppsala University in Sweden discovered that disrupted sleep can lead to increased inflammation, thereby elevating the risk of heart-related conditions.

According to Jonathan Cedernaes, a physician at Uppsala University, “Many substantial studies examining the connection between sleep deprivation and cardiovascular disease have predominantly targeted older adults already at risk. Therefore, it was noteworthy that levels of certain proteins increased similarly in younger, previously healthy subjects after just a few nights of insufficient sleep. This underscores the critical importance of sleep for maintaining cardiovascular health early in life.”

The research team evaluated 16 healthy young men of average weight, all of whom had sound sleep patterns.

The participants underwent two controlled sessions in a sleep laboratory where their meals and activities were meticulously monitored.

In one session, they enjoyed a regular amount of sleep over three consecutive nights, while in the other, they only managed about four hours of sleep each night. Blood samples were collected in the morning and evening, as well as post a high-intensity workout lasting 30 minutes during both sessions.

The researchers analyzed the levels of approximately 90 proteins in the blood and observed that many proteins associated with heightened inflammation surged during sleep deprivation.

Numerous proteins have been previously linked to an increased likelihood of cardiovascular conditions like heart failure and coronary artery disease, as noted in the study published in Biomarker Research.

Moreover, the team noted that physical exercise elicited a slightly varied response following sleep deprivation.

However, the rise in the number of crucial proteins was consistent, regardless of sleep status. Thus, proteins linked to the beneficial effects of exercise increased, even in participants suffering from sleep deficiency.

The researchers had earlier indicated that exercising while sleep-deprived could impose a slightly greater strain on the heart’s muscle cells.

Cedernaes emphasized that “more research is essential to understand how these effects may vary in women, older adults, heart disease patients, or individuals with different sleep patterns.”