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Puckett
Devin Puckett
Sarah George-Waterfield
English 105
30 August 2015
Dettoni, Josilene L, et al. "Cardiovascular effects of partial sleep deprivation in healthy volunteers." Journal of Applied Physiology 113.2 (2012): 232-236.
Cardiovascular Effects of Partial Sleep Deprivation in Healthy Volunteers
Researchers from the University of São Paulo Medical School, as well as from the Federal University of Rondônia, Nove de Juhlo University, and the Medical School University of Campinas conducted a study to determine the effects of partial sleep deprivation on healthy subjects, specifically how it affected their cardiovascular health. Many people habitually get less than 5 hours of sleep per night and this study aimed to see what this behavior can do to your cardiovascular health (Dettoni, Consolim-Colombo and Drager 232).
To conduct the study, researchers selected 13 healthy male volunteers around 31 years old. These subjects were tested for prior health problem as wellas a polysomnography to determine sleep quality. The subjects were then randomly placed into either a control or experimental group. The control group was required to sleep around eight hours per night for 5 nights, with 2 nights of unrestricted sleep whereas the experimental group was only allowed around four hours and thirty minutes of sleep per night, interrupted by 2 nights of unrestricted sleep. After the seven-day period the test groups were then switched. These subjects were monitored using sleep diaries, and wrist actigraphy to determine the amount of sleep that was received. At the end of the control and sleep deprivation periods, the subjects had blood samples taken, blood pressure measured, and measurements of venous endothelial function. A software system then calculated the variability of heart rate and blood pressure, and the blood was tested for levels of serum norepinephrine.
After the study was completed sleep deprivation was found to have not affected heart rate variability, however levels of serum norepinephrine and components of blood pressure variability increased, while venous endothelial function decreased.
This study concluded that partial sleep deprivation in fact does negatively affect your cardiovascular health. While some may believe that they can sleep very little during the week and then catch up on their sleep during the weekends, this study has proven otherwise. The subjects were allowed 2 nights of unrestricted sleep, yet still showed signs of decreased cardiovascular health.
Polysomnography – an overnight test in which breathing and heart rate are monitored to test for sleep apnea
Venous Endothelial Function – function of veins and arteries to constrict and dilate. Decreased function means that the arteries and veins easily constricted and failed to open completely
Serum Norepinephrine – a hormone responsible for cognitive alertness