A new study recently showed how curtailed sleep might affect heart health, particularly when intense exercise is involved.
A EurekAlert! specified that in this said research, participants engaged in an intensely short period of exercise both after normal sleep and following three consecutive nights of "curtailed sleep."
The researchers found that when the participants exercised following curtailed sleep, the heart injury biomarker troponin heart levels rose slightly more than when the participants exercised in their well-rested condition.
The study is a smaller preliminary study, and it is not yet possible to identify if the results may be relevant for cardiovascular conditions.
Physical Exercise Lessens Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Past epidemiological studies have revealed that, at the popular level, recurrently interrupted and shortened sleep increases the risk of numerous cardiovascular diseases like high blood pressure and myocardial infarction.
On the contrary, physical exercise can lessen the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Nonetheless, it has remained unknown if controlled sleep restriction can control cardiac stress during strenuous exercise.
According to Jonathan Cedernaes, a medical cell biology physician and associate professor at Uppsala University, exercise is great for the heart, whereas lack of sleep can negatively affect the cardiovascular system.
Cedernaes, who led the study, published in the Molecular Metabolism journal, added it has been unknown though if shortened sleep can control the physiologic stress that intense exercise appears to have on the cells of the heart.
Specific Troponin Type Identified
A specific protein troponin type is identified in the heart's muscle cells. Low amounts of troponin can be released following high-intensity training.
Additionally, troponin levels are routinely identified in the clinic, as substantially higher levels are observed in the background of cardiovascular occurrences.
Cedernaes explained higher blood levels of troponin after exercise have been associated with a "relative increased prospective risk of cardiovascular disease."
He also explained that higher troponin levels after exercise had been associated with a relative increased risk of heart ailments.
Exercise Impacting Sleep Disruption
It is unknown, though, what the mechanism is, although, at the same time, it is known that an individual's cardiovascular health is controlled through an interplay of lifestyle factors.
The researchers thus thought it would be essential to investigate if such troponin release during exercise can be impacted by sleep restriction.
One of the reasons is that occupations involve work that interrupts sleep, such as for healthcare workers.
Past studies have shown that exercise can counteract some negative impacts of curtailed sleep on metabolism. Moreover, data at the population level specify that exercise can counteract the adverse effects of chronic sleep loss on the cardiovascular system.
Cedernaes also explained those who reported exercising regularly but are not getting adequate sleep are found to decrease their risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
Lack of Sleep Associated with Risk of Heart Disease
Simultaneously, it's known that chronic or recurrent sleep disruption is bad for heart health. Therefore, it is probable that a more noticeable lack of sleep, in the long run, can increase the associated risk that the heart is injured in some way by more intense physical exercise.
However, Cedernaes pointed out, a lot of individuals go through a temporary lack of sleep, and the need for such is quite distinctive, as well.
The epidemiological evidence associated with disturbed sleep per se is applicable for recurrent lack of sleep and long-term shift work. They are also observed when averaging at the population level, as indicated in a similar World Medicine Foundation report.
Related information about exercise, sleep, and heart attacks are shown on Dr. Eric Berg DC's YouTube video below:
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