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If You Don’t Snooze, You Lose: The Importance of Sleep

Posted November 29, 2007 at 01:30 PM by Lisa Cieplechowicz

Section: In The News, His Health, Mental Health, Physical Health, Lifestyle Health

man sleepingSleep - it’s one of our nation’s favorite pastimes.  Sometimes nothing feels better than throwing a blanket over yourself, burying your face in your pillow, and settling down for a nice, long slumber.  But as enjoyable as this nocturnal activity is, millions of Americans are seriously missing out on the fun.

Over 60 million individuals in our society suffer from some type of sleeping disorder, and more than half of these people are men.  Unfortunately, lack of sleep can have a myriad of consequences on our minds and bodies. 

Consequently, it’s probably not a bad idea to learn a little more about sleep and how it ultimately affects our well-being.  Men’s Health recently addressed this topic of concern in depth and what follows is a brief highlight of their research.

America: The Sleepless Nation: As eluded to before, Americans seem to be having trouble getting a good nights rest.  According to The Sleeping Disorders Center website, approximately 40 millions U.S. citizens suffer from chronic long term sleep disorders and another 20 million fall victim to the occasional sleeping disorder. 

So what are we doing to replace those hours of sleep many of us lose each night?  The 2003 American Time Use Survey indicates that instead of sleeping we spend extra time on work, commutes, and entertainment.

Consequences of Sleepless Nights: Let’s start of with the most obvious first.  The less sleep you get, the more tired you’ll be, which seems a bit obvious. But there’s a bit more to it than that.  For starters, when you sacrifice sleep you also sacrifice your energy levels, sociability, efficiency, and emotional states. 

Dr. William Killgore from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research says that when we lose out on sleep we have less emotional flexibility and we reduce our ability to make effective decisions. 

sleep learning Further, researchers speculate that people who sleep less are more gain weight than those who enjoy a full night’s rest.  EMedicine.com, says lack of sleep can even lead to increased risks of depression, anxiety, and motor vehicle crashes. 

Furthermore, studies have also linked loss of sleep to inflammation, which essentially means that your heart is in danger.  Clearly, losing out on sleep is not something the average guy can afford to have happen on a regular basis.

Tips and Treatments: Men’s Health advocates the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to effectively combat bouts of insomnia and much research supports this treatment option. 

For instance, by avoiding caffeine, alcohol and intense excitement before bed, you greatly increase your chances of having a decent night’s sleep.  Even something as simple as waiting until you’re actually tired to go to bed turns out to be a solid strategy for regaining your ability to sleep well. 

The National Sleep Foundation further recommends cutting down on naps - you may feel like you’re making up for lost sleep this way, but you’re actually reducing your chances for a full night’s sleep later on. 

Men’s Health also mentions the idea that we need to stop worrying about sleep.  The more we worry about our ability to fall asleep, the more likely it is that we’ll be spending the night staring at the cracks in the ceiling.  Of course, when all else fails, consult your physician to determine the best steps to take to regain healthy sleeping patterns.

It comes down to this - sleep is a luxury we can’t afford to lose.  Your health and happiness are at stake, so it’s best to deal with cases of insomnia when they first start.  By learning the proper techniques and taking on the right mindset, you’ll be dreaming the night away before you know it.

To read more about one Men’s Health author’s struggle with sleepless nights, click here: [Men’s Health]

Research sources and for more information: [National Sleep Foundation], [eMedicine.com], [Sleep Disorders Center]; [picture1]; [picture2]

14 comments, add yours | Permalink | Share this article
Tags: cognitive behavioral therapy, dr. william killgore, emotional stability, emotions, energy, health, insomnia, men, natinoal sleep foundation, sleep, sleeping disorder, the sleeping disorders center, walter reed army of research

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14 Responses to “If You Don’t Snooze, You Lose: The Importance of Sleep” (Leave a reply)
  1. post traumatic stress disorder from romania said:

    The 2003 American Time Use Survey indicates that instead of sleeping we spend extra time on work, commutes, and entertainment.

    January 22, 2008 at 04:23 AM
  2. Drug rehab said:

    There are some tricks insomniacs can consider. It is said that the bedroom should not be associated to other activities. If you can’t fall asleep go work in another room for 20 minutes or so and then return and try to sleep. Another thing is related to light. Bright light right before going to sleep keeps the brain agitated.

    February 13, 2008 at 10:34 PM
  3. Luxury home plans said:

    It is a familiar phrase: Get a good night’s sleep and you’ll feel better in the morning. When we get enough sleep we feel refreshed. We feel ready to face the new day. We perform better during the day.We are healthier. We even look better!

    February 19, 2008 at 11:33 AM
  4. myrtle beach realtors from around said:

    Many people do not think of sleep deprivation as of something serious.Sleep deprivation causes emotional disturbances in people. It may also lead to aggressiveness, apathy.

    March 24, 2008 at 04:52 AM
  5. Natural Insomnia Cure said:

    Gr8 article! Very valuable information on how important is sleep in our life. Really, sleep is a luxury we cannot afford to lose. You lose your sleep indirectly your cause problems for your own health and mind. Sleep well and be well...:)

    April 16, 2008 at 05:49 AM
  6. Drug Treatment said:

    I was once addicted to MuOnline playing and sleepless nights were something common until one day when I decided to give up on the game because I was starting to fade away…

    June 10, 2008 at 10:17 AM
  7. masini bucuresti from around said:

    Sleep is tremendously important for us. We are in need of sleep as much as we are in need of oxygen. Sleep is capable of working wonders: it increases one’s work efficiency, extends one’s lifespan, cures illnesses. One should not deprive him/herself of sleep.

    July 10, 2008 at 12:22 PM
  8. Adjustable Beds said:

    Sleep is not only important for the energetic problems, but for solving your psychological problems as well… Sleep is also a methos or releasing pressure from within so you better sleep.

    September 9, 2008 at 04:04 PM
  9. tuckerturner from California said:

    I cant stress how important sleep is to your body. It comes down to needing to be functioning as a human, not so much for your self but for those around you. You boss expects you to be on top of your game and so do the people who surround you. This lack of sleep effects what they listed amongst other things. Thus sleep must be recognized as a very important part of life. I have heard my professors tell me I can sleep when I’m dead. This was ultimately the almost certain outcome of not sleeping. Recognize the importance of sleep and then, of course, sleep.

    Tucker
    Narconon Vista Bay

    February 15, 2009 at 02:59 PM
  10. 642-812 exam said:

    Very good written article.Industrialism and over time are very harmful.When we spend more time on work then we reduced our sleeping time which is not good for our health.My cousin who is a teacher of 640-721 exam always advice us to sleep well.Whenever he observed students are sleeping in 70-640 exam class he noticed this thing.

    July 4, 2009 at 08:58 AM
  11. BOK - duration of contageon of acute bronchitis from US said:

    Mi dispiace, ma, a mio parere, si fanno errori. Scrivere a me in PM, parlare.

    September 29, 2009 at 10:40 AM
  12. Good Night Sleep from london said:

    Hello guys!

    Sleeping is must and good medicine body and especially mind relaczation and Maintain regular bedtime routine. Try to go to bed at the same time and get up in the morning at the same time. Keeping a regular schedule helps the body expect sleep at the same time every day.Remove any distractions from the bedroom. The room should be comfortable and neat.
    < ahref="http://www.healthwatchcenter.com/2008/01/101-sure-fire-ways-to-get-a-good-night-sleep/">Good Night Sleep</a>

    October 10, 2009 at 08:46 AM
  13. Good Night Sleep said:

    Over-the-counter sleeping pills can be helpful in the short term, although doctors warn that they should not be used on a regular basis. Some people turn to alcohol to help them sleep better, however, drinking alcohol within six hours of going to sleep can actually be counterproductive.  Alcohol often has a “rebound effect” that causes individuals to wake up in the middle of the night or too early to get a good night’s sleep.
    Good Night Sleep

    October 16, 2009 at 04:22 AM
  14. buy sleeping pills online said:

    There is a natural remedy pill called Melatonin you can buy it at any store, and now they have extended release which keeps you asleep.My 15 yr old takes it at night. Im not sure about a caffeine pill, but try the Melatonin for sleep
    buy sleeping pills online

    November 20, 2009 at 07:20 AM
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