SLEEP WELL, THE KEY TO NOT BE FAT

Sleep is essential for the functioning of our brain, but also our whole body. Data accumulate on the link between lack of sleep and obesity, but also diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Good sleep seems more essential than ever!

Obesity? And if it was related to poor sleep, insufficient sleep?

The effects of sleep deprivation are well known: daytime sleepiness, decreased academic or work performance, impaired quality of life, depression, increased risk of accidents, etc. But today, new evidence is accumulating showing that sleep debt may also have a negative impact on metabolism and cardiovascular function. After analysis of all published studies on this subject, a dozen of them stand out and bring very convincing data. The main findings for the link between sleep and chronic disease.

Sleep time and Obesity

The reduction of sleep time is proportionally associated with obesity in adults. In children, this relationship is observed even for very small reductions in sleep time. Hence the hypothesis that decreased sleep time for 'societal' reasons intervene in the obesity epidemic currently observed. Diabetes sleep and decreased sleep is also linked to diabetes, the risk of developing diabetes is increased in men who sleep less than 5 hours per night. In another study, the risk of diabetes is doubled under 4-5 hours of sleep.

Hypertension in those who lack sleep

There are more people with high blood pressure among those who sleep less than 6 hours, compared to those who make the nights of 6-7 hours. And these are, too, more hypertensive compared to subjects who sleep 7 to 8 hours. From less than 6 hours and 8 hours of sleep, the risk of developing hypertension is proportional to sleep time.

How to explain this association between sleep and chronic disease?

The mechanism is still far from being identified. But many changes were seen when sleep time decreases: decrease in leptin levels (anorectic hormone), higher levels of ghrelin (a hormone that stimulates appetite), disturbance in heart rate, increased cortisol secretion , insulin, decreased night blood pressure, activation of a pro-inflammatory system ?? In conclusion, it is imperative to spare sufficient time for sleep. Nap can be a clever use for some people. Without this, we risk health problems, sometimes serious.