A recent study has revealed that individuals who get 6 to 8 hours of sleep per night, along with sufficient REM and deep sleep, face a reduced risk of many serious health conditions. Published in PLOS Medicine, the research found that people who sleep less than 5 hours have a higher risk of 37 different diseases. Irregular sleep patterns were also linked to mental and physical health problems. Researchers from Capital Medical University in China analyzed data from 95,559 participants of the UK Biobank to reach these conclusions. Kathmandu, September 24.
This new study confirms that getting adequate sleep of 6 to 8 hours per night, including REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and deep sleep phases, significantly lowers the risk of numerous serious illnesses. Published on September 17 in the scientific journal PLOS Medicine, the research highlights that individuals sleeping less than 5 hours daily are more prone to various diseases.
Researchers led by Shengzhi Sun from China’s Capital Medical University disclosed new insights regarding the direct impact of both quantitative and qualitative sleep on human health. For their investigation, the team analyzed data from 95,559 participants in the UK Biobank. Each participant wore a wrist-worn accelerometer device for seven consecutive days and nights to monitor sleep patterns meticulously.
Using deep learning algorithms, the researchers measured different sleep stages (REM, deep, and light sleep), total sleep duration, post-sleep awakening state, and sleep irregularities. Participants were monitored on average for 8.9 years, and their health records were assessed to examine links between sleep and over 1,000 diseases. The study revealed that individuals with higher amounts of REM sleep had a significantly lower risk of 83 diseases, including heart failure, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease.
