People who frequently sleep poorly are more likely to develop a wide range of chronic health complications than those who have good sleep, a new study has suggested.
During the investigation, a team of scientists examined the sleeping patterns of more than 6,700 people.
Each individual wore a Fitbit device while they were in bed so the researchers could assess their nighttime routines and compare it against their health.
- Quarter of parents say anxiety stops their child from getting to sleep
- Disturbed sleep could affect bone health
- Be more active in the day to enjoy better sleep
A Fitbit can monitor a user’s heart rate and movement patterns, enabling the device to determine when the individual is in REM, deep and light sleep.
In addition, the Fitbit device can monitor a person’s sleep duration and elapsed time of restless sleep.
According to the findings, sleep irregularity was associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation.
People who regularly sleep poorly are also more at risk of developing major depressive disorders, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, anxiety and obesity, the research has reported.
- Vegan diet associated with reduced risk of sleep apnoea
- Disrupted sleep during midlife associated with cognitive decline
- Losing just an hour of sleep can make you miserable
Previous studies have found that poor sleep can trigger cardiometabolic and psychiatric health complications.
Read the research in the journal Nature Medicine.
