Overview

• Research from Uppsala University demonstrates that just three nights of restricted sleep increase inflammatory proteins associated with heart attack and stroke risk in young, healthy men.
• The controlled laboratory study involved 16 participants with normal sleep habits, whose meals, activity, and rest were strictly regulated to isolate the effects of sleep deprivation.
• Participants who slept only four hours per night showed elevated levels of inflammation-related biomarkers, despite their otherwise healthy status.
• While 30 minutes of high-intensity exercise improved some protein levels, the study confirmed that physical activity cannot fully counteract the cardiovascular risks of insufficient sleep.
• The findings, published in Biomarker Research, emphasize the importance of sleep for heart health at all ages and call for further research on diverse populations, including women and older adults.