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When Doing Nothing Becomes Everything
article by Cheri Henderson
Orlando Health Magazine 3/18/2021
In our perpetually wired, get-it-done world, it’s no surprise one in three people suffers sleep deprivation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What is surprising is how devastating sleep loss can be to overall health.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute links sleep deprivation to heart and kidney disease, obesity, high blood pressure, stroke and diabetes. Moreover, the National Institutes of Health credits sleep deprivation with poor decision-making and problem- solving as well as emotional instability, sometimes leading to depression and suicide.
Fatigue can have unintended deadly consequences. Drowsiness behind the wheel was responsible for 91,000 car crashes resulting in 795 deaths in 2017, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
“It is estimated that sleep-related problems affect 50 million to 70 million Americans of all ages and socioeconomic classes,” according to Dr. Navin Verma of Orlando Sleep Medicine Center.
“People are chronically sleep-deprived as a result of demanding lifestyles and a lack of education about the impact of sleep loss. Many people do not give themselves enough time to sleep.” Verma attributes some sleep deficiency to the use of electronic devices such as tablets and phones, which have been shown to suppress the production of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin.
The CDC recommends seven or more hours of sleep nightly for an average adult. The amount of sleep needed can vary depending on health and lifestyle, including activity levels—closer to seven hours for more sedentary people vs. eight to nine for physically active people whose bodies need recovery time. However, the NIH reports the average adult falls short of the goal. If you’re unable to get consistently good sleep, you may have an underlying condition that requires a sleep specialist, Verma says. Possible culprits “may include thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, sleep apnea and anxiety,” he says. “Sleep apnea disrupts normal breathing and normal sleep patterns,” which can result in chronic sleep deprivation, health problems and a lower quality of life, he adds.
Otis Negron of Sanford sought help from a sleep specialist because of his heavy snoring. A sleep study showed he “stopped breathing 214 times in an hour,” he says, showing he suffered from potentially deadly sleep apnea. His doctor prescribed a CPAP machine. “The first night of use, it was a total game-changer in my life,” Negron says. Immediately he felt relief from “the frequent headaches, being tired all the time, drowsiness and laziness. My overall health is better. I notice it.”
Like other areas of life, good sleep health requires mindfulness. Dr. Navin Verma recommends people take the following steps to ensure quality sleep:
Go to bed and get up at the same time every day, even on weekends and days off. Create a comfortable, quiet, clean, dark environment for sleeping. Ensure your bed and room temperature are comfortable. Establish a relaxing routine 10 to 60 minutes before bedtime and avoid dwelling on
stressful thoughts.
Use your bedroom for sleeping and sex only.
Exercise regularly, preferably six or more hours before bedtime.
Don’t take naps.
Avoid heavy meals and drinking large amounts of liquid shortly before bedtime.
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