Your kidneys may be one more reason to get your ideal hours of sleep. In a new study, there's a link between reduced kidney function and fewer hours of shuteye among women.
The research conducted by Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston suggests women who sleep for 5 hours or less a day have at least 65% decline of kidney function compared to those who sleep between 7 and 8 hours per night. The research team used the data collected from Nurses' Health Study participated by at least 4,200 women whose kidney function was assessed at least two times over a period of 11 years.
As to why this connection tends to exist, the researchers looked into medical conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes that are strongly associated with poor kidney function. In fact, according to National Kidney Foundation, at least 30% of people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (juvenile diabetes) and up to 40% of those with type 2 diabetes may develop kidney failure as blood vessels found in the organ become damaged due to the disease. Hypertension, meanwhile, is the second major cause of kidney failure, says American Heart Association.
They also believe that bad kidneys can be linked to the disrupted circadian clock, the body's natural rhythm. The way kidneys work may be different at day and at night, as well as the body's natural demand for them throughout the day.
According to National Sleep Foundation, the recommended hours of sleep depends on a person's age. People between the ages of 18 and 64 years old, for example, may need 7 to 9 hours of sleep while those who are 65 years old and above can thrive at 7 to 8 hours. However, Americans sleep an average of 6.5 hours a day, researchers say.
The study, which the researchers will present on a meeting with the American Society of Nephrology on Thursday, Nov 6, doesn't establish a cause-and-effect relationship. It also doesn't offer evidence whether sleeping longer may improve or reverse poor kidney function. Although the researchers believe that a similar connection can be found among men, it still remains to be studied. The results are considered preliminary until they are published in a peer-review journal.
