Don't be like Elon Musk. His habits could kill you

In a recent interview with the New York Times, the head of Tesla Elon Musk said that the last time he worked 120 hours a week and such a schedule could not affect his health. "This is not good. To me, that really worried about my condition," — said Musk. Because of the enormous loads, the owner and Manager of the Tesla this summer even missed your own birthday. Factory he left only a few hours to attend his brother's wedding.

In an interview, Musk also said that the last time was on vacation from work for more than a week in 2001, and then not by choice – had to treat malaria. If Max really on a permanent basis working for 120 hours a week, it turns out that in the day he works more than 17 hours. "There was a time when I was three or four days did not leave the factory. I'm not even out on the street." I wonder what about the load on the body thinks the medicine?

If Musk has been working every day for 17 hours a day, free time it is only 7 hours. At the same time, it is likely that Musk spends at least 7 hours sleep every day. According to the findings of American scientists from the Centers for control and prevention of diseases USA, made in the course of numerous studies, healthy sleep of an adult aged 18 to 60 years of age should be a minimum of 7 hours a day. Otherwise, lack of sleep can "lead to the development of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, problems with the cardiovascular system, chronic fatigue, and psychological disease" and death.

By the way, according to the same Centers for control and prevention of diseases of the U.S. Musk is not the only person not following the advice of doctors about healthy sleep: about a third of U.S. adults spend sleeping less than the recommended by doctors time.

the danger of lack of sleep

That lack of sleep can do to a human body in conversation with Business Insider said neuroscientist Matthew Walker, Director of the Centre for sleep research at the University of California at Berkeley. Walker often consults people from the NBA, NFL and Pixar on issues of sleep hygiene.

"the less you sleep, the shorter becomes your life" — briefly but succinctly characterizes Walker's lack of sleep.

And that's no exaggeration. According to the specialist, as well as many studies before, lack of sleep and its duration is only 6-7 hours in the long run can cause serious consequences for your health, and in some cases cause your death. Walker is convinced that a healthy body condition a person needs to hold the cushion 7 to 8 hours a day. He adheres to this rule very strictly and sleeps for 8 hours. And not taken into account at the time that he was tossing and turning in bed (like any other man) and wakes up at night (to drink water, to go to the toilet, etc.). Strictly 8 hours of sleep and not a minute less. According to him, such strict observance of this rule makes it productive and alert throughout the working day, and also allows you to keep physical and psychological health.

As the duration of sleep less than 7 hours affects your body and brain

"If little sleep, your quality of life will be significantly worse, and you will die early" — said Walker.

Lack of sleep lowers the number of T-killer cells, lymphocytes, types of white blood cells (white blood cells) that are part of your immune system involved in cleaning your body of worn out cells and viruses. According to Walker, only one session is insufficient sleep duration 4 to 5 hours can reduce the natural level of these T-killer cells by up to 70 percent.

Sleep deprivation – a direct path to the development of chronic diseases. Scientists are the link between lack of sleep and the development of Alzheimer's disease, obesity, elevated levels of stroke and diabetes. In addition, lack of sleep alters the processes associated with the production of insulin and absorption rate by the cells of your body sugar. Just one week of insufficient sleep (5-6 hours a day) and your doctor may diagnose you prediabetics state, Walker says. In other words, it increases the risk of developing diabetes. Chronic lack of sleep increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, may lead to kidney problems. This is confirmed by findings of previous studies.

Lack of sleep makes your body in the perfect environment for cancer. Scientists have drawn Parallels between sleep deprivation and development , and cancer .

Do Not sleep at night really bad too. If you think that the lack of sleep at night can be fully compensated by dream daily, then you are mistaken, says an expert. It is believed that the most beneficial sleep comes at a time of from 23 to 2 am. It was during this period the brain actively produces the hormone melatonin, which not only improves sleep but also combats signs of aging, normalizes blood pressure and strengthens overall health. With the dawn of melatonin produced ceases. To replace him with the first rays of the sun comes vivacity hormone — serotonin. He wakes us up at dawn. According to the who, night work can be attributed to "".

According to the Russian statistics of lack of sleep of the population, unfortunately, we do not, however, the night shift we employ millions of people. Many – years. At particular risk of developing diabetes-prone doctors, nurses, medical staff, a duty which often falls onnight and security guards, police officers, communications operators.

According to Walker, not all organisms work the same way. Some "lucky" more. In the world there are lucky people whose bodies are adapted to survive even with minimal amount of sleep. There is such magic gene known as BHLHE41. He is responsible for the regulation of circadian rhythms — our biological clock. Gene mutation can change our need for sleep duration. Some need just 5 hours to fully sleep. However, according to scientific data, its carrier are less than 1 percent of the total population of the planet.