Advertisement
How Sleep Fights Inflammation & Disease, According To New Science
It's often thought that getting adequate sleep is the most important thing we can do for our health. And it makes sense, as skimping on zzz's is linked to an increased risk of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and decreased cognitive functioning. But the question is: Why?
The team, led by Filip Swirski, Ph.D., of the MGH Center for Systems Biology, tested how poor sleep affects atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis, often the cause of cardiovascular disease, is a condition in which fats and cholesterol build up on your artery walls and can restrict blood flow. They found that the mice who constantly had their sleep disrupted had increased plaque buildup on their arteries and higher levels of inflammatory cells in their blood vessels.
The researchers also found that the increase in inflammatory cells was triggered by a decrease in the hormone hypocretin, which plays a vital role in regulating sleep and the production of white blood cells. The mice with less sleep had lower levels of hypocretin and increased levels of inflammatory white blood cells, which increased their risk of developing atherosclerosis.
"We have discovered that sleep helps to regulate the production in the bone marrow of inflammatory cells and the health of blood vessels and that, conversely, sleep disruption breaks down control of inflammatory cell production, leading to more inflammation and more heart disease," said Swirski in a statement.
So how much sleep do you need to prevent cardiovascular disease and keep inflammation levels low? The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society recommend that adults sleep more than seven hours a night2—although research shows that 35 percent of U.S. adults report sleeping less than seven hours a night.
On top of hours of sleep, you can also work to improve sleep quality. Some easy ways to improve your sleep quality and duration include making your room darker and lowering the temperature, removing electronics from your room, avoiding caffeine about 10 hours before you sleep, and cutting off overly stimulating activities at least an hour before bed.
The good news is that on top of helping to protect against cardiovascular disease, you may see some immediate benefits like more creativity, sharper attention, and less stress! With World Sleep Day, it's the perfect time to turn our attention to our sleep hygiene and try out some of these tips.
Watch Next
Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes
Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes
What Is Meditation?
Mindfulness/Spirituality | Light Watkins
Box Breathing
Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar
What Breathwork Can Address
Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar
The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?
Yoga | Caley Alyssa
Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips
Yoga | Caley Alyssa
How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance
Nutrition | Rich Roll
What to Eat Before a Workout
Nutrition | Rich Roll
How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life
Nutrition | Sahara Rose
Messages About Love & Relationships
Love & Relationships | Esther Perel
Love Languages
Love & Relationships | Esther Perel
What Is Meditation?
Box Breathing
What Breathwork Can Address
The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?
Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips
How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance
What to Eat Before a Workout
How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life
Messages About Love & Relationships
Love Languages
Advertisement
Almost 32% Of People Have This Liver Disease (& It's Not Connected To Alcohol)
Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN
Almost 32% Of People Have This Liver Disease (& It's Not Connected To Alcohol)
Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN