Insufficient sleep can drastically reduces a healthy young man's testosterone levels, according to a new study. Researchers found that testosterone levels dropped in men who slept less than five hours a night for one week.
Low testosterone comes with a host of negative consequences for young men; the hormone is is critical for building strength and muscle mass, and bone density. Low testosterone levels are associated with reduced wellbeing and vigor.
Eurekalert reports:
“At least 15 percent of the adult working population in the U.S. gets less than 5 hours of sleep a night, and suffers many adverse health effects because of it. This study found that skipping sleep reduces a young man's testosterone levels by the same amount as aging 10 to 15 years.”