lack of sleep could alter your genes?

Feb 27 2013

A new study has found that having a bad night of sleep
 may alter your genes 

TNA Reporter, Relaxnews and others

A new study has found that having a bad night of sleep may alter your genes. 

According to the Inquisitr, UK researchers found that cutting a person's sleep to less than six hours a night, could have a profound effect on how their body functions.

The researchers at Surrey University analysed blood samples of 26 people who had received enough sleep and compared them with blood samples taken from those who received less than six hours sleep. 

“There was quite a dramatic change in activity in many different kinds of genes.Clearly sleep is critical to rebuilding the body and maintaining a functional state, all kinds of damage appear to occur – hinting at what may lead to ill health,”  said Prof Colin Smith, from the University of Surrey.

“If we can’t actually replenish and replace new cells, then that’s going to lead to degenerative diseases,” Smith told the BBC. 

Dr Reddy said the research gives hope for scientists looking to find ways to allow people to do away with sleep without having to put their health at risk. 

“We don’t know what the switch is that causes all these changes, but theoretically if you could switch it on or off, you might be able to get away without sleep. But my feeling is that sleep is fundamentally important to regenerating all cells,” The Inquisitr quoted Reddy as saying. 

A bad night of sleep may raise your blood pressure

Coming up short on your nightly snooze not only can affect your mood but, as a new US study finds, can also raise your blood pressure.

When it comes to good health, it boils down to three essentials: diet, exercise, and sleep, all of which are critical to maintaining overall health, and specifically, a healthy blood pressure, the researchers said.

The study is the first to show that poor sleep independently raises the risk of high blood pressure, noted the researchers, regardless of sleep duration or other issues.

In the study, men who got the least deep sleep were 80% more likely to develop high blood pressure than those who got the most. 

Deep sleep patterns were measured a reduced speed of their brain waves--deep or "slow wave" sleep is also characterised by non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) from which it is difficult to awaken. 

People with poor-quality sleep spend reduced time in deep sleep.

The new study, announced August 29, is published online in the journal Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Previous studies have linked sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea to an increased risk of high blood pressure.

Need a better night's rest? Here are a few tried-and-true tips from health information website WebMD:

1. Cut caffeine - the effects of caffeine can take as long as eight hours to wear off.

2. Avoid alcohol as a sleep aid - it may initially help you fall asleep, but it can also lead to less-than-restful sleep.

3. Relax before bedtime - create a pre-sleep ritual, such as light stretching or a hot bath, to help you unwind from the day.

4. Exercise - regular exercise, usually in the mornings or afternoons, can help you sleep like a baby.

5. Keep your bedroom dark, quiet, and comfortable. - 

thenewage.co.za