Can You Make Up for Lost Sleep?
A lack of sleep can harm our bodies in many ways, including weakening the immune system, affecting bodily processes, and impairing our ability to concentrate and perform daily tasks effectively. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that adults get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. However, they also estimate that 1 in 3 adults do not get enough sleep. For a long time, researchers believed that making up for lost sleep was impossible, but new findings suggest that it can have positive effects.
Dr. Rigbad Taduker, a cardiologist from California who was not involved in the study, commented, "I was surprised to learn that catching up on sleep could be so beneficial. This study highlights the body's remarkable ability to restore energy and function, even after a prolonged period of sleep deprivation. While we're still piecing together the connection between sleep and health, this study underscores the importance of sleep, even in the context of weekend catch-up sleep."
How Does Sleep Affect the Cardiovascular System?
Sleep helps blood vessels heal, rebuild, and regulate blood pressure, sugar levels, and inflammation throughout the body. Too little sleep can increase the risk of heart and vascular diseases, so it's important to give the body enough rest to protect them. Dr. Taduker explains that a lack of sleep disrupts the body's biological clock, which negatively affects how the body regulates blood sugar levels. This can lead to insulin resistance, increasing the risk of heart disease.
"Sleep deprivation can increase levels of stress hormones like cortisol, which can contribute to a higher risk of heart disease. Catching up on sleep can lower stress levels, and it's also worth noting that chronic sleep deprivation can lead to high blood pressure and an accelerated heart rate, both of which are dangerous for the heart," he says. "Sleep is also a known key to a strong immune system, and getting enough sleep helps the body prevent illnesses, including inflammation, which is linked to heart disease," he adds.
