By Health Day
 

A lack of sleep may cause young men to lose their edge in more ways than they realize.


In a new study, researchers found that just a few nights of sleep loss can cause a serious drop in the hormone testosterone. This is a hard-working hormone in men that plays a role in sexual function, muscle and bone growth, and helping guys feel energetic and active.

They included 10 healthy, fit young men who visited a sleep lab. The men slept for 9 hours each night for three nights, then got only 5 hours of sleep on the next eight nights. They also underwent blood tests and reported how vigorous they felt throughout the day.

Their testosterone levels during the day fell by 10 to 15 percent after the period of sleep loss. They also felt less vigorous when they weren't getting enough sleep.

According to the researchers, at least 15 percent of working-age Americans only get 5 hours of sleep at night, so lack of sleep could be hampering testosterone levels for a lot of men. If more research supports these findings, men who visit their doctors for concerns about low testosterone may want to discuss how much sleep they're getting.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news that doctors are reading; health news that matters to you.