


Sleep Is Required


As most of us have experienced, missing out on even one good nightï¿½s sleep can compromise energy, productivity, creativity and focus ï¿½ itï¿½s tough to maintain clarity and a good attitude when we canï¿½t even keep our eyes open. However, when one sleepless night snowballs into one night after the other, the consequences can be much more serious than a bobbing head. Chronic sleep deprivation can contribute to a plethora of health issues, such as obesity, delay of healing and premature aging.

Sleep is our bodiesï¿½ natural cycle for healing and recuperation from illness and injury, so itï¿½s no surprise that one of the common threads connecting many of the longest-lived people on the planet is rest and sleep, and plenty of it.

Many of the benefits and detriments of sleep, and lack thereof, relate to common sense. However, there are some misconceptions about rest that could be dangerous to your health. Letï¿½s open our eyes to the top nine sleep myths.

Myth #1: ï¿½Sleeping inï¿½ on the weekends is good for your health.

Fact: Do you ever sing the ï¿½Monday Morning Bluesï¿½ ï¿½ perhaps more than just occasionally? The luxurious ï¿½sleeping inï¿½ on the weekends is partly responsible for those blues. Your body thrives on routine, especially when it comes to sleep cycles. If you get up at 6:00 AM during the week, then your body is happiest if you get up at 6:00 AM on Saturdays and Sundays as well.



Fact: Snoring may be harmless, but it can also be a symptom of a life-threatening sleep disorder called ï¿½sleep apneaï¿½, especially if it is accompanied by severe daytime sleepiness. Sleep apnea, or pauses in breathing while sleeping, prevents air flow, reduces oxygen levels and strains the heart and cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. People with sleep apnea awaken frequently during the night and fall asleep easily during the day, and being overweight is a common cause of sleep apnea.

Solution: Weight loss is critical. If you suspect sleep apnea, get it checked out. It is often treatable, and newer medical advancements can assist in helping you get a good nightï¿½s sleep.

Myth #3: You can ï¿½cheatï¿½ on the amount of sleep you get.

Fact: When we donï¿½t get adequate sleep, we accumulate a sleep ï¿½debtï¿½ that can be difficult to ï¿½pay back.ï¿½ The result is sleep deprivation, which contributes to obesity, high blood pressure, mood swings and safety issues in the home, on the job and on the road.


Myth #4: Insomnia means difficulty falling asleep.


Solution: Daily exercise, loading up on lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and avoiding or eliminating stimulants from the diet, such as caffeine, chocolate and refined sugar. When insomnia symptoms occur more than a few times a week and impact a personï¿½s daily life, the symptoms should be discussed with the appropriate healthcare provider.

Myth #5: Daytime sleepiness results from inadequate nighttime sleep.

Fact: Excessive daytime drowsiness, even after a good nightï¿½s sleep, can be a sign of sleep apnea or narcolepsy. Daytime sleepiness can be dangerous, as it increases the risk of falling asleep at the wheel and other injuries, and it decreases the function of the immune system, creating an environment in the body ripe for acute infections, illnesses and chronic diseases.


Myth #6: Health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and depression, are unrelated to the quantity and quality of a personï¿½s sleep.

Fact: Studies have found a direct relationship between sleep and many health problems. Getting a good nightï¿½s sleep is critical for consistent weight loss and control. Sleeping allows our bodies and metabolism to work more efficiently, and the more efficiently our metabolism works, the more efficiently our bodies can expend calories ï¿½ and maximum burning of calories is critical to dropping the pounds. Additionally, sleep creates energy to use for daily movement and exercise, and the more we exercise, the better we sleep, so exercise and sleep work together to help shed those layers. Also, insufficient sleep affects the quantity of growth hormone secretion linked to obesity. As the amount of hormone secretion decreases, the chance for weight gain increases. Furthermore, blood pressure usually falls during the sleep cycle, but interrupted sleep can adversely affect this normal decline, leading to hypertension and cardiovascular problems. Finally, a lack of sleep impairs the bodyï¿½s ability to use insulin, leading to the onset of Type 2 diabetes.

Solution: Lose weight and add lots of fresh fruits and vegetables while avoiding fat- and calorie-loaded foods, such as meat, cheese, added oils, white sugar and flour products. Donï¿½t forget about getting enough daily exercise, and eliminate stimulants, such as coffee, chocolate and sweets from your diet.



Solution: Building healthy, lifelong habits is a must to getting a good nightï¿½s sleep and enjoying life as a senior. Daily walking, deep-breathing and stretching exercises, spending time with family and friends, jumping into a hobby, eating the best-for-you foods and avoiding the bad-for-you foods can all contribute to a good nightï¿½s sleep. Napping in the very early afternoon interferes with nighttime sleep less than later naps. Getting down to ideal body weight can be paramount in getting enough sleep rest.

Myth #8: During sleep, your brain rests.

Fact: The body rests during sleep, but the brain remains active and gets ï¿½recharged.ï¿½ During sleep, you drift between two sleep states, REM (rapid eye movement) and non-REM, in 90-minute cycles. Non-REM sleep, when our minds can still process information, has four stages with distinct features, ranging from stage one drowsiness, when one can be easily awakened, to ï¿½deep sleepï¿½ stages three and four, when the most positive and restorative effects of sleep occur. REM sleep is an active sleep where dreams occur and eyes move back and forth under the eyelids.




Your beauty rest goes beyond just looks, although who likes dark circles and bags under the eyes from a lack of sleep? Adequate sleep is one of the best energy chargers, health heroes and disease warriors. Be mindful of the quality and quantity of rest you get, and build habits that are conducive to better sleep. If a consistent good nightï¿½s sleep still eludes you, then seek help from the appropriate healthcare physician.

Narinder Duggal, MD, is a clinical pharmacy specialist and internist, and she is the medical director of Liberty Bay Internal Medicine. With multiple degrees and specializations, Dr. Duggalï¿½s expertise includes geriatrics, diabetes, addiction, hypertension, weight loss and integrated medicine. For more information, please call 360.779.9911 or email Narinderduggal@libertybayim.com.

Dr. Leslie Van Romer is a doctor of chiropractics and an author and expert in weight loss and the prevention of diabetes, breast cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, fatigue and premature aging. She empowers people to lose weight and boost self-esteem, energy and health with doable food and lifestyle choices. She partners with Dr. Duggal to create the unique team, ï¿½MD/DC Connect: The Med-Free Solution.ï¿½ For more information, please visit www.drleslievanromer.com or call 888.375.3754.

