Tuesday, February 23, 2010

3 Things You Don't Know About Sleep

By John Regan

There are a large number of common myths about sleep, but let's step away from those and bring three of the lesser known facts to light.

1. Snoring can be lethal

If you snore loudly, with choking sounds intermixed, you may suffer from sleep apnea. Many sufferers do not know that they in fact have sleep apnea - it's often their partners who identify their choking and loud snoring. Identification is as simple as a sleep study in which a doctor will monitor your blood oxygen levels over the course of the evening. For those who suffer, day time drowsiness are a usual identifying mark. If you feel that you meet the criteria outlined above, please check with a physician - corrective surgery, a mechanical device called a CPAP, or other forms of therapy may be warranted.

2. A lack of sleep can cause obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and depression

Sleep deprivation causes a wide assortment of diseases, from diabetes to obesity, through a complex set of mechanics. In diabetes, sleep regulates insulin production. Blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases are caused by elevated blood pressure, which too are regulated by sleep. Over eating can be a direct result of a lack of energy resulting from sleep deprivation. The good news is that you can prevent these long-term problems by recognizing the early signs that you aren't getting enough sleep, and increasing the amount of sleep you're getting until you feel well rested. But remember: the greater the "sleep debt" that you have, the longer it will take to recover.

3. Insomnia is more than just a condition causing a lack of sleep

The inability to fall asleep is only one of four of Insomnia's symptoms. The other three include waking frequently, waking prematurely and not being able to fall asleep, and waking drowsy. Insomnia can be causes by sleep disorders, as well as other psychological problems. If insomnia symptoms occur more than a few times a week, please consult with your physician.

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