Lack of a regular sleep pattern correlates with an increased risk of atherosclerosis.
People over the age of 45 who go to bed at different times each night and who also sleep an irregular number of hours at night face an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis compared to those who sleep more regularly, according to a new scientific study. The authors of the project were researchers from several medical schools, along with scientists from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee. The data they obtained was published by the Journal of American Heart Association.
According to the publication, scientists have concluded that maintaining a regular sleep rhythm can play an important role in preventing cardiovascular disease. Thanks to this habit, a person is better protected from the development of atherosclerosis – a dangerous disorder with the deposition and growth of fatty plaques on the walls of the arteries. The consequence of this is the narrowing of the arteries and a decrease in blood flow, along with oxygen and nutrients, to the organs of the body, including such important ones as the heart and brain.
Specialists analyzed data on 2032 patients aged (on average) 69 years old. These people wore sleep trackers as part of the trials, and also completed a questionnaire that revealed their sleep-related habits. It turned out that the worst sleepers were people who had a difference in sleep duration of more than two hours during the week, and the time to fall asleep on different days could differ by 90 minutes. They were the most susceptible to atherosclerosis.
Doctors set time limits for falling asleep
“People with the most irregular sleep duration at night were almost one and a half times more likely to have coronary artery stenosis and carotid artery stenosis. Those who went to bed irregularly were also almost one and a half times more likely to suffer from coronary artery stenosis due to plaque buildup,” the experts said.
They stressed that maintaining a regular sleep schedule and sleep duration is a highly adaptable behavior that can not only help improve sleep, but also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Waking time depends on age
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