Scientists from Columbia University found that chronic lack of sleep can lead to vascular inflammation. The results of the study were as follows: published In the journal Nature.
Many people sleep five to six hours instead of the recommended seven to eight hours. Researchers have found that even a mild lack of sleep can negatively impact vascular health. If sleep deprivation continues for five or six weeks, endothelial cells (the walls of blood vessels) become flooded with oxidizing substances. Cells that do not rest sufficiently cannot initiate antioxidant reactions that will stop this process.
As the endothelium becomes inflamed, the risk of cardiovascular disease increases. These include hypertension, stroke, and cardiosclerosis.
To confirm their hypothesis, the researchers conducted an experiment involving thousands of women. In the first phase of the experiment, participants went to bed according to their usual routine. In the second stage, the subjects fell asleep an hour and a half later than normal. Each participant’s sleep was tracked using a tracker on the wristband.
It turns out that lack of sleep actually triggers oxidative stress, which leads to cell damage. The scientists found decreased expression of endothelial DCUN1D3, a protein that helps stop oxidation, in the subjects’ blood.
Previously listed Causes of sleep problems.