What may offset some of the negative effects of lack of sleep?

It is nearly impossible to refute the importance of sleep. Sleep is what allows us humans to recover from whatever we did during the day, no exception. Most living being on earth need sleep in order to function properly. Some exception such as jellyfishes or a baby dolphin... Hahaha...

The harmful effects of lack of sleep have been well established. Lack of sleep decreases performance, increases risk of CVD, may cause chronic inflammation, increases risk of obesity, may cause premature death...

So...are there anything that may offset some of the negative effects of lack of sleep?

exercise 150 mins at moderate intensity every week!

Exercise, perhaps.

A group of individuals analysed 380k middle-aged adults in UK. They categorised people's level of physical activity based on WHO guidelines. People who met the criteria: 300 minutes of exercises weekly or 150 mins of vigorous intensity or somewhere in between.

Eventually a portion of participants (15k) died from premature death, heart diseases or cancer.

They found that those who lacked sleep and did not exercise as per WHO guidelines had higher risk of dying from cancer or heart diseases as opposed to those that lacked sleep, but exercised regularly.

- For cancer: 45% higher risk for people that did not sleep or exercise adequately.

It is important to note that this was more of an observation than a randomized control study. Maybe those who exercised regularly had better lifestyle habits, maybe they ate better and socialized more.

Anyways, the point is, exercise is a free and a healthy way to continue living! If you don't sleep enough, at least try to exercise a bit more! But ideally, try to sleep and exercise as much as you can!

Physio Summum Brossard