How your sleeping habits can accelerate atherosclerosis, new study reveals

Atherosclerosis is an elusive disease that can take years to develop. Its progression is often subtle, with no alarming signs for a long stretch. However, when symptoms manifest, their severity depends on the location of atherosclerotic changes and illnesses that develop. Symptoms can range from disturbances in sensation, tingling, pain in limbs, numbness, and consciousness disturbances to headaches or even motor coordination problems.

Diet high in fat is strongly linked with the development of atherosclerosis. Other risk factors include smoking, alcohol consumption, low physical activity, and certain conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and hypercholesterolemia. American scientists have recently updated the list of risk factors to include one more.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center scientists conducted a study involving 2000 adult volunteers - the average age being 69 years. These were healthy individuals without diagnosed heart or vascular diseases.

The participants wore wrist devices that kept track of their sleep patterns: sleep timings and duration over three years. They were also required to maintain sleep diaries. Furthermore, the scientists undertook physical examinations at the participants' homes to check for sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea.

Prior to and after the study, the scientists assessed the presence of atherosclerotic plaques in each participant. Other factors like body mass index, physical activity, blood pressure, smoking habits, and work schedule were also considered.

It was found that participants with irregular sleep patterns were significantly more likely to develop atherosclerosis than those with consistent sleep timings. Those whose sleep durations fluctuated by more than two hours within a week were also more susceptible. The more consistent the sleep duration each day, the lower was the risk of atherosclerosis.

This research is incredibly relevant to each one of us. As a survey conducted by TNS reveals, almost 50% of Polish adults over 30 years of age suffer from sleep issues, a problem that also affects one in five teenagers.