A good night’s sleep is crucial for mental and physical well-being. If you thought sleep deprivation was your biggest enemy, a new study draws attention to another common practice that’s way more dangerous.
Not everybody is blessed with an uninterrupted sleep every night. But making three simple lifestyle choices may help you sleep better at night. The latest study warns against another aspect of sleep often overlooked.
Study analyzes impact of restricted sleep vs sleep deprivation
A research paper published in May 2024, titled: What’s Worse, Sleep Deprivation or Sleep Restriction? shows sleeping little can do great harm to your health.
28 healthy male participants aged between 18 and 40 were allocated into two groups – sleep deprivation (SD) and sleep restriction (SR).
Each group underwent two conditions: sleeping regularly from 11 pm to 7 am and limited hours of sleep from 1 am to 5 am on four consecutive nights. Another set of participants was subject to sleep deprivation for 24 hours and regular sleep.
Experts recommend adults sleep for at least 7 hours and not more than 9 hours each night. Sleeping less than 7 hours regularly is said to cause more health issues than those who sleep for the recommended hours or more.
The study established the same by monitoring the insulin value in the participants subject to different conditions.
Sleeping less negatively impacts your overall health
On analyzing the blood glucose levels of the participants from both groups at the end of the experiment, it was found that the insulin was “higher in the sleep debt condition of Sleep Restriction compared to Sleep Deprivation.”
The study concluded that restricted sleep for four consecutive nights is more “detrimental to energy metabolism” due to higher insulin levels and resistance, compared to sleep deprivation for 24 hours.
Lack of adequate sleep can greatly affect your mental and physical health. Another recent study analyzing data across the US found that violent crimes committed during the night are attributed to the mental state of individuals who are deprived of sleep.
It claims young adults with disrupted sleep are more vulnerable and “nocturnal wakefulness” is one of the major reasons for self-harm.
If you are struggling with sleep, perhaps you should consider a sleep doctor’s tips to sleep effectively and avoid the biggest dangers of sharing a bed affecting your resting time.
