poor Sleep!!!!
19:20 Dec 31 2011
Times Read: 915
Poor sleep and your health.
Well my dear Vampires, In most cases, making the connection between sleep and your ability to function the next night is relatively simple. Poor sleep can lead to impaired function and a moody disposition. However, lack of sleep, especially on a regular basis, has greater health implications that we tend to realize. In a summary prepared by Harvard University, several studies were examined to learn the link between poor sleep habits and risk for disease. Here are some of the findings:
Obesity
Several studies link insufficient sleep and weight gain. Particularly, people who habitually sleep less than 6 hours a day are more likely to have a higher BMI than those who sleep 8 hours. Hormones that help control appetite, energy metabolism, and glucose processing are secreted during sleep. Too little sleep can cause an imbalance in the secretion of these hormones. For example, studies have found that poor sleep leads to an increase in the “stress hormone” cortisol, an increase in the release of insulin, which regulates blood sugar,reduced levels of leptin, which alerts the brain that enough food has been consumed, and increased levels of
ghrelin, which stimulates appetite.
Diabetes
Because your body’s ability to efficiently process insulin is compromised by poor sleep habits, this can lead to type 2 diabetes. One study found that subjects who reduced their sleep time from 8 to 4 hours per night processed glucose at a slower rate than those who were allowed to sleep for 12 hours. Moreover, numerous epidemiological studies have demonstrated that adults who sleep less than 5 hours per night increase their risk for developing diabetes.
Heart disease and hypertension
Studies have found that a single night of poor sleep among people with existing hypertension (high blood
pressure) can cause elevated blood pressure throughout the next day. Sleep apnea sufferers also experience brief surges in blood pressure each time they wake up, which can lead to hypertension. In many cases, once sleep apnea is treated, blood pressure also goes down.
Mood disorders
Chronic sleep orders have also been linked with depression, anxiety, and mental distress. One study found that people who slept four-and-a-half hours per night reported feeling more stressed, sad, angry, and mentally exhausted.
Immune function
Studies have found that those who slept more are better able to fight infections than those who slept less.
Alcohol
Alcohol first acts as a mild sleep sedative; however, after a few hours of being processed by the body it starts to stimulate parts of the brain that cause arousal and can cause many sleep disturbances.
Life expectancy
Three large studies showed that sleeping five hours or less per night increased mortality risk from all causes by 15 percent. Most people don’t discuss sleep patterns with their physicians and often physicians don’t ask. Awareness and communication are critical. So, Sleep better and feel better, and for sure, you will enjoy your eternal life to the fulness.
Source: www. healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy
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