A recent study concluded that getting too little or too much sleep during the first trimester of pregnancy may increase a woman’s risk of developing elevated blood pressure and its related complications in later pregnancy. Pregnancy-induced high blood pressure is a symptom of preeclampsia. Left untreated, preeclampsia increases a woman’s risk for life-threatening eclampsia during pregnancy.

The study included reports from over 1,200 pregnant women. Women who got less than five hours of sleep per night were almost 10 times more likely to develop preeclampsia.

Read the full post on Too Little or Too Much Sleep in Early Pregnancy May Raise Preeclampsia Risk.

While you may be able to tolerate less sleep as an adolescent without immediately noticeable side effects, recent research shows that adults who lack a consistent good night’s sleep can speed up their aging process. In the November 2009 issue of the journal Aging, it was noted that lack of sleep decreases your ability to handle stress, increases neurological and motor deterioration and ultimately shortens your life.

Natraj Krishnan, a research associate at Oregon State University, commented, “This study suggests that young individuals may be able to handle certain stresses, but the same insults at an older age cause genetic damage and appear to lead to health problems and earlier death. And it’s linked to biological clocks.”

Read the full post on Don’t Want to Look So Old? Get More Sleep!.