Lack of sleep could have a negative impact on cardiovascular health

Sleep long and prosper. This interpretation of Dr. Spock's famous mantra, Star Trek, is based on numerous medical studies, which show that a good night's sleep is essential to good health, especially to heart health.

The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that lack of sleep (7 to 8 hours a night), also known as sleep deprivation, has profound consequences on our physical health. Sleep deprivation exposes a person to serious health problems such as heart disease, obesity and diabetes. It also shortens life expectancy.

NIH said that an occasional sleepless night makes a person tired and irritable the next day, but will not harm his health. On the other hand, after several sleepless nights, the mental effects become more serious.

The brain is agitated, making concentration and decision-making difficult. The risks of injury and accidents at home, at work and on the road are increasing.

To these obvious effects of sleep deprivation, one must now add the much deeper but invisible effects it has on the heart at the cellular level. Research consistently showed that sleeping less than 6 hours a night rather than 7 to 8 hours could increase a person's risk of atherosclerosis up to 27%. Atherosclerosis is a disease in which the plaque accumulates in the arteries. If allowed to continue for a long time, this plaque buildup will severely limit blood flow, causing a heart attack.

One of the most recent studies in this regard explains how a good night's sleep can help maintain the flexibility of the arteries and thereby maintain circulation.

How sleep deprivation affects blood circulation by promoting the formation of fatty deposits in the arteries (or atherogenesis), which may increase the risk of having a stroke or heart attack, was addressed in a new study from the University of Colorado Rock.

This study published in the journal Experimental Physiology has highlighted a potential biological mechanism explaining why this occurs. It badociates insomnia with changing blood levels of microRNAs (miRNAs), non-coding molecules that regulate the expression of proteins.

"This study proposes a new potential mechanism by which sleep influences heart health and physiology in general," said Principal Professor Christopher DeSouza.

The study found that participants who slept less than 7 hours per night had blood levels of three key miRNAs circulating (miR-125A, miR-126 and miR-146a), which were 40% lower than 60 % to those of their peers. slept for 7 or 8 hours.

These three miRNAs suppress the expression of pro-inflammatory proteins. The low levels of these molecules are problematic because they resemble cellular brakes. This means that if the beneficial microRNAs are lacking, this can have a significant impact on the health of the cell.

The study shows that an inadequate circulation of miR-125A, miR-126 and miR-146a could result in a multitude of vascular problems. These include inflammation; a higher risk of contracting cardiovascular disease and related events such as a stroke or heart attack.

The study also revealed that endothelial cells, which constitute the wall of blood vessels, in adult men sleeping less than 6 hours each night were not functioning properly.

The bad effects of poor sleep can negatively affect the body, especially the way a person thinks or makes decisions the next day. pixabay

As a result, the blood vessels of these men were unable to dilate and contract properly to allow the blood to circulate effectively to different organs and different parts of the body.

"Why 7 or 8 hours (of sleep per night seems to be the magic number (to maintain health) is not clear," admits Professor DeSouza.

"However, it is plausible that people need at least 7 hours of sleep per night to maintain levels of important physiological regulators, such as microRNAs."