Posted on 11/19/2023 3:22:02 PM PST by ConservativeMind
Short sleep lengths, daytime napping and even long sleep lengths have been linked to an increased risk of elevated blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, a new study has found.
Using data from the UK Biobank, the study is the first study to demonstrate that independent of other factors, circadian rhythm-disrupting behaviors, including shift work, have an adverse effect on blood pressure regulation.
"We found that compromised sleep health or nightshift work are associated with elevated blood pressure in both males and females and across all age groups," Professor Morag Young said. "What we've found is that having circadian rhythms out of sync even slightly has an adverse impact on blood pressure."
The study found that permanent night shift workers who slept less than five or six hours were most at risk, but those working mixed shifts also showed elevated blood pressure. Interestingly, sleeping for too long a period also had a disruptive effect on circadian rhythms, A/Prof Young said.
"Seven hours of sleep was found to be the optimal length of sleep for maintaining healthy blood pressure," A/Prof Young said. "We found that too little sleep (less than seven hours) and too much sleep (anything more than seven hours) for adults also had a negative impact.
"Permanent night shift workers showed the greatest elevation in blood pressure, but those people working rotating shifts also showed elevated levels, although not as significant as permanent night shift workers.
"Our data also show that short sleep plus shift work has an additive negative effect on blood pressure."
The body's circadian clock governs almost all processes in the human body, including metabolic function, cognition, heart rate and sleep-wake behavior. Disruptions to the body's normal biological rhythms can leave the body out of sync, creating circadian strain, and thus negative consequences.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
“Seven hours of sleep was found to be the optimal length of sleep for maintaining healthy blood pressure,”
When in the military the claim of 7 1/2 hours was all you needed. I loved to try and cheat for a full 8 hours.
When working killer rotating shifts for the last 31 years the amount needed was as much as you could get. Often 4 hours, then another three or four hours later as the body rhythms did not allow a full 7 or 8 hours sleep.
I sleep like crap. Work two jobs. 7 hours would be awesome. And I am retired..
Short Sleeping and long sleeping are both hazards. What the....?
I’d rather get less sleep than recommended than more. When I over-sleep, I am in a hazy funk for at least a day and a half afterwards. With sleep deprevation, I seem to be sharper.
“When in the military the claim of 7 1/2 hours was all you needed. I loved to try and cheat for a full 8 hours.”
In the sub it was 6 on, 6 off. Meals, quals, poker occupied at least one off period.
Often it was impossible to keep awake on watch.
When I was young and had a toddler and a pregnant wife, I was pulling 70 to 90 hours a week. Most I did was 120. Took a couple days off. I lost 20 hours sleeping like a bear. You can get it back. I don’t recommend it.
Had it happen also during hunting season a few times. I was just wiped out. Had meat, but I was worthless. I was tired.
Interesting that too much sleep (more than 7 hours) also increases risk of high blood pressure.
“Seven hours of sleep was found to be the optimal length of sleep for maintaining healthy blood pressure,”
who the hell gets seven hours of sleep a night...?
I have a seriously disrupted sleep cycle. First it was my late husband coming home at 2;30 am after his favorite bar closed. Then it was him with Alzheimer’s wanting to go out and walk the city streets at 4 am and me having to stop him. My sleep pattern had somewhat improved over time, but then my local TV started showing reruns of “The Good Wife: at 3 am. 7 days a week. At least now I am really enjoying myself at 3 to 4 am, and my blood pressure continues normal. Maybe part of high blood pressure is being unhappy with what life is giving you and disrupts your sleep cycle???
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