Teens who don’t sleep enough at higher risk of devastating killer disease
Getting between seven and nine hours of sleep each night is essential to maintaining good health.
And now experts believe teens who close their eyes for too few hours are at greater risk of a deadly disease.
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The team in Sweden found that teens who sleep less than seven hours a night are up to 40 percent more likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life than those who get adequate rest.
And the nightly Doom scrolling on social media could be to blame, the experts said.
The autoimmune disease, which affects around 100,000 Britons, destroys the protective covering around nerves. This can lead to vision loss, chronic pain, fatigue and lack of coordination.
The chances of developing the disease are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, including smoking and teenage weight, the researchers said.
The researchers analyzed the sleep patterns of over 5,000 adults during their teenage years – some with and some without MS.
Those who slept less than 7 hours a night on average had a 40 percent increased risk of developing MS later.
Teens need around nine to 10 hours of sleep a night, according to the NHS.
While those who reported having slept poorly in their teenage years had a 50 percent increased risk of developing the condition.
What are the typical MS symptoms?
The condition affects everyone affected differently, but there are a few common symptoms. Most people only experience some of these symptoms, not all. They are also very similar to the symptoms of many other conditions, so are not necessarily caused by the disease.
- fatigue
- vision problems
- numbness and tingling
- Muscle cramps, stiffness and weakness
- mobility problems
- Pains
- Problems with thinking, learning and planning
- depression and anxiety
- sexual problems
- bladder problems
- bowel problems
- Speech and swallowing difficulties
Source: MS Society
MS itself is not usually fatal, but the condition can increase the risk of life-threatening complications, such as serious infections or difficulty swallowing, which can set the stage for pneumonia.
The life expectancy of people with this condition is about five to 10 years shorter than that of the general population, but this gap is narrowing as treatments and care improve.
Commenting on the study, the researchers said: “Inadequate sleep and poor sleep quality during adolescence appear to increase the risk of developing MS later in life.
“Therefore, getting enough restful sleep, which is needed for adequate immune function, may be another preventive factor against MS.”
They also stated that “technology” and internet access “contribute to inadequate sleep among adolescents and pose an important public health problem”.
The results will be published in Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
https://www.the-sun.com/health/7240320/teens-multiple-sclerosis-sleep/ Teens who don’t sleep enough at higher risk of devastating killer disease
