Past research studies have shown that getting enough sleep is important because of its effect on having healthy brain functions, emotional wellbeing, and physical health. But new studies from The American Academy of Sleep and the Center for Disease Control show that “social jet lag’ caused by shifting your sleeping or waking times because of social activities or because you’re staying up too late to work on a project could also cause various health issues.

The point of the study was looking at the physiology effects of shifting your sleep. In the past, researchers have focused a lot on why sleep is important. Sleep aids in the healing and repair of your heart and your blood vessels. Sleep deficiency is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, kidney diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity and even weight loss. People that are trying to lose weight actually lose weight more slowly if they are not getting enough sleep. But this new study is showing how shifting your sleep cycle (social jet lag) can also affect your health.

The study found that with every hour of sleep that was shifted, you are now about 11% more likely to have heart disease as diagnosed by a doctor. In addition, with every additional one hour shift that occurred in your sleep schedule, there was a 28% higher likelihood of a person reporting their health as being poor or fair as compared to those that reported excellent health. It also appears that being off your sleep schedule can have negative health affects over a long period of time.

A consistent sleep schedule and getting good quality sleep is all part of a healthy lifestyle. And when making lifestyle changes, it’s beneficial to have a team working with you to give you all the tools you need for success. At PRO Club, the 20/20 Lifestyles program is built on extensive clinical expertise that blends together education, nutrition, exercise, lifestyle coaching, and medical supervision. This unique medically-based program uses sound science to help you lose weight, keep it off, and get your health back in balance which can have a significant impact on your everyday life.

By Dr. Gordon Cohen