When Sleep becomes a killer
Sleep disorders kill. Several studies have shown that, over a five or ten-year period, people who have poor sleep are more likely to die early than those who have good sleep. Furthermore, the best predictor of death in one group studied was the number of hours of sleep each person obtained: both too few and too many hours of sleep proved to be unhealthy.
One reason for this mortality rate is that disrupted sleep intensifies problems with the heart and circulation. Up to three times the normal rate of strokes and five times the normal rate of heart attacks occur in people with poor sleep. This is not just among the old or disabled; younger people are similarly affected.
Why does sleep, or lack of sleep, affect the heart and circulation in this way? First, many people have poor sleep because of breathing problems such as snoring or sleep apnoea. As we've discussed, these problems increase the blood pressure and damage the heart.
Secondly, sleep disruption is stressful and stress reactions take their toll. So even those who just sleep poorly, without breathing problems, may have higher cholesterol and blood-pressure levels than would otherwise be expected. Finally, when our sleep is disrupted we lose our restful, restorative eight hours a night. This is almost like growing older at up to one-and-a-half times the normal rate - probably as good a reason as any for sorting out your sleep before it's too late.
A recent Gallup poll in the United States showed that about a third of the population have problems with sleep. Only about one in five people has good, untainted sleep.
Who has never had insomnia ? For some it's a difficulty with falling asleep, for others staying asleep or getting back to sleep. It is the most common sleep problem and it affects about a third of us each year in some form or another. One in seven people has insomnia that is severe enough to affect their lives or health, and one in 11 has insomnia almost every night for more than six months at a time.
Women have insomnia more often than men, and poor people are more likely to have insomnia than rich people. It is a particular problem for those who have been abused, or who have suffered severe trauma. For some people it's a harmless but frustrating problem, for others it leads to poor health and a miserable life.
The second most common sleep disorder is insufficient sleep syndrome . Not only is this a recognised disorder, but many experts believe that almost all of us would do better with more sleep. We think here of mothers with small children, and busy professionals - but most schoolchildren, young professionals and elderly people also need more sleep.
About 10 per cent of men and 5 per cent of women have breathing problems while they sleep. These range from harmless light snoring to complete pauses in breathing, which are known as apnoeas. These pauses can last from a few seconds to a couple of minutes and, at worst, occur hundreds of times each hour. With each pause there is a partial or complete obstruction to breathing, leading to a drop in the oxygen content of the blood and hence to less oxygen reaching the brain. The body reacts quickly, slowing the heart and dropping the blood pressure.
As the obstruction is breached (often with a snort or a gasp from the sleeper), there is a short arousal as the heart races and the blood pressure rises in an attempt to restore oxygen supplies as quickly as possible.
One reason for this mortality rate is that disrupted sleep intensifies problems with the heart and circulation. Up to three times the normal rate of strokes and five times the normal rate of heart attacks occur in people with poor sleep. This is not just among the old or disabled; younger people are similarly affected.
Why does sleep, or lack of sleep, affect the heart and circulation in this way? First, many people have poor sleep because of breathing problems such as snoring or sleep apnoea. As we've discussed, these problems increase the blood pressure and damage the heart.
Secondly, sleep disruption is stressful and stress reactions take their toll. So even those who just sleep poorly, without breathing problems, may have higher cholesterol and blood-pressure levels than would otherwise be expected. Finally, when our sleep is disrupted we lose our restful, restorative eight hours a night. This is almost like growing older at up to one-and-a-half times the normal rate - probably as good a reason as any for sorting out your sleep before it's too late.
A recent Gallup poll in the United States showed that about a third of the population have problems with sleep. Only about one in five people has good, untainted sleep.
Who has never had insomnia ? For some it's a difficulty with falling asleep, for others staying asleep or getting back to sleep. It is the most common sleep problem and it affects about a third of us each year in some form or another. One in seven people has insomnia that is severe enough to affect their lives or health, and one in 11 has insomnia almost every night for more than six months at a time.
Women have insomnia more often than men, and poor people are more likely to have insomnia than rich people. It is a particular problem for those who have been abused, or who have suffered severe trauma. For some people it's a harmless but frustrating problem, for others it leads to poor health and a miserable life.
The second most common sleep disorder is insufficient sleep syndrome . Not only is this a recognised disorder, but many experts believe that almost all of us would do better with more sleep. We think here of mothers with small children, and busy professionals - but most schoolchildren, young professionals and elderly people also need more sleep.
About 10 per cent of men and 5 per cent of women have breathing problems while they sleep. These range from harmless light snoring to complete pauses in breathing, which are known as apnoeas. These pauses can last from a few seconds to a couple of minutes and, at worst, occur hundreds of times each hour. With each pause there is a partial or complete obstruction to breathing, leading to a drop in the oxygen content of the blood and hence to less oxygen reaching the brain. The body reacts quickly, slowing the heart and dropping the blood pressure.
As the obstruction is breached (often with a snort or a gasp from the sleeper), there is a short arousal as the heart races and the blood pressure rises in an attempt to restore oxygen supplies as quickly as possible.
University Gives Sleeping Classes
Glasgow University is to run a series of night classes for insomniacs, aimed at giving
people a greater understanding of why they have difficulty sleeping.
Clinical psychologists at the university's Sleep Research Laboratory will next month
launch the first night-school course in how to sleep using techniques that have
scored a high success rate.
Insomnia is a growing issue in the UK, where about 1m people regularly take sleeping
pills. Young professionals are prime sufferers, with long working hours and irregular sleep patterns acting as triggers.
"Nowadays, we see a lot of people with a stressed lifestyle," said Professor Colin Espie, author of Overcoming Insomnia and Sleep Problems and director of the university's sleep laboratory.
To read more sleep related topics and how zquiet works well for a lot of people you may refer to http://sleepsilproducciones.com/how-does-zquiet-work/.
"Epidemiological studies show that 8%-12% of the adult population have a diagnosis of a sleep disorder, and 20%-25% have a complaint about their sleep."
An insomniac, according to Marina Malaffo, who runs the course, is someone who takes more than 30 minutes to fall asleep or is awake for more than 30 minutes
during the night at least three or four times a week. If it lasts more than six months, it is deemed chronic.
Women are more prone to insomnia than men, as are those who suffer from anxiety.
Techniques delivered at the course will include getting out of bed if you take more than 30 minutes to fall asleep or are awake for more than 30 minutes during the night. Lie-ins are banned.
"We say, 'Don't do anything in bed apart from sleep and sex.' People who don't sleep well tend to do a lot of other things in bed. They eat, watch television or phone. It's important to re-establish the link between bed and sleep," says Malaffo.
However, a lack of awareness among health professionals means the signs of insomnia often go undetected. The need for a dedicated service is acute, says Espie, who has received 150 referrals from GPs in the past few months -despite the fact that his laboratory is for research only.
"It's well-nigh impossible to get even a basic diagnosis of a sleep disorder in Scotland," says Espie, who is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. "We're miles behind the USA in this.
It's frustrating when you know you've got cost-effective ways you can help people."
You can also read improve your sleep for more health and sleep related discussion.
people a greater understanding of why they have difficulty sleeping.
Clinical psychologists at the university's Sleep Research Laboratory will next month
launch the first night-school course in how to sleep using techniques that have
scored a high success rate.
Insomnia is a growing issue in the UK, where about 1m people regularly take sleeping
pills. Young professionals are prime sufferers, with long working hours and irregular sleep patterns acting as triggers.
"Nowadays, we see a lot of people with a stressed lifestyle," said Professor Colin Espie, author of Overcoming Insomnia and Sleep Problems and director of the university's sleep laboratory.
To read more sleep related topics and how zquiet works well for a lot of people you may refer to http://sleepsilproducciones.com/how-does-zquiet-work/.
"Epidemiological studies show that 8%-12% of the adult population have a diagnosis of a sleep disorder, and 20%-25% have a complaint about their sleep."
An insomniac, according to Marina Malaffo, who runs the course, is someone who takes more than 30 minutes to fall asleep or is awake for more than 30 minutes
during the night at least three or four times a week. If it lasts more than six months, it is deemed chronic.
Women are more prone to insomnia than men, as are those who suffer from anxiety.
Techniques delivered at the course will include getting out of bed if you take more than 30 minutes to fall asleep or are awake for more than 30 minutes during the night. Lie-ins are banned.
"We say, 'Don't do anything in bed apart from sleep and sex.' People who don't sleep well tend to do a lot of other things in bed. They eat, watch television or phone. It's important to re-establish the link between bed and sleep," says Malaffo.
However, a lack of awareness among health professionals means the signs of insomnia often go undetected. The need for a dedicated service is acute, says Espie, who has received 150 referrals from GPs in the past few months -despite the fact that his laboratory is for research only.
"It's well-nigh impossible to get even a basic diagnosis of a sleep disorder in Scotland," says Espie, who is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. "We're miles behind the USA in this.
It's frustrating when you know you've got cost-effective ways you can help people."
You can also read improve your sleep for more health and sleep related discussion.