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A new study has linked irregular sleep patterns with increased risk of abnormalities and metabolic disorders, including obesity and hyperglycemia. An hour of variability in bedtime and sleep can increase risk up to 27%. ( pixabay )
People who respect their bedtime and waking hours every day would gain health benefits, including a lower risk of developing metabolic disorders.
A new study supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute found that people with irregular sleep patterns are more likely to have high levels of cholesterol, obesity, hypertension, sugar in the blood and other metabolic abnormalities.
"Many previous studies have shown the link between lack of sleep and a higher risk of obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic disorders," said Tianyi Huang, an epidemiologist at Channing's division of the network. Brigham and Women's Medicine Hospital in Boston. "But we did not know much about the impact of irregular sleep, the great variability in daily length and duration of sleep."
The dangers of having irregular sleep patterns
The study published in the journal Diabetic treatments followed more than 2,000 men and women aged 45 to 84 for more than six years. Each participant wore wristwatches monitoring his sleep schedule for one week. They also kept a sleep diary and answered standard questions about their sleep, lifestyle, and overall health.
The researchers found that after adjusting for average sleep duration, the prevalence of metabolic problems was higher among participants whose bedtime was more varied after 6.3 years of follow-up. The researchers believe that this proves that there is a causal link between irregular sleep patterns and metabolic dysfunction.
The study added that every hour of variability in bedtime and sleep increases the risk of presenting a metabolic abnormality up to 27%. African Americans, people with non-day shift work schedules, smokers and shorter sleep duration were more likely to have more than one hour of variability. They also have a greater likelihood of experiencing depressive symptoms, higher total caloric intake, and sleep apnea.
Keeping up with a schedule, having enough sleep is just as important
Current recommendations focus on prescribing enough sleep. The National Institute of Health and the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control state that adults should sleep at least seven to eight hours a day to function to the best of their abilities and to derive health benefits.
However, the study has shown that a regular sleep schedule is also necessary. Susan Redline, Chief Medical Officer of the Brigham and Women's Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, urges experts to enrich current strategies for the prevention of metabolic diseases.
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