Those sleepless nights might actually be killing you

Insomniacs beware: Your sleepless nights may be affecting more than your ability to be slavishly alert in your cubicle the next morning. A study by the University of Surrey in England utilizing blood tests reveals that folks getting only 5.7 hours of ZZZs each night — as opposed to a luxurious 8.5 — can be damaging genes and causing harm to tissue, which translates to disease. Stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes are on that menu, with a side of increased hormones that stimulate stress and appetite. And these potentially ailing, sleep-deprived fat zombies are not few. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 30 percent of civilian adults get less than 40 winks. But at least they’re keeping YouTube afloat. [Source]

Click to see more on msnNOW.com, updated 24 hours a day.