Habitual sleep of less than 6-7 hours per night is associated with which hormonal change?

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Multiple Choice

Habitual sleep of less than 6-7 hours per night is associated with which hormonal change?

Short sleep duration disrupts circadian regulation and the stress hormone axis, leading to increased cortisol in the evening hours. Normally cortisol falls as night approaches and rises in the morning, but when sleep is chronically restricted, the evening decline is blunted and cortisol stays elevated later in the day. Growth hormone is mainly released during deep sleep, so with fewer hours of sleep overall, growth hormone pulses typically decrease rather than increase. The idea of no hormonal changes isn’t accurate, since sleep loss triggers measurable hormonal fluctuations. While morning cortisol can be elevated in sleep deprivation, the most consistent and characteristic finding with habitual short sleep is higher evening cortisol, making that option the best fit.

Short sleep duration disrupts circadian regulation and the stress hormone axis, leading to increased cortisol in the evening hours. Normally cortisol falls as night approaches and rises in the morning, but when sleep is chronically restricted, the evening decline is blunted and cortisol stays elevated later in the day. Growth hormone is mainly released during deep sleep, so with fewer hours of sleep overall, growth hormone pulses typically decrease rather than increase. The idea of no hormonal changes isn’t accurate, since sleep loss triggers measurable hormonal fluctuations. While morning cortisol can be elevated in sleep deprivation, the most consistent and characteristic finding with habitual short sleep is higher evening cortisol, making that option the best fit.

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