Lack of Sleep… Harmful to the Heart

Some people tend to stay up late for long hours and may go to work or university without getting any sleep. For many reasons, they end up suffering from drowsiness, fatigue, and exhaustion throughout their day — along with a loss of balance and an inability to carry out their tasks with enthusiasm and focus.

Lack of Sleep: A Threat to Heart Health

Although occasional sleepless nights may result from unavoidable circumstances — such as difficulty getting time off from work — the concerning issue is that some individuals have developed a habit of staying up late every night, relying on only three to four hours of sleep. Researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden classify this behavior as a serious long-term health risk.

According to their clinical study published by The Independent newspaper, just three consecutive days of limited sleep causes changes in human blood that increase the risk of heart disease.The Study’s Findings

Researchers found that the same protein changes in the blood that occur during prolonged stress and anxiety also appear in cases of sleep deprivation. These elevated protein levels, when sustained, significantly increase the risk of:

Heart failure
Coronary artery disease
Atrial fibrillation

The long-term risk can rise by up to 125%.

How the Study Was Conducted

The study involved 16 healthy university students in excellent physical condition. It consisted of two phases:

Phase 1: Students slept 8 hours per night for 3 nights.
Phase 2: Students slept only 4 hours per night for 3 nights.

In both cases, researchers measured their blood pressure upon waking and again after physical exercise (stationary cycling). Blood samples were analyzed for nearly 100 different proteins.

The results showed that sleep deprivation, regardless of the cause, directly led to elevated inflammatory markers associated with heart disease.

Exercise Doesn't Compensate for Sleep Loss

Interestingly, although exercise typically supports heart and brain health, the researchers found it was not enough to counteract the long-term effects of poor sleep habits. Without adequate rest, the body and heart don’t get the recovery they need — making exercise less effective in offsetting the damage caused by chronic sleep deprivation.

Expert Opinions

Health experts at the Mayo Clinic emphasize that sleep plays a vital role in improving and sustaining overall life quality. Its benefits are not limited to physical health; sleep also supports:

Mental and emotional well-being
Social stability
Cognitive performance
Nutritional balance

Sleep is essential for energy renewal, cognitive and physical function, cell repair, and immune system support. As a core element of a healthy lifestyle, adequate sleep is just as important as nutrition and exercise.