I'm scared!!?
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Want to lower your risk of heart disease, cancer, obesity, and depression? Go to bed.
“We don’t take sleep seriously enough,” says Michael J. Sateia, MD, medical director of the Sleep Disorders Service at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. “It’s essential to life. If you disrupt the sleep cycle, you could face grave health repercussions throughout your body.”
It’s not absolutely clear that sleep loss leads to bad health, but evidence is mounting. Decreased sleep is now associated with dozens of different illnesses and health problems. We live in a chronically overtired society. In this country, half of us aren’t getting the seven to eight hours of sleep we need -- and our health may be suffering for it. “Getting enough sleep should be considered just as important as eating a healthy diet and exercising,” Sateia says. Who knew that lying around could be so good for you?
Sleep as Rx
While scientists still don’t know exactly why we need sleep, we know with certainty that we do need it. “A natural cycle of rest and wakefulness dictates all sorts of biological functions,” says Michael Twery, PhD, director of the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research in Bethesda, Md. In other words, start messing with the sleep cycle, and lots of things -- metabolism, hormone levels, and blood pressure -- go out of whack. Sleep loss has been associated with:
Heart disease. Not getting enough sleep may trigger the release of stress hormones and proteins that bump up the risk of heart attacks and strokes. One large study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2003 showed that women who slept less than five hours a night were 45% more likely to have heart problems than women who slept eight hours.
Diabetes. Being sleep-deprived can affect how your body processes blood sugar, and that could raise your risk of diabetes. One 1999 Lancet study of 11 healthy, young men found that after just six days of sleeping for four hours a night, their insulin and blood sugar levels were similar to those of people on the verge of diabetes.
Cancer. Sleeping too little has been linked with an increased risk of breast and colon cancer. Why? Exposure to light at night can decrease levels of the hormone melatonin, which may protect against cancer. Some researchers think shift workers may be more likely to get breast cancer than other women because of their exposure to artificial light at night.
Obesity. Multiple studies show that chronic loss of sleep may increase the risk of obesity. One 2004 study showed that people who sleep five hours a night are 73% more likely to become obese than those who sleep seven to nine hours. Sleep loss may cause the hormones that control appetite to get out of balance.
Depression. Depression and sleep are closely linked: While depression can cause sleep loss, sleep loss can lead to depression. In fact, some researchers believe a cause of postpartum depression is sleep deprivation.
Infection. Recent studies show that being well rested improves the body’s ability to fight off infection. One 2002 JAMA study showed that men who were vaccinated for the flu after sleeping only four hours a night for six nights had less than half the flu-fighting antibodies of men who slept normally.
Accidents. You might not consider accidents a health risk. But there’s no denying a car crash can have a severe impact on your health. Lack of sleep may be the culprit in up to 20% of all serious auto accidents. And several high-profile disasters -- such as Chernobyl and the Exxon Valdez oil spill -- were caused, in part, by overtired workers.
Feel a lack of sleep doesn’t affect you that much? Don’t trust yourself. People who are chronically overtired often don’t realize it -- they’ve just gotten used to feeling that way.
Good Sleep Advice
The list of health problems above may be scary, but don’t let it keep you up at night. The health effects of sleeplessness seem to develop over a long time. The key is to make sleep more of a priority now. Talk to your doctor about ways to improve your behavior.
If you suspect you might have a sleep disorder -- such as chronic insomnia or sleep apnea -- you may require treatment, such as medications or a breathing machine.
Of course, getting enough sleep isn’t always easy. Part of the problem is that, as a culture, we don’t have much respect for sleep. While your co-workers will compliment you if you lose 10 pounds or run a marathon, they’re generally unimpressed by tales of extreme napping. You’ll just get pegged as lazy. We’re all supposed to aspire to be the early bird, the go-getter, the freak of nature who needs only four hours of sleep a night. “Unfortunately, going without sleep is still a badge of courage,” says Sateia. Experts say it’s time to change that. So take a stand for better health and forget the early bird. Maybe we could learn something from the sloth?
i found it here:
http://ivillagehealth.healthology.com/sl...
There are a lot of natural and safe alternatives to drugs to help you sleep.
There's Melatonin, L-Tryptophan, 5-HTP, Scullcap (an herb... it just sounds bad), L-Taurine, and Passionflower are all very popular to help people sleep naturally.
There's also things that are more for relaxation like Valerian, Chamomile, and Hops. but some people actually wake up when they take these and are just very relaxed.
Are you in a state where there is medical marijauna? If so, it's not addictive and it will help you sleep. Do you excersize? Excersizing 30 minutes a day will help regulate your sleep. You won't die from lack of sleep since your body gets enough sleep to regulate itself and you have no control over that. However, you lack of sleep will make you groggy and less alert. Try taking melatonin vitamins. That is the vitamin that your body secretes to make you tired and sleepy. If that doesn't work alone, try taking 2 melatonin with some extra sleepy time tea. You can buy that at your local store. Make sure to not watch t.v. in bed and make sure it is quiet and dark. Hope this helps. More than likely, you are suffering from insomnia which many people suffer from!
Go talk to your doctor.
Lack of sleep can be bad for your health, but the more you worry about that, the less you will sleep.
It sounds like since it's been years, you may want to try a sleeping pill. Try to find a non-habit forming one.
Lack of sleep is not good for your ability to lead a normal life. Early death? Only if you fall asleep at the wheel of your car possibly. I have taken diazepam for nearly 2 years and my quality of life has improved drastically, so if it's been that long, what's the harm in trying? Taken in the right dose and proper way is definitely not going to kill you! :)
Dude.if you have to take something to sleep there are a lot of alternative meds that are not addictive. If you are worried about dependency, stay away from the benzos (ativan, xanax, ambien---i think) because you can become dependent after a certain length of time. Please, go to the doctor and get help. Sleep is such an integral part of our lifestyle.
Sounds like you are worried about far more than sleep? Your fears are perpetuating the problem, causing you to worry and sleep less. It is a vicious cycle. You are worried about dying at a young age? Worry about not thinking clearly, worried about not having normal relationships, worried about medication, worried about not enjoying life, worried about your health?.
Maybe you have anxiety disorder? Go talk to your doc about your worries (they have heard everything under the sun) including your sleep and fears. He may give you an anti anxiety or antidepressant for a few months until you feel like your normal self again.
Sometimes the serotonin levels in our brain drop (they are responsible for creating feelings of normalcy and well being). There is nothing you can do to "will it" away. That's what the meds do; balance you out. I know that your body goes through cycles; I used to be on them for several years but now am off.
Once you get to feeling normal again, sleep will come naturally. Good luck!
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