Study: Irregular sleep schedule can make you sick

WXIN/WTTV - A new study is pointing to more evidence that staying healthy doesn't only mean getting eight hours of sleep, it also means trying to maintain a regular sleep schedule.




The study, published in Health Data Science, followed the sleep habits of more than 88,000 people in the UK over six years. It found that irregular bedtimes significantly increased the risks of more than 170 diseases. 




Most notably, a more than 2.5 times the risk of liver cirrhosis, and a 2.5 times increased risk of gangrene.




The findings suggest that irregular sleep disrupts circadian rhythms and inflammation pathways, which can throw off the body's natural response to harmful stimuli like infections or tissue damage.




"Our findings underscore the overlooked importance of sleep regularity," said Prof. Shengfeng Wang, senior author of the study. "It's time we broaden our definition of good sleep beyond just duration."




Based on the studies, findings, experts recommend making efforts to maintain regular bedtimes and waking times, in addition to getting it close to eight hours of sleep per night as possible.



via: https://fox59.com/news/study-irregular-sleep-schedule-can-make-you-sick/