A study published in the April 2011 issue of Science Translational Medicine concluded that poor sleep patterns lead to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Shift workers and pilots are among the most likely to suffer from these conditions, due to constant disturbances to the sleep/wake cycle.
The study observed 21 men and women, ages 20 to 60 for six weeks in a dimly lit room with no windows. Over the course of the study, researchers varied the amount of sleep the subjects achieved each night. Upon conclusion of the study, researchers observed decreased metabolism – as high as 8 percent – and blood glucose spikes following meals, each time the circadian rhythm of the subjects was disturbed. A situation like this can translate to as much as 10 pounds of weight gain per years – and shift workers don’t have much hope of achieving a regular schedule.
The effects of poor sleep compound to affect multiple aspects of your health. If you do not sleep well, you tend to make poor food choices, eat more and feel too tired to exercise. Sleep is an integral part of achieving optimum health.
