A lack of sleep could lead to heart disease, weight gain - and even change the way our DNA behaves.

Leading sleep expert Paul Gringras has revealed what happens to our bodies after a poor night's sleep, with higher blood pressure and cholesterol also among the potential consequences of not getting enough rest.


A study of 2,000 adults, by sleep tech firm Simba to support its new TryFor8 campaign, found 44 per cent of Brits are sleeping for a maximum of six hours a night.

Some 44 per cent of Brits sleep for a maximum of six hours a night


Professor of Sleep Medicine Paul Gringras said: "Those people who sleep under six hours have a higher risk of coronary heart disease, their blood pressure is higher and their cholesterol is worse.

"Our lack of sleep as a nation has been compared to 'the canary in the coalmine', in that poor sleep is linked to so many other serious health issues.


"It is also thought that we make more inflammatory proteins called cytokines after a bad night's sleep, which can cause adverse effects on the whole immune mechanism."


He said: "Every cell in our body contains the same DNA, our genetic code. And people used to think that was that - your genes were who you are - and nothing could affect it.

Our DNA is is susceptible to changes from outside factors - what we eat and how we sleep, for example

"But, our DNA, and how our body knows what to do with it, is in fact susceptible to changes from outside factors - what we eat, whether we smoke, how stressed we are, and how we sleep.

"Although poor sleep doesn't change our actual DNA code, it does affect the epigenetic signals that control how our genes function, and it's this that can have a negative effect on our day to day lives.

"Just one night's bad sleep changes epigenetic signals to our DNA that cause weight gain and loss of muscle mass, and can affect the way that memories are laid down in the hippocampus - part of our brains."


But it's not just health problems which can be affected by sleep, with accuracy, reaction time and split-second decision-making improved after a good night's rest.

Sleep affects accuracy, reaction time and decision making


"Exercise during the day can be helpful for sleep quantity and quality - the survey showed that 85 per cent of people found their sleep improved when they exercised during the day.


"This is why athletes and their teams put so much emphasis on good quality sleep regimes."



As part of the campaign, the rugby superstar will take a workout-like approach to coach the nation via Simba's newly developed Simba Sleep App to train themselves into better sleep habits.

Rugby superstar Maro Itoje in a sleeping pose: "The more you sleep, the more ability you have to train harder, be more alert and attentive"


The international rugby star said: "Sleep is directly linked to how much energy I have. It is directly linked to my performance, my output in the gym and on the training field.

"It's something that has always been hugely important to me. The more you sleep, the more ability you have to train harder, be more alert and attentive. It's a game-changer."