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Don't be that guy. sleeping via Shutterstock

Irish researcher tells why lack of sleep is bad for the heart

It’s not so much your blood pressure, as it is how sleep deprivation affects how blood pumps around your body. Yes, science.

NOT GETTING ENOUGH sleep is bad for the heart.

That much is certain, according to Professor Jack James from NUI Galway. Studies already show, he says, that sleep deprivation in the most extreme cases can lead to hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

However, this link has long puzzled medical researchers because other studies find that sleep deprivation has little effect on blood pressure. “This appears contradictory,” said Prof James, “because blood pressure level is a major predictor of cardiovascular health.”

To go towards figuring out this paradox, Prof James carried out a number of experiments with funding from the Health Research Board. Rather than focusing on blood pressure levels, they analysed what happened to a person’s ‘haemodynamic’ profile when they did or didn’t get sleep. (Haemodynamic profile is what processes happen in your body to control blood being pumped around it.)

And it was here that sleep deprivation actually did make a difference – in the short term at least. From observation of the negative reaction lack of sleep had on circulatory processes, Prof James believes he may have hit on something.

Let’s get him to explain:

We believe that the short-term effects of sleep deprivation on haemodynamic profile may activate atherosclerotic processes or ‘hardening of the arteries’ that, if continued over time, contribute to the development of hypertension, or increased blood pressure, and other cardiovascular pathology.

The findings can now help to inform health promotion and clinical management strategies that focus on the relationship between sleep and cardiovascular disease.

In other words, go to bed. Soon.

The 12 stages of ‘going to bed early’>
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    Mute James Groden
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    May 24th 2023, 8:30 AM

    “Roll up and see for yourselves how copy and paste works in journalism!”

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    Mute Andrew Lavelle
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    May 24th 2023, 9:07 AM

    @James Groden: watch as we delete all comments that don’t agree with our opinion and in some cases don’t allow comments at all!

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    Mute Zim Zimma
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    May 24th 2023, 9:11 AM

    Watch as we slightly reword Government press releases on various subjects where the public are told to get back in our boxes and do what we’re told and then turn the comment section off, because we don’t don’t want any dissenting voices.

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    Mute Antbony Kearns
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    May 24th 2023, 9:34 AM

    Watch as we shut down the comment section when too many comments go against the narrative.. Breaking News! “Ten People killed in overnight raids in Gaza” Yea shut down comments on that one, as we don’t want People giving out about Israel.. Journalists my ar_se

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    May 24th 2023, 11:35 AM

    In the past few weeks statements made by government Minister’s, the comment section has been closed. The taking down of comments that contain no personal or unacceptable comment but would have been critical of government have been removed. Bit hypocritical of the Journal.

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    Mute Joe x
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    May 24th 2023, 1:25 PM

    @William slevin: respond to what? your mas ravings? No point. At this stage I pity you.

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    Mute William slevin
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    May 24th 2023, 1:52 PM

    @establishment loyalist fascist lil joey:

    I didn’t ignore it no offence I forgot about it…also its not a priority to reply to every reply you make to me which is alot…

    But I think it was about the 70 year old assaulted in clare? I don’t know the circumstances of the assault but I’m guessing your employing it was done by anti mass immigration protestors….do you have proof of this? But let’s say it’s true I have no idea….I abhor violence against anyone unless its done for defensive reasons….if this 70 year old man was attacked by one of the protestors….then I would condemned such an attack as that infringes on the right of the 70 year old not to be assaulted for no reason…

    So I would condemn such an attack

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    Mute Joe x
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    May 24th 2023, 1:44 PM

    @William slevin: why willie and leave your mad raving influence others wrongly. Like your support for the protest in Clare….you know the one….I asked for your view of what happemed there on Sunday…and you ignored my question…..

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    Mute William slevin
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    May 24th 2023, 2:03 PM

    Also you repeatedly ignore me asking you for proof of the false claim you keep making against me that I’ve incited hatred…well Where’s your proof…I want the comments and the articles where I supposedly incited hatred….

    You haven’t so far because you can’t…because your a liar….

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