Sleep Deprivation: The Hidden Heart Threat
United States: Heart disease is the number one killer, taking the lives of approximately 700,000 Americans annually.
Heart health is affected by numerous lifestyle determinants such as diet, exercise, weight, stress, and quality of sleep.
New research has found that sleep deprivation of 3 nights in healthy adults, young and old, puts them at risk of heart disease.
According to the study leader Dr. Jonathan Cedernaes, a docent at Uppsala University in Sweden, “Many of the larger studies that have been done on the link between sleep deprivation and the risk of cardiovascular diseases have generally focused on slightly older individuals who already have an increased risk of such diseases,” the New York Post reported.
Cedernaes’ team brought 16 young, healthy men with great sleeping habits to a sleep lab and carefully monitored their food and movement.
The guys managed to overcome their sleep disorder, and they slept a normal amount of the night for three nights in a row during one session. In the other session, they snoozed for no more than 4 hours every night.
Based on the recommendations of gurus, adults should sleep seven to nine hours a night.
Sleep deprivation has been associated with reduced cognitive function, a compromised immune system, lower mental health, and an increased risk of involvement in accidents, diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure.
Blood samples were taken in the morning and evening in both experimental sessions and after 30 30-minute high-intensity exercise session.
Just 3 days of this bad habit can increase your risk of heart disease — even in young, healthy people https://t.co/6HhFOkHhEZ pic.twitter.com/YMnpRLECbb
— New York Post (@nypost) May 13, 2025
The researchers measured roughly 90 blood proteins. Some of the protein levels that are associated with inflammation increased after the sleepless nights.
Having inflammation is not all bad news, but inflammation can be good and bad. The body’s natural chemical reaction to an irritant or wounded part is inflammation.
Long-term inflammation – when the reaction persists much longer than the threat has been over – could damage blood vessels, increasing chances of heart attacks and strokes.
“It was interesting that the levels of these proteins increased … in younger and previously perfectly healthy individuals after only a few nights of sleep deprivation,” Cedernaes added.
“This means that it’s important to emphasize the importance of sleep for cardiovascular health even early in life,” he stated.
The interesting news is that the proteins that cause the positive effects of a workout were increased in those participants, despite the fact that they slept poorly.
“With this study, we have improved our understanding of what role the amount of sleep we get plays in cardiovascular health,” as Cedernaes noted.
“It’s important to point out that studies have also shown that physical exercise can offset at least some of the negative effects that poor sleep can cause,” he added.
“But it’s also important to note that exercise cannot replace the essential functions of sleep,” he continued.
