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A study published Monday (14) may cause even more sleep for those who sleep a little. According to the researchers, people who sleep less than six hours a night are at increased risk of atherosclerosis – an accumulation of plaques in the arteries of the body – compared to those who sleep normally, seven to eight hours a day. night
The research was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Chronic and progressive vascular disease, usually occurring in adults and the elderly, atherosclerosis is an inflammation of the innermost layer of the arteries, also called intimal tunic – the part that is in direct contact with the blood.
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"This Inflammation Arises From The accumulation and oxidation of lipoproteins in the artery walls is the first study to show that objectively measured sleep is independently badociated with atherosclerosis throughout the body, not just at the heart, "says professor and nutritionist Jose Ordovás, a researcher at the Carlos III National Center for Cardiovascular Investigations in Madrid and director of the Center for Nutrition Research at the Jean Mayer USDA Center for Aging Human Nutrition at Tufts University in Mbadachusetts.
He remembers that previous studies had shown that lack of sleep increased the risk of cardiovascular disease and favored risk factors for heart problems – such as changes in blood sugar, blood pressure, inflammation and obesity.
Regarded as the traditional risk factors for heart disease, the study showed that people who sleep less than six hours are 27% more likely to suffer from atherosclerosis in their body than those who sleep from seven to eight o'clock. And those who sleep poorly are 34% more likely to get the disease than those who sleep well – the study badessed the quality of sleep by considering how often the person woke up at night and how often she slept while she slept. .
"It is important to note this: a shorter sleep, but of good quality, can overcome the adverse effects of its extent," said cardiologist Valentin Fuster, director general of the National Center for Cardiovascular Investigations Carlos III and editor-in-chief "There are two things we do every day: eat and sleep, we have known for years the connection between good nutrition and cardiovascular health, but we know little about the relationship between sleep and cardiovascular health. "
Methodology
The researchers followed the routine of 3,974 Spanish adults, all of whom worked in the same banking institution, that is, with similar professional routines. Cardiologist Fuster performed imaging tests to detect the prevalence and rate of progression of vascular lesions.
Research participants had an average age of 46 years and all had never been diagnosed with heart problems. Two-thirds were men. All used a device to continuously monitor activities and movements for seven days. This device measured their sleep routine in an objective and accurate manner – unlike surveys that rely on declarative questionnaires.
They were divided into four groups: those who slept less than six hours, those who slept six to seven hours, those who slept seven to eight hours, and those who slept more than eight hours. All participants performed a cardiac checkup: 3D cardiac ultrasound and cardiac CT.
According to the researchers, the way in which participants in this study were determined is the big difference compared to other research on sleep and heart health. First, by the size of the sample, larger than usual. Another interesting feature is the fact that this study focused on an initially healthy population, while such surveys usually select people with sleep apnea or other problems.
Other Findings
If sleeping a little can be bad, exaggerating is also not a good habit. Although the number of participants who slept more than eight hours was low, the researchers concluded that this behavior would also be badociated with an increase in atherosclerosis, especially in women.
The study also concluded that the consumption of alcohol and caffeine was related to poor sleep quality. "Many people think that alcohol is a good inducer of sleep, but there is an effect to take into account," says Ordovás. "If a person drinks alcohol, they can wake up after a short period of sleep and have difficulty going back to sleep." When she can, it usually involves a night's sleep. bad quality."
is one of those substances that now appear as bad guys and now beneficial to health. According to Ordovás, although some research shows that alcohol consumption can have positive effects on the heart, it all depends on how the person metabolizes it. "Depending on the genetics, if you metabolize the coffee faster, it will not affect your sleep," he says. "But if you metabolize it slowly, caffeine can affect sleep and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease."
"Medicine is entering a fascinating phase.If we have tried so far to understand cardiovascular disease, studies like this one in the heart help you understand cardiovascular health," Fuster said.
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