This Common G.I. Issue Could Reveal Something About Your Sleep, Finds New Research
There are moments when sleep positions can cause what might seem like strange discomforts or effects, such as pressure in the ear or a stiff joint somewhere. But what about when sleep issues cause problems that seem wholly unrelated?
Case in point: A team of clinicians from Peking University People's Hospital in Beijing, China, recently investigated what they called "the potential causal links between sleep traits and perianal diseases." These are diseases that affect the skin and tissues just outside the rectal region.
Publishing their work in the journal Neuropsychiatric Research , the team says that in the past two decades, hemorrhoids emerged as the most common need for outpatient care related to the G.I. system. For further perspective, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) reports that one out of every 20 Americans experience hemorrhoids, common in both women and men.
The new research adds that other conditions around this site, such as fissures, are often associated with difficult bowel movements . These problems can go on to impact daily life, including work and exercise.
The team referred to genetic data taken from a massive European population comprised of millions of people. After running rigorous calculations on the sample's experiences with sleep issues, hemorrhoids, and other G.I. issues, they report: "Our analysis identified sleep traits and disorders associated with an increased risk of hemorrhoidal disease."
These sleep traits included insomnia , daytime napping, and prolonged sleep duration—meaning, extremely lengthy periods of sleep. (The national recommendation is seven to nine hours per night.)
They explain their observations, in part, by saying:
"The circadian rhythm, or the body's internal clock, regulates many physiological processes, including digestion and gut motility. Sleep disturbances, such as irregular sleep patterns, can disrupt these rhythms and lead to abnormal gastrointestinal function."
One way this can play out is when your bowel routine gets disrupted from travel . Also worth noting: Their reverse analysis did not find significant evidence to suggest that perianal diseases contribute to sleep issues.
All this adds another layer of understanding of how certain systems within our body affect each other—and how a good night's sleep may do much more than energize your body for another day.
For daily wellness updates, subscribe to The Healthy newsletter and follow The Healthyon Facebook , Instagram , and Google . Keep reading:
