SLEEP: Fragmented sleep linked to inflammation and hardened arteries
June 25, 2020 • 1 min read
-- Yet more evidence pointing to the perils of poor sleep
New research from the University of California suggests disrupted sleep leads to atherosclerosis – fatty arterial plaque build-up that can result in fatal heart disease.
The findings are consistent with a galaxy of health risks linked to long-term consequences of sleep disruption, including cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and colorectal cancer.
Lead researcher Matthew Walker, professor of psychology and neuroscience, said the study uncovered a unique pathway associating fragmented sleep with chronic inflammation, which, in turn, is linked to higher amounts of plaques in coronary arteries.
Cardiovascular disease – the current top killer of Americans – claims, on average, 12,000 deaths each week.
But notching up the magic eight hours of sleep is proving elusive for one-third of adult Americans. According to The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 35% of adults in the US regularly sleep less than seven hours per 24.
Try these tips for a better sleep.