Irregular Sleep Patterns Increase Risk of Over 170 Diseases

Recent international research reveals that inconsistent sleep patterns are associated with an increased risk of over 170 health conditions. Published in the journal Health Data Science, the study analyzed sleep behaviors of more than 88,000 adults from the UK Biobank, utilizing data collected via wearable devices over nearly seven years to track authentic sleep habits. The findings underscore the importance of sleep regularity—consistent bedtimes and daily routines—in maintaining health. Disrupted sleep schedules were linked to a higher likelihood of developing 92 diseases, with more than 20% of the risk for each associated with poor sleep habits. Notably, individuals who habitually went to bed after 12:30 AM faced over two and a half times the risk of liver cirrhosis. Similarly, irregular daily routines increased the chances of gangrene by approximately 2.6 times. Contradicting earlier assertions that sleeping nine or more hours per night is detrimental, the study found that long sleep duration was primarily associated with just one health condition. This discrepancy may stem from the fact that many individuals classified as long sleepers were actually in bed for extended period...