Too little sleep is harmful to your health

People who sleep too little or sleep too much may endanger their health.

(02.08.2010) Those who sleep too little endanger their health. A recent US study has recently established a link between sleep duration and heart attack risk. Even sleeping too much could have negative consequences for your health.

Sleep is necessary for the human organism to survive. Without sleep, the body could not regenerate and recover. It has been scientifically proven for a long time that people who sleep too little have an increased risk of diabetes. Overweight, impaired performance and the depressive syndrome can also be serious consequences of a permanent lack of sleep. Researchers at the University of West Virginia have now researched another health risk factor: not enough, but also too much sleep damages the cardiovascular system and favors diseases such as heart attack and stroke.

It turned out that people who sleep on average seven hours a day, have the least risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke. More than twice as high was the risk of those who only sleep five hours a day. But even late risers who sleep more than nine hours a day have an increased risk of heart attack. In comparison, the risk ratio was one and a half times higher than the subjects who sleep seven hours a day.

The researchers also looked into the question of why the risk of illness increases with sleep deprivation or too long sleep. The assumption is obvious that the sleep duration has an influence on the metabolism of the body. For example, if a person sleeps too little, hypertension can occur. High blood pressure in turn promotes cardiovascular diseases, as the arteries are narrowed in this disease and the blood circulation is no longer functioning optimally. (Sb)

Lack of sleep can be compensated

Those who sleep too little, but can catch up on the lack of sleep. Often, people working in shift services are acutely affected by lack of sleep. But a scientific study by the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia has shown that sleep deprivation can be compensated. Anyone who suffers sleep deprivation for a long time can compensate for the lack of sleep with several longer sleep units. In the course of a study, the sleep behavior of 159 study participants was examined. Drastic measures were also applied and the subjects were woken up. Subjects who had an enormous sleep deficit over time could, in retrospect, compensate for the deficit with a longer recovery sleep. It remains unclear, however, whether the unequal sleep rhythm does not still damage the body for a long time.

A balanced and restorative sleep prevents illnesses. Who sleeps enough is less stressed and more capable. For this reason, appropriate rest periods should be strictly adhered to. (Sb)

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