January 21st, 2009

Lack of Sleep May Make You Sick

According to a new Carnegie Mellon University study. People who sleep fewer than seven hours a night are nearly three times as likely to get a cold than people who average eight or more hours of sleep, the study found.

For people who wake up periodically or have trouble falling asleep, the news is even worse. Study subjects who missed out on shuteye for as little as 8 percent of the time they were laying in bed were five-and-a-half times more likely to get the sniffles than those who slept throughout the night.

Full Article: Carnegie Mellon University

Dr. Wegmann

Dr. Michael Wegmann's Thoughts:

drmike

Not sleeping well is miserable. Many factors can affect a persons ability to get a good night's rest; such as obesity, excessive carbohydrates before bed, and spinal irritation. The University of Chicago Medical Center showed that sleep deprivation severely affects the human body's ability to metabolize glucose, which can lead to early-stage Diabetes Type 2.[1]

Several large studies using nationally representative samples suggest that the obesity problem the United States might have as one of its causes a corresponding decrease in the average number of hours that people are sleeping.[2] The findings suggest that this might be happening because sleep deprivation could be disrupting hormones that regulate glucose metabolism and appetite.[3] The association between sleep deprivation and obesity appears to be strongest in young and middle-age adults. Other scientists hold that the physical discomfort of obesity and related problems, such as sleep apnea, reduce an individual's chances of getting a good night's sleep.

A 2003 Universtity of California study found that REM sleep deprivation alleviates clinical depression. Although the mechanism is unclear it is suggested that the deprivation mimics the effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). However, the study also indicated that REM sleep was essential for blocking neurotransmitters and allowing the neurotransmitter receptors to "rest" and regain sensitivity which in turn leads to improved regulation of mood and increased learning ability. Non REM sleep may allow enzymes to repair brain cell damage caused by free radicals. High metabolic activity while awake damages the enzymes themselves preventing efficient repair. The study observed the first evidence of brain damage in rats as a direct result of sleep deprivation.[4]

I have a great quote that reads "early to bed, early to rise, work like heck, and advertise." I typically shoot for 8 hours of rest a night. This amount allows me to function well the next day.

1. Daniel J. Gottlieb, et al. Association of Sleep Time With Diabetes Mellitus and Impaired Glucose Tolerance. Arch Intern Med. Vol. 165 No. 8 2005; 165:
2. Does the lack of sleep make you fat? Bristol University Press Release, December 7, 2004
3.Sleep as a mediator of the relationship between socioeconomic status and health: a hypothesis, Ann N Y Acad Sci., 896:254-61 1999
4.Siegel, Jerome M. (November, 2003). "Why We Sleep". Scientific American.

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