London - Having a good night’s sleep may lower the risk of bowel problems... but don’t overdo it.
A Harvard University study, which followed more than 150 000 women over 23 years, has found that those who sleep for less than six hours a night are 51 percent more likely to develop ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease, compared with those who sleep seven to eight hours.
Women who sleep longer, for nine or more hours, have an even higher risk.
Ulcerative colitis is thought to be caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking healthy tissue.
Sleep deprivation is known to be linked to higher levels of inflammatory compounds in the blood — excessive sleep may have a similar effect. - Daily Mail