New Delhi: While a good night’s sleep is known to be crucial for overall health, a new study showed it can also prevent cirrhosis among individuals with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Cirrhosis occurs when the liver is damaged for over a long duration and is replaced by scar tissue. The scarring prevents the liver from working properly, and can eventually lead to liver failure.
The study led by researchers from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China showed an association between a healthy sleep pattern and a decreased risk of cirrhosis among NAFLD patients.
The study on 112,196 NAFLD patients found that poor sleep patterns were associated with an increased risk of progression to cirrhosis.
The benefits of good sleep were observed in participants, regardless of low or high genetic risk, according to the journal Hepatology International.
Poor sleep is also known to be harmful to health and can lead to problems with memory and focus. It can also raise the risk of headaches, anxiety, and stress. Another recent study, published in the journal Sleep shows that sleeping late may also raise the risk of early-onset type 2 diabetes.
“Each one hour later in bedtime was associated with a 52 per cent increase in the risk of early-onset diabetes,” the study showed.
