We know we need sleep, and we all feel terrible the next day if we don't get enough sleep. But getting enough sleep is easier said than done. Research has shown that some of the negative effects of chronic sleep deprivation include:
Increased stroke risk
Increased obesity due to the hunger hormone ghrelin
Increased insulin resistance, which may lead to diabetes
Memory loss, which can actually be so severe that early brain degeneration is seen
Increase in heart disease, and increased risk of death
But a new study published in Cancer Research, shows that chronic sleep loss may actually drive tumor growth! Sleep fragmentation, often caused by sleep apnea, can increase the levels of immune cells associated with tumors and the chemical signals they use to talk to other cells in the body. These signals increase inflammation and resistance to early cell death of the tumor cells. Possibly the worse part of this is the realization that cancer patients, due to medications, anxiety, pain, and a host of other reasons, are likely to NOT be getting the sleep they need. This research puts a focus on sleep counseling and methods for helping cancer patients to get the sleep they need.
Even for those of us just trying to stay healthy, this is just one more reason to take care of yourself and make sure you are getting enough sleep every night!
Hakim F, Wang Y, Zhang SX, et al. Fragmented sleep accelerates tumor growth and progression through recruitment of tumor-associated macrophages and TLR4 signaling. Cancer Res. 2014 Jan 21http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/74/5/1329.abstract
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