New York City: A new study has found that a half-hour reduction in sleep duration every night can lead to increased inflammation and cardiovascular disease.
Chronic lack of sleep can affect a person’s immune cells and cause inflammation in the body, according to a new study conducted at New York’s Icahn School of Medicine published in the Journal of Experimental Sciences.
Increased inflammation makes you a target for a number of problems, particularly cardiovascular disease, said Cameron McAlpine, an assistant professor of medicine at the Icahn School and study co-investigator, in an interview.
The research underscores the importance of getting seven to eight hours of sleep per night for older adults to reduce inflammation and heart disease, said lead author of the study and director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at the Icahn School, Philip Sorsky, in a news release. It can help prevent disease, especially for those with chronic illnesses.
The researchers said the research starts with identifying the systems within the body that maintain long-term links between sleep and immune health.
Studies have shown that disturbed sleep in humans and mice can affect the production rate of their cells and immune system. As a result, the immune cells lose their effectiveness in protecting against diseases.
