Irregular or insufficient sleep can lead to an increased risk of high blood pressure, new research has shown.
It can also lead to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes and even dementia.
Professor Luke O’Neill told the Show Me the Science podcast that sleep helps to remove toxins that build up in the brain throughout the day.
“When you sleep, special vessels in your brain open up, and you slosh out the toxins that build up during the day – it' a bit like sluice gates opening up, is a good analogy,” he said.
“It sloshes out all these by-products of your brain's activity down to your liver, and you de-toxify the by-products of the engine of your brain.”
Risks of high blood pressure and dementia may be heightened by bad sleep because the toxins are not being properly flushed out of the body, Prof O'Neill said.
Nature
Humans are the only mammal that intentionally keep themselves awake, said Prof O’Neill.
“Other mammals, when they feel sleepy, they fall asleep – but we humans can keep ourselves awake and then secondly have trouble when we’re asleep,” he said.
“We can wake up a lot during the night as well –other mammals don’t have that. So there’s something about us humans that makes us prone to difficulties when it comes to sleep.”
How much sleep is enough?
The amount of sleep needed by individuals can also vary hugely. This fact, and our ability to keep ourselves awake, may have evolved to keep us safe in ancient times, said Prof O’Neill.
“Now you might be asking yourself – how much sleep is enough?" he said.
“Some get away with five hours, some need nine, and it seems to be genetic. They found versions of genes that let you stay up late and get less sleep.
“So it’s very variable in us as a species – and I reckon that must have evolved as well, because imagine we’re a tribe living out in the Savannah in Africa.
“You better make sure some people stay awake, just in case a pride of lions appears to attack us.”
Around 80% of people in Ireland aren’t getting enough sleep, with a further 15% suffering from insomnia.
Prof O’Neill said we should make an effort to prioritise a good nights sleep, given the numerous health impacts.
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