Researchers on the BBC’s Day of the Body Clock said society is “highly arrogant” about the value of sleep.
Experts at Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Manchester, and Surrey say that cutting back on sleep leads to “serious health problems.”
Experts warn that both individuals and policymakers must start addressing the issue with urgency. Several health issues are related to sleep deprivation. They include cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, infections, and obesity.
Our internal body clock is responsible for dramatic shifts within the human body. It alters alertness, mood, physical strength, and even the risk of a heart attack in a daily rhythm.
It is a product of our evolutionary past when we were asleep at night and awake during the day.
Experts are warning that modern living and a 24-hour society—like working late, looking at social media, or playing an online casino until dawn—are pushing many to “live against” their body clocks. This is harming their well-being and health.
According to Oxford professor Russell Foster, people today sleep one to two hours less per night compared with six decades ago.
He said, “We are a very arrogant species. We can ignore four billion years of evolution and the light-dark cycle that shaped us.”
“What we do as a species, perhaps uniquely, is override the clock. And long-term actions against the clock can lead to serious health problems.”
He says this is an issue affecting the whole of society, not shift workers.
Prof. Foster pointed out that this is a serious issue for teenagers. He has met kids who take their parents’ sleeping pills at night and then drink three Red Bulls in the morning.
Blue Light
New studies suggest that modern technology is causing us to stay awake longer and sleep less.
“Light is key for syncing your internal biological clock,” said Prof. Charles Czeisler from Harvard University on the BBC’s Day of the Body Clock.
He said that energy-efficient light bulbs, smartphones, tablets, and computers emit a lot of blue light. This light is “right in the sweet spot” for disrupting the body clock.
“Evening exposure to blue light can nudge our internal clocks later. This change makes it more difficult to wake up in the mornings.”
“We’re facing a big issue. We’re exposed to more light and sleeping less. As a result, we suffer from chronic diseases.”
Need More Sleep
Life for the Griffiths family in Rhyl, North Wales, is nothing short of hectic.
Steven and Sam, who are both parents, also happen to work together in the ambulance service. One works 06:30-18:30 while the other comes into work 18:30-06:30.
Add a 16-year-old, a 12-year-old, kickboxing classes, and cycling. They also work in Liverpool, an hour away. So, there’s not much free time in the day.
Steven says, “In a perfect world, I’d rather have more sleep, but life now doesn’t let one have that much sleep.”
“The kids have activities; we want to exercise, and you want to cram all that in.”
“I could do with more sleep.”
New genetic research shows how living life in a rush harms our health.
A total of 10% of DNA in humans is on a 24-hour clock. It regulates a lot of the behavioral and physiological variation in our bodies.
But the research discovered that short sleep duration or shift work has the effect of confusing rhythms.
Dr. Simon Archer, who led the research at the University of Surrey, noticed a “large impact” on the body’s functioning.
“These pathways are important. They might explain some health problems, like heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. This is often seen in people who lack sleep or do shift work,” he said.
Conclusion
Sleep is not a luxury but a biological necessity. Disregarding it has severe consequences on our health. It can weaken our immune system. This increases the risks of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Modern life detaches us from our natural body rhythms. Facts are clear: we must show respect to the rhythm in our genes. Sleep is vital to our health and well-being, both as individuals and as a nation.
