Warning as common sleep habit increases risk of life-threatening condition

PEOPLE with unhealthy sleep habits could be at risk of a life-threatening condition, experts have warned.

Many people struggle with their sleep, whether it’s not getting enough or just poor quality in general.

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Medics have found that people who have poor sleep quality are at a higher risk of fatty liver disease[/caption]

Medics in China said that those who nap throughout the day, snore and have poor night time sleep could be at risk of fatty liver disease.

Fatty liver disease is a term for a range of conditions caused by a build-up of fat in the liver.

It’s usually seen in people who are overweight or obese and can lead to serious liver damage.

Government data shows that in 2021, 2,085 people were admitted to hospital due to the illness in the UK.

While this rate has been increasing over time, in the UK there was a slight dip in the last year.

Medics say the highest rates in the country have been witnessed in the most deprived areas.

Experts at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China looked at over 5,000 adults who live with the condition.

They found that snoring and daytime napping for over 30 minutes were significantly associated with an increased risk of the illness.

Participants who tried to improve their sleep quality had a 29 per cent reduction in risk of fatty liver disease.

Those who led sedentary lifestyles and who lived with obesity were found to have a worse quality sleep than others, the study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found.

Yan Liu, Ph.D., of the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health and Sun Yat-sen University said just small changes to sleep habits could make a huge difference.

“Our study provides evidence that even a moderate improvement in sleep quality is sufficient to reduce the risk for fatty liver disease, especially in those with unhealthy lifestyles.

“Given that large proportions of subjects suffering from poor sleep quality are underdiagnosed and undertreated, our study calls for more research into this field and strategies to improve sleep quality,” he added.

KNOW THE SIGNS

According to the British Liver Trust, it’s estimated that around 63 per cent of adults in the UK are obese.

Of that figure, it’s thought that one in three have fatty liver disease.

The NHS says that the condition is usually associated with other illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease.

It can be hard to spot the signs because it often doesn’t present any symptoms.

When it does, they include:

• enlarged liver
• feeling tired all the time
• pain in the right upper abdomen

Other possible signs include:

• stomach swelling or bloating
• enlarged blood vessels just beneath the skin’s surface
• enlarged breasts or moobs in men
• enlarged spleen
• red palms
• yellowing of the skin and eyes, also known as jaundice

There is currently no specific treatment for the condition, but the NHS says that lifestyle choices can help.

Guidance states: “Treatment also may be recommended for associated conditions (high blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol) or complications.

“You may be advised to have regular appointments with your doctor to check your liver function and look for signs of any new problems.”