According to a new study, lack of sleep for more than a few days could lead to severe cases of obesity and heart diseases.
A new study has found that getting less than six hours of sleep per night for more than a few days "switches off" hundreds of genes that consequently leads to severe cases of heart diseases and obesity. These genes play a key role in the body's constant process of self-repair and replenishment.
The body depends on these genes for a continuous supply of proteins that help replenish and repair tissues in the body. However, lack of sleep for a few days could make these genes stop working. The findings of this study also suggest that the lack of sleep could also prevent the body from fully replenishing itself and raise the risk of a host of diseases.
The study was conducted by Scientists from Surrey University on 26 participants. These voluntary participants were divided into two groups. One group was asked to sleep for less than six hours a night for an entire week while the other group was asked to sleep for approximately 10 hours a night for an entire week.
At the end of the week, both groups were kept awake for 40 hours and then had their blood tested to see what effect their sleeping habits had on their blood.
It was observed that the blood samples of the people belonging to the group that was deprived of sleep for a week were found to have the function of 711 genes altered, including some involved in metabolism, inflammation, immunity and stress. It was also found that lack of sleep also affected genes which are designed to become more or less active at certain points in the day, by throwing off the body's 24-hour internal clock.
While researchers claimed that a week of normal sleep could restore the affected genes to their normal pattern, prolonged periods of inadequate sleep could lead to serious health issues like obesity and heart diseases.
