Lack of sleep has long been known to have a negative impact on cardiovascular health. However, a new study from Uppsala University (Sweden) has just shown that just three nights of low sleep (about four hours a night) are enough to cause biological changes that are harmful to the heart.
Poor sleep causes blood changes
In the study, scientists tracked 16 healthy young men as they went through two different sleep stages: three nights of adequate sleep (8.5 hours per night) and three nights of limited sleep (4.25 hours per night).
All factors such as light, meals, exercise... are strictly controlled in the laboratory. After each stage, participants will do a high-intensity cycling exercise, and their blood will be sampled before and after exercise.
Test results of nearly 90 proteins in blood samples showed that poor sleep leads to an increase in inflammation markers, especially proteins associated with the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or arrhythmia (arrhythmia).
Exercise cannot compensate for lack of sleep
Normally, physical activity can trigger beneficial proteins such as interleukin-6 or BDNF, which help improve heart and brain health. However, research shows that the effectiveness of these proteins is significantly reduced after a period of lack of sleep, reducing the positive effects of exercise.
Notably, these adverse biological reactions appear even in young, healthy people. That shows poor sleep, even in just a few days, can have a profound impact on the cardiovascular system, regardless of age or physical condition.
Sleep and circadian rhythm
In addition, the timing of blood sample collection also plays an important role. Researchers found that blood protein levels fluctuate significantly between morning and evening, and change more strongly when there is a lack of sleep. This shows that sleep not only affects the type of protein circulating in the blood, but also the time of biological reactions.
In the context of modern life that increasingly makes many people trade sleep for work, entertainment or the time using digital devices, this study is a clear warning: the body still silently records any deficiencies through biological changes that can have a long-term impact on health.
