Disrupted sleeping habits will lead to two chronic diseases; find out what they are here!
Changes in a person's slumber habits during the week could lead to a higher risk of diabetes and heart disease among adults, according to a new study published online on Nov. 18 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
One prime example of disrupted sleep pattern is that of in the case of social jetlag where there is a difference in the time someone is waking up during workdays and on the weekends because of social commitments.
The findings of the study revealed that those who have significant changes in their sleep pattern between their work days and off days were more inclined to have worse cholesterol and fasting insulin levels, greater insulin resistance, larger waist size, and higher body mass index (BMI), according to the WebMD.
In a study involving 447 men and women, aged 30 to 54, who worked at least 25 hours a week outside the home, the results showed that there is a change in the schedule of sleep during weekdays and weekends. About 85 percent of these volunteers enjoy their sleep longer when they do not have work while the others cut their sleep shorter during their off days.
The participants were asked to wear a wristband that recorded their sleep and movement 24 hours a day for an entire week. And, their exercise and eating habits were also taken into account through a questionnaire.
"Other researchers have found that social jetlag relates to obesity and some indicators of cardiovascular function. However, this is the first study to extend upon that work and show that even among healthy, working adults who experience a less extreme range of mismatches in their sleep schedule, social jetlag can contribute to metabolic problems," study author Patricia Wong, MS, a pre-doctoral student at the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, said in a news release from the Endocrine Society.
"These metabolic changes can contribute to the development of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease," she added. Wong also said that if further studies would reveal the same results, then there might be a need to for us to think about carefully how modern work and social obligations are affecting our sleep and health.
She also noted that the results of the study, which is in line with recent research conducted throughout other countries, shows that these significant, regular shifts in sleep schedule of individuals can have adverse effect against the biological clock of even those healthy and nonclinical people, Medscape reported.