A study from June 2025 suggested there’s one issue that’s clearly linked to a whopping 172 diseases. Perhaps even scarier, it’s a common one: disrupted sleep patterns.
Researchers looked at more than 88,000 people’s data from the UK Biobank, a large-scale biomedical database in Britain, and found that poor sleep was associated with a higher risk of many conditions.
Before we go any further, it’s important to note that, as with many studies, these findings are possibilities — not confirmed facts. At the same time, they’re worth careful attention.
“This study is observational and doesn’t prove causation,” said Daniella Marchetti, a clinical psychologist specializing in behavioral sleep medicine. “Instead, the study shows that as sleep suffers, the likelihood of these diseases is also likely to increase in a way that is not coincidental.”
The 172 diseases affect a variety of bodily systems, including the metabolic, neurological, cardiovascular and respiratory systems. More specifically, researchers were looking at Type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, kidney failure, liver diseases, heart disease, stroke, metabolic disorders, respiratory conditions and more.
Pretty extensive, right? Especially for something as common as poor sleep, which can stem from many everyday experiences: stress, blue light from screens, shift work, social media-related FOMO and more.
“In a world that never seems to switch off, sleep has become one of the most quietly endangered pillars of human health,” said Dr. Martin L. Hopp, an otolaryngologist, head and neck surgeon who specializes in sleep apnea diagnosis. “Once regarded as a passive state of rest, sleep is now understood as a highly active biological process … Disrupted sleep patterns are increasingly common, and the health consequences are proving difficult to ignore.”
Ahead, sleep experts explain what disrupted sleep can look like, its causes, how it can lead to disease, and how to get better sleep.
What ‘Disrupted Sleep Patterns’ Can Look Like
“Disrupted sleep patterns” is just a fancy way of saying “sleep irregularities,” according to Marchetti. Maybe you struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep. Maybe you always wake up at 3 a.m. without meaning to do so. Those are a couple of examples.
“For shift workers and frequent travelers, sleep may occur at biologically ‘wrong’ times, conflicting with the body’s internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm,” Hopp added. “Even individuals who believe they are sleeping enough may suffer from poor-quality sleep caused by frequent awakenings, breathing disturbances or environmental interruptions, such as noise and light.”
Marchetti clarified that the aforementioned study focused on irregular bedtimes and wake times (which is all too relatable, am I right?), as well as low stability of sleep-wake rhythm and sleep fragmentation, aka waking up throughout the night.
While “doomscrolling” on TikTok or chugging an energy drink at night can contribute to that, other causes are more complicated — and concerning.
“Disrupted sleep patterns can be due to a variety of issues, including disrupted circadian rhythm, insufficient sleep, sleep apnea, insomnia or other medical/psychiatric disorders that affect sleep quality and duration,” said Dr. Sarathi Bhattacharyya, a pulmonologist, critical care medicine specialist, sleep medicine specialist and medical director of MemorialCare Sleep Disorders Center at Long Beach Medical Center in Long Beach, California.
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Disrupted sleep can lead to a host of health issues, recent research suggests.
How Disrupted Sleep Patterns Can Lead To Many Diseases
As Marchetti suggested, disrupted sleep patterns don’t automatically mean you’re going to contract 172 diseases (or even one). Correlation does not equal causation. With that said, she seemed to believe this finding made sense, “based on what we know about other behavioral sleep medicine research.” She shared the following examples:
Circadian misalignment, or going to bed at irregular times, disrupts the body’s internal clock, which affects hormone release, glucose metabolism and immune function.
Sleep fragmentation, or waking up frequently throughout the night, impairs restorative processes, including metabolic waste clearance and inflammatory regulation.
Rhythm instability, or unstable sleep-wake rhythms, alters core physiological processes involved in cardiovascular, endocrine and nervous system health.
Bhattacharyya gave the example of sleep apnea, saying it most commonly leads to increased long-term risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, such as elevated blood pressure, heart disease, arrhythmias and stroke risk.
Hopp spoke about how irregular or insufficient sleep can increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes and obesity. It can do this by disrupting insulin sensitivity and appetite-regulating hormones.
He also noted the brain’s vulnerability, saying long-term sleep disruption is associated with depression, anxiety and impaired memory. Additionally, it could contribute to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, by interfering with the brain’s ability to clear toxic waste products during deep sleep. These examples only scratch the surface.
“In a world that never seems to switch off, sleep has become one of the most quietly endangered pillars of human health.”
– Dr. Martin L. Hopp, otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon
The specific disease(s) you might get as a result of disrupted sleep depend on what is causing the disruption. Regardless, not getting solid sleep is a serious problem worth addressing.
“Any condition that affects sleep quality and/or duration results in a reduction of a very important period for human physiology,” Bhattacharyya concludes. “Hormone regulation and immune function can be impaired with poor sleep, as can mood, concentration and memory.”
Sleep Experts Share Their Most Effective Sleep Tips
Sometimes, knowing how to get good sleep and actually getting good sleep are two different things. If you’ve tried all the “hacks” and still can’t get enough Zzzs, seeing a sleep specialist may be your best option, as sleep hygiene tips (detailed below) aren’t always enough.
But otherwise — and as a good starting point — doctors want to make sure you’re doing the following, which can help you get the best possible sleep:
Have a consistent routine for winding down and going to bed (such as reading, stretching and/or doing breathing exercises).
Wake up at the same time every day to keep your circadian rhythm on a regular schedule (yes, this includes weekends!).
Don’t eat or drink (especially alcohol or caffeine) at least three hours before bed.
Avoid exposure to bright light in the evening hours, and get adequate light exposure within 30 to 60 minutes of waking.
Wind down to a relaxing TV show (keyword: “relaxing”).
Address causes of nocturnal awakenings, like restless leg syndrome and needing to pee in the middle of the night.
Keep your bedroom cool and dark at night, using blackout curtains and/or an eye mask and a fan if necessary.
Exercise during the day, but not within two to three hours of bedtime.
Beyond that, research points to a certain type of therapy.
“Based on the scientific evidence, the most highly effective, research-aligned approach to treating chronic insomnia is cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I),” Marchetti said. She recommended that people find a CBT-I provider and a credentialed sleep specialist if the aforementioned sleep hygiene tips haven’t worked after two weeks of consistent practice.
Besides incorporating sleep hygiene, CBT-I can help by changing the way you think and feel about sleep, strengthening the bed as a cue for sleep and encouraging a relaxing activity if you can’t fall asleep within the first 20 minutes of being in bed.
While pursuing better sleep may add yet another item to your to-do list, it’s crucial. Good, solid sleep (not “junk sleep”) is vital for your health and well-being — perhaps more than previously thought.
“As research continues to uncover the far-reaching effects of disrupted sleep, one message is becoming clear: Restoring healthy sleep patterns may be one of the most effective (and overlooked) ways to prevent disease and protect long-term health,” Hopp said. “The cost of losing sleep is proving far higher than once imagined.”
