We know that the sleep is important for our cognitive and emotional functions. Insufficient rest could also cause damage to our hearts, according to researchers at the University of Bonn (Germany) who found a direct link between insufficient sleep and heart risk.
First study to examine how many hours without sleep affects the heart
They noted that people who have rotating hours jobs, such as doctors and emergency department personnel, would be much more likely to suffer from a heart attack due to increased blood pressure and blood pressure. cardiac frequency.
The study, the results of which were presented at the annual meeting of Radiological Society of North America in Chicago (USA), is the first to examine how many hours without sleep can affect heart function.
“For the first time, we have shown that short-term sleep deprivation against the background of rotating schedules can lead to a significant increase in cardiac contractility, blood pressure and heart rate,” said the author of the Daniel Kuetting study.
Increase in blood pressure after sleep deprivation
For the study, Dr Kuetting and his colleagues recruited 20 healthy radiologists, including 19 men and 1 woman, with an average age of 31.6 years. Each of the participants underwent cardiovascular MRIs, with a very sensitive type of test called the strain analysis, before and after a 24-hour change. On average, they got three hours of sleep. The researchers also collected blood and urine samples from the volunteers and measured their arterial pressure and their cardiac frequency.
After sleep deprivation, the volunteers showed a significant increase in blood pressure. In addition, participants had significant increases in the hormone thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid hormones FT3 and FT4, and cortisol, a hormone released by the body in response to stress.
Future studies on the link between sleep and heart health
Bottom Line: As we continue to work longer or have multiple jobs at the same time to make ends meet, it is essential to investigate the detrimental effects of a job that takes up too much space and insufficient sleep.
Mr Kuetting believes that the results of this pilot study are transferable to other occupations where long periods of uninterrupted work are common. Also, since the sample used for this study is very small, researchers will have to do more research to fully understand the relationship between the sleep and heart health.
Read also :
– Infographic: what lack of sleep does to your body
– Calculate your maximum oxygen consumption during exercise.
