Lack of sleep critical factor in heart disease, body weight and even DNA, poll claims

A lack of sleep could be linked to far more health defects than we might imagine, researchers claim.

They say high blood pressure and cholesterol, heart disease, weight gain and even changes the way our DNA behaves could be among the consequences of sleep deprivation.

A poll of 2,000 adults by sleep tech firm Simba found 44 per cent of Brits are sleeping for a maximum of six hours a night, and just 17 per cent are getting their recommended eight hours of rest.

Paul Gringras, an academic specialising in Sleep Medicine, said: “Those people who sleep under six hours have a higher risk of coronary heart disease, their blood pressure is higher and their cholesterol is worse.

“Our lack of sleep as a nation has been compared to ‘the canary in the coal mine’, in that poor sleep is linked to so many other serious health issues.

“If you are someone with poor sleep quantity and quality then you have a 60 per cent higher chance of having a heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke.

“It is also thought that we make more inflammatory proteins called cytokines after a bad night’s sleep, which can cause adverse effects on the whole immune mechanism."

Among the health issues Professor Gringras highlights are the adverse effects chronic poor sleep can have on the DNA operates.

He said: “Every cell in our body contains the same DNA, our genetic code. And people used to think that was that – your genes were who you are - and nothing could affect it.

“But, our DNA, and how our body knows what to do with it, is in fact susceptible to changes from outside factors - what we eat, whether we smoke, how stressed we are, and how we sleep.

“Although poor sleep doesn't change our actual DNA code, it does affect the epigenetic signals that control how our genes function, and it’s this that can have a negative effect on our day to day lives.

“Just one night’s bad sleep changes epigenetic signals to our DNA that cause weight gain and loss of muscle mass, and can affect the way that memories are laid down in the hippocampus - part of our brains.”

But it is not just health problems which can be affected by sleep, with accuracy, reaction time and split-second decision-making improved after a good night's rest.

Prof Gringras added: “A rested basketball player will shoot more baskets, a swimmer will jump faster on the gun, and a rugby player will be more likely to make successful split-second decisions on the pitch.

“Exercise during the day can be helpful for sleep quantity and quality - the survey showed that 85 per cent of people found their sleep improved when they exercised during the day.

“You can train really hard, put all the hours into strategy and match-day evaluation that you want, but the simple fact is that if you are not getting enough sleep, it will have a direct negative effect on your performance, which is why athletes and their teams put so much emphasis on good quality sleep regimes.”

To demonstrate the link between sleep and everyday performance, international rugby player Maro Itoje has teamed up with Simba to encourage the nation to #TryFor8 hours in bed every night.

Maro and his support team believe that sleep should be disciplined, and is equally important as training or nutrition.

As part of the campaign, the rugby superstar will take a workout-like approach to coach the nation through Simba’s newly developed Sleep App to train themselves into more rest, featuring weekly challenges for users to help encourage lasting sleep habits.

The international rugby star said: “Sleep is directly linked to how much energy I have. It is directly linked to my performance, my output in the gym and on the training field.

“It’s something that has always been hugely important to me. The more you sleep, the more ability you have to train harder, be more alert and attentive. It’s a game-changer.”

SWNS