"I realize now it was definitely the lack of sleep that was having a huge impact on my life."

As with all other health issues, it is heartening to see that it's not only apparent that "Sleep research has exploded in recent years as a result of busy lifestyles that have cut into sleep time." as noted in this article in the Globe and Mail, but that any differences between the sexes in this regard are also being explored. Women are harder hit than men when it comes to the impact of problems sleeping and the resulting health problems. It notes:

Researchers from the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., compared sleep patterns in a group of men and women and found that women who slept poorly had significantly higher levels of biomarkers that are associated with an increased risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Women who slept poorly were also much more likely to experience hostility, distress, depression and anger, according to the study.

The article does not go on to explain what might be the cause of this finding.

The title quote for this posting was also taken from the same article and I could not have said it better myself. Hopefully as sleep issues are being reported on by the press and other sources, those who have problems with sleep will be made aware they are not alone, and their options to try and address the problem; especially women.

Okay, so what's working and what's not...

I would boil down the strategies to deal with sleep problems (in my case staying asleep) to these three:

1) Good sleep hygiene
2) Control your environment
3) Drug assistance

For myself, I have been trying very hard to develop and maintain good sleep hygiene habits such as not taking naps, not lying in bed unless sleeping, not watching TV in bed, having a regular bedtime (this one's tough), and so forth. Although I can't say for sure this is helping, I know it is not hurting my overall goal of a better sleep.

As for environmental control, the temperature is lowered at night, the bed and pillow are comfortable, the room is dark and the house is normally pretty quiet (unless the wind comes roaring in and makes such a racket I need to relocate to the leeward side of the house :-) ). Again, mixed results as I have always done this though my efforts must be helping.

As for drug assistance, I did seek assistance from my doctor and have been trying a prescription which I believe, combined with the other two strategies, is helping me stay asleep more than I have in the past.

I am hoping that continuing to adjust my application of the above three strategies will improve the quality of my sleep in the long run. That is something I dream about.... :-)

Springing ahead to lose sleep

Spring ahead this weekend means we all lose an hours' sleep. Great, just great..... :-)

Wow, this is scary...

Apparently physicians are not getting enough sleep, according to this recent article from Science Daily. I have always wondered how wise it was to have someone performing such critical tasks for the health and well-being of our loved ones to be pushed to the limits like I understand still happens. I am not a doctor or even in the medical field and I am sure there are many reasons this is done, but I wonder if those reasons outweigh the risks they pose?

I found it quite interesting to read how those practices during their intense training and actual practice may desensitize those same doctors to the importance of sleep. How ironic as I am one of so many who have sought assistance from a doctor for sleep problems (and have no complaints about the help I have received to date I should note).

It is curious that the article notes the "chronic low-level sleep deprivation" experienced by physicians greatly reduces their complaints of insomnia and notes that few indicated this problem affects their work performance and where more indicated an impact in their family life. Family life, for the health of these same doctors, should be just as important as for the rest of us.

I wonder if, in a world where we (rightly in my opinion) limit the number of hours a truck driver, pilot and other such hardworking people can work in a row for safety reasons, society should look at the same concerns for the medical profession? I am fully aware that my effectiveness and performance is impacted when I feel tired and I do not even have a job where the health and well-being of a fellow human being relies on my performance.

National Sleep Awareness Week

Woohoo!!!! It's National Sleep Awareness Week in the United States this week, March 3 to March 9. What a great idea to further raise awareness about the importance of sleep for everyone, the impact if you don't have proper sleep habits/hygiene, and the work being done to help with sleep disorders.

Nothing but good can come from this :-)

Sleep in the headlines

It is nice to see that the issue of sleep, or lack thereof, seems to be coming to the forefront. Just today I saw a piece on NBC News about the quality of sleep and adults. This seems to be the result of a recent CDC study that many media outlets are reporting on right now. The National Sleep Foundation website is also referred to quite often and looks to be a great resource as well. It is wonderful to see all this focus on a problem which afflicts millions of people.

Another reason to look forward to retirement!!!

Although I am not wishing my life away there certainly are reasons I am looking forward to retirement, sleeping in being but just one :-)

I always thought living where I do now was some horrible mistake and that I was born to live in Hawaii. Happily this report from ABC News, which indicates that retirement and a better sleep seem to go together, also reinforces how Hawaii is a great place for getting more sleep!!! What a pleasant coincidence :-)

Its 22 minutes after midnight....

....do you know where your sleep is? As someone who does not take a good night's sleep for granted and who was awake at 00:22 AM this morning involuntarily, I have sympathy for those who suffer from sleep apnea. As I understand it, not only is someone who has sleep apnea not getting a good night's sleep, they are also in danger of developing other problems as well. I hope everyone who knows they have sleep apnea gets the required treatment, and those who suspect they might get immediate assistance to diagnose and treat that condition.

A theory on sleep from Down Under

I just finished reading this article written by an insominac from Down Under which outlines a theory regarding our sleep expectations today. It boils down to the suggestion that the eight hours of restful sleep is as much a creation of commercial interests (bed manufacturers, drug makers, and other sleep aid and therapy commercial interests) as anything else, and that a poor night's sleep was not uncommon in human history.

Although I do not doubt that insomnia, at any level, was not unknown to ancient civilizations, I still believe that problems sleeping is just one of the many effects of the modern age (caused by such things as electric light, our many distractions and demands on our lives, stress, pressure, and so forth) and has indeed increased over time.

The point made in the article is certainly well-made, however, that those having problems getting a good night's sleep have to be very wary of the solutions offered out there as so many do not even deliver on a temporary deliverance to the land of a sound and restful sleep.

Sleep and food

I just read this article about being careful about what you eat when before going to sleep. One of the concerns being Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) causing sleep disruption.

I am pretty sure that this has not been a problem for me but I do find if I eat some foods to close to bedtime I have an even greater problem getting any sort of good sleep that night.

Begs the question why I keep doing that on occasion.... :-)