Sleep quality linked to reduced risk of 83 diseases

Quality sleep may be associated with a lower risk of developing a number of serious diseases, including dementia and heart disease. This conclusion was made by Chinese scientists who studied the relationship between sleep and health. The study was published in the journal PLOS Medicine.

Researchers from the Metropolitan Medical University analyzed data from 95,559 participants in the British Biobank. For seven days, the volunteers wore bracelets that recorded the duration and phases of sleep, the number of awakenings and the regularity of the regimen. These figures were then compared with medical data for a follow-up period of about nine years.

The longest duration of REM sleep was associated with a reduced risk of 83 diseases. The association with heart failure, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease was particularly noticeable: an increase in REM sleep duration was accompanied by a roughly twofold reduction in dementia risk. Longer deep sleep was also associated with a lower likelihood of type II diabetes and depressive disorders.

Irregular sleep and frequent nighttime awakenings were associated with an increased risk of certain diseases. The most favorable range of sleep duration researchers called six to eight hours a day. Participants who slept less than five hours had an increased risk of 37 diseases.

Scientists have found that continuous sitting for more than 30 minutes increases the risk of cancer.

The doctor gave advice on improving the quality of sleep.

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