It doesn’t matter who we are or what our lot is in life, we all have something in common. We want to live the best life that we possibly can, including plenty of happiness and good health from a young age until we are quite old. That is why many people will continue to search for solutions when they experience problems in life or to keep from experiencing them in the first place.
One of the problems that many of us face in life is a lack of sleep. Although we may enjoy sleeping and the relaxing experience that goes along with it, it is often looked at as being a nonessential activity. In reality, getting the sleep that we need every night is absolutely essential because it helps us to recharge our batteries and relieve some of the stress that we may have been experiencing during the waking hours. There are many things that go on while we sleep, including building our memories from the earlier day and repairing the body from the inside out.
When we don’t get the sleep that we need, none of the benefits have the opportunity to take place. We often have a difficulty concentrating or we may wake up feeling cranky in the morning and if we have an extended amount of sleep deprivation, it could actually result in some serious health consequences. This is backed up by research that has looked into what happens when we don’t get enough sleep every night.
One of the things that many studies find a lack of sleep causes is serious health conditions, some of which can be life-threatening. What exactly are the issues that could occur when we are lacking sleep?
1. Alzheimer’s – According to a Johns Hopkins study in 2013, a lack of sleep can increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease and can impact how quickly the disease progresses. It was discovered that sleep is needed to remove cerebral waste from the brain. A build up of that waste can lead to dementia.
The study involved 70 adults, between the ages of 53 and 91. Those who reported not sleeping enough every night had a greater amount of beta-amyloid deposition in their brains. This compound is a marker for Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Obesity and diabetes – It has often been said that a lack of sleep can lead to diabetes but researchers at the University of Chicago have now proven it. They showed that a lack of sleep can lead to obesity and a problem with diabetes. They looked at the fatty acid levels within the blood, because it impacts the metabolism and the ability of the body to regulate blood sugar.
The study looked at 19 men and their sleeping patterns. They found that those who only slept four hours per night for a period of three nights had a higher level of fatty acids in the blood between 4 and 9 AM. It was much higher than those who got over eight hours of sleep every night. The lack of sleep also resulted in a degree of higher insulin resistance, something that is associated with prediabetes.
3. Cardiovascular disease – Poor sleep has often been associated with cardiovascular disease but a recent study has shown greater evidence of that fact. It followed 657 Russian men between 25 and 64 years of age. After following them for 14 years, they found that those who had a heart attack also had a sleep disorder.
In addition, the men who had sleep disorders were 2.6 times more likely to have a myocardial infraction (heart attack) and were at a higher risk of stroke.
4. Suicide – According to a 2014 study, a higher incidence of suicide is associated with adults who have poor sleep. What is more, a history of depression was not a marker in the study. The study was conducted by the Stanford University of medicine and involved 420 participants. 20 of those participants who had poor sleep committed suicide. Researchers were able to conclude that those who had sleeping difficulties were 1.4 times more likely to commit suicide.
The individuals who were more likely to have this difficulty were white males 85 years of age or older. Ultimately, the study claimed that suicide was associated with sleep deprivation along with stress and health problems associated with age.
5. Ulcerative colitis – According to a 2014 study at the Massachusetts General Hospital, ulcerative colitis may be associated with poor sleep. The study found that the risk of ulcerative colitis increased as the individual experienced less and less sleep per night. They found that those who had six hours or less of sleep are at an increased risk, but they also found that those who slept more than nine hours per night were also at risk.
According to the study, there may be a narrow window for stopping digestive inflammation that is associated with just the right amount of sleep.
6. Prostate cancer – According to a 2013 study, men who got less sleep are at increased risk for prostate cancer. It involved 2,425 Icelandic men between 67 96 years of age. The study was conducted over the course of seven years. Men who had a difficulty falling asleep were 60% more likely to develop prostate cancer. When a man had a difficulty staying asleep, that number doubled.
The study attributed the link between sleep and prostate cancer to melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep. Higher levels of melatonin have been found to suppress tumour growth but low levels of melatonin can lead to aggressive tumour growth.
Via: The Hearty Soul
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