Care For Your Sleep

Archive for September, 2010

Specialists at the Penn State College of Medicine, Pennsylvania, have found out that it is much harder for today’s men to cope with chronic insomnia and other sleep disorders than it is for modern women. In particular, the researchers are convinced that those men who suffer from chronic insomnia or any other type of chronic sleep deprivation are more likely to have increased risks of premature death than those men who have regular sufficient and healthy sleep.  At the same time, women can manage with a prolonged sleep deprivation without any decrease in their life expectancy, the researchers say.

The study lasted for about 20 years and involved about 1000 female and 740 male participants. The researchers thoroughly analyzed sleep routine and sleep patterns of the participants, including monitoring night sleeps of the individuals in the scientific labs. For the period of the research, 4% of men and 8% of women were diagnosed as insomniacs, and their sleep routine was defined as sleeping less than 6 hours a day.

Within the period of the last 14 years, it turned out that the men with chronic insomnia had more chances to die in early ages, but women demonstrated no such tendency. This is the first study which found scientific evidence for the  increased risks of premature death in men who suffer from chronic insomnia.

According to the scientists, the risks of premature death increase immensely when in addition to suffering from chronic insomnia men also have diabetes and suffer from a high blood pressure. Dr Alexandros Vgontzas comments on the results of this research as the following: “The primary finding of our study is that insomnia, the most common sleep disorder, is associated with significant mortality in men. We believe that cumulatively these findings will increase the awareness among physicians and scientists that insomnia should be diagnosed early and treated appropriately.” Read more about this interesting research in the medical journal Sleep.

It is quite common for young people to have regular lack of sleep. Endless late night parties, TV shows, movies and other activities steal their time necessary for rest and sleeping. As a result many young people of our time sleep less than 5 hours a day. Isn’t this harmful? Sure it is, and recently scientists have found out that a regular lack of sleep is linked to not only weakened immune system, lower productivity and mood swings. A regular lack of sleep can also become a reason of serious mental disorders and disturbances.

A group of Australian specialists leaded by Nicholas Glozier from the University of Sydney started their study in order to find an answer to the question why the increase in mental disorders and illnesses among today’s young people started taking place. The research involved a year long observation of about 20,000 young people aged 17-24, who slept more and less then 5 hours a day. It turned out that those who have a regular lack of sleep had about 14% increased risks of having distresses and mental instabilities.

“Sleep disturbance and in particular insomnia is a predictor of later development of depression and possibly anxiety,” Glozier commented to Australian press. In addition, the scientists found out that late night using of Internet are among the leading causes of insomnia in young people. Glozier says: “Large numbers of my patients are on Facebook or the internet or massive multiplayer games until one or two in the morning but are having to get up at 7am.” As a reaction on such daily routine, nothing else but headaches, body clock problems, mood swings, depressions and other imbalances start taking place.