A new study has revealed that lack of sleep can cause testosterone levels in young men to drop to those of men 10 to 15 years their senior, leading to symptoms such as erectile dysfunction, infertility and gynecomastia (breast tissue development).
Dr Alexis Missick from UK Meds, an online pharmaceutical company, has shed light on the importance of sleep for men’s overall health and the impact of sleep deprivation on male testosterone levels. Dr Missick stated: “Testosterone is critical for building strength, muscle mass and bone density. A 2011 study found that, by skipping sleep, young men reduced their testosterone levels to those of men who are 10 to 15 years older.”
Dr Missick added: “During the study, young men (average age 24) spent three nights in a laboratory sleeping for up to ten hours, and then eight nights sleeping less than five hours. Their blood was sampled every 15 to 30 minutes to test testosterone levels.”
“The results showed that testosterone levels decreased by 10-15% after the week of sleep loss compared with their rested states. This decrease in testosterone levels was also associated with a loss of vigour among the participants. These men reported their mood and level of vigour during the study. The result led to a general decline in well-being as testosterone levels dropped, which continued to decline through the end of the study.”
What are the symptoms of low testosterone?
As a man ages, they may begin suffering from symptoms of low testosterone, these include:
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Erectile dysfunction
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Infertility
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Breast tissue development (gynecomastia)
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Reduced hair growth
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Decreased muscle mass
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Loss of bone density (osteoporosis)
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Reduced beard and body hair growth
Certain healthy lifestyle changes can help you to boost testosterone (low T levels) naturally. These include:
Dr Missick emphasised the importance of getting at least seven hours of sleep each night.