Sleep deprivation is increasingly being linked to serious health problems. Longevity physician Dr. Navin Gnanasekaran believes it may be one of the overlooked reasons behind heart attacks in men in their 40s.
Speaking on a podcast, he described the growing “40-year-old ICU club”: seemingly fit, high-performing men who end up in intensive care with heart problems.
Hustle culture and the sleep myth
Dr. Gnanasekaran points to a culture where cutting sleep has become a badge of honour. Some founders even claim they have “biohacked” themselves to need only three or four hours a night. In his experience, these are often the people who end up in the ICU.
Sleep is the body's nightly reboot
He describes sleep as a reboot that happens every night, clearing the brain and setting repair in motion across the body. Regularly sleeping three or four hours, or going to bed late and waking early, deprives the body of these restorative stages. Over time, this can contribute to insulin resistance and higher cortisol levels.
What it does to the heart
Cardiologist Dr. Anup Taksande of KIMS Hospitals, Thane, told The Indian Express that chronic short sleep raises blood pressure and heart rate and promotes inflammation. Over time it can also affect blood sugar, cholesterol and weight.
This matters especially in the 40s, when risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol may already be developing. One bad night will not cause a heart attack, but years of sleep loss can raise long-term risk.
Quality matters, not just hours
Deep sleep supports physical recovery, blood pressure control and tissue repair, while REM sleep supports memory, brain function and emotional well-being. Cutting sleep short regularly means missing time in these stages, which affects hormones, metabolism and the stress response.
Warning signs not to ignore
Persistent tiredness, morning headaches, poor concentration, irritability, lower exercise tolerance, palpitations or consistently high blood pressure can all be signs that poor sleep is taking a toll. Loud snoring, choking or gasping at night may point to sleep apnoea, which is linked to heart risk.
Treat sleep as prevention
Most adults need seven to nine hours of good-quality sleep. For busy professionals, the key shift is to see sleep as part of preventive healthcare, not as spare time that can be traded for work.
Originally published in The Indian Express. Read the original article →