The Daily Mail reports that people who spent too few hours in bed had less ‘good’ cholesterol circulating in their blood than those who had an adequate amount of sleep.
Whether it’s worrying about work or not being able to resist watching Netflix, many of us get too little sleep.
But just a week of restless nights can damage the heart due to a rise in ‘bad’ cholesterol, a study has found.People who spent too few hours in bed also had less ‘good’ cholesterol circulating in their blood than those who slept sufficiently.
Genes which regulate the transport of cholesterol around the body are less active in sleep deprived people than those getting a good night’s rest, researchers found.
The findings could explain why those who get less than the recommended seven to eight hours sleep a night are at higher risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.
Cholesterol is a kind of fat made by the liver and found in the blood, which is essential to the body as cells and organs need it.
But there are two types; ‘good’ high-density lipoproteins or HDL, and ‘bad’ or low-density lipoproteins.
‘Bad cholesterol’ can damage the walls of the arteries, causing them to become hardened, scarred and plaques form.
