Too Much of a Good Thing Sleep?
Most people with a sleep problem complain that they do not get enough sleep. It is the difficulty in falling asleep or in staying asleep that occupies their minds. The combination of stress and being over weight is a major cause of sleep problems.
As people age, the level of melatonin naturally produced by the body begins to decrease, doing its bit to add to the aging process. According to sleep related studies, taking a melatonin supplement on a regular basis is a good thing - if you are over 50.
This excerpt from a report at
http://www.smart-publications.com/sleeping_disorders/melatonin.php
Scientists know that sleep is as important as food and air, and the quantity and quality an individual gets is also extremely important. Six and one-half to seven hours of uninterrupted sleep seem to be the magic number for a lot of people. Interestingly, research shows that sleeping more than eight hours may have deleterious effects, although the reasons for this are less clear. According to data from the Cancer Prevention Study II, individuals who average seven hours of sleep each night have a lower mortality rate than do those who sleep eight hours or more.
Specifically, he said, individuals who slept eight hours per night were 12% more likely to die within six years than were those who slept seven hours. The highest mortality rates occurred among men and women who slept more than eight and one-half hours. This group had at least a 15% increased risk of death, said Dr. Kripke. As for short sleep, men who slept less than four and one-half hours and women who slept less than three and one-half hours also had at least a 15% increased risk of death. Dr. Kripke presented his findings at the 16th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies
Although melatonin hasn’t been called a rejuvenating supplement—yet—it appears that it can be significantly beneficial to the elderly and to the aging process for these reasons:
1. The amount of melatonin that is secreted by the pineal gland falls gradually over one’s lifetime.
2. Melatonin was recently discovered to be a potent antioxidant and oxidative stress is believed to be a contributor to aging, as well as to age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson diseases.
3. Melatonin is naturally produced by the body as a sleep-inducing agent, and its reduced concentrations may result in insomnia and/or sleep disturbances, which are very often associated with advancing age.
4. Melatonin is a natural immune enhancer, and as we age the immune system seems to work less efficiently.
Melatonin can be purchased from your local health food store, online, every drug store and the grocery store. The secret is to discover just how much you need. The standard dosages vary. The effects vary. I know one young man that takes melatonin as a type of speed because that is how it works for him. A different dosage would definitely be in order.
It will be a trial and error period for you. Start with the lowest dosage and work up until you get that perfect 6 1/2 - 7 hour sleep period. Remember that when you take it is just as important as how much.
And if you are one of those people that sleep too much, wake up. Literally this could be the turning point of your health. If depression or boredom is keeping you in that bed then it is time to realize that life is for the living moving creatures. Get some help from your doctor, friends, family, church - something to give you a reason to get up and get moving.
You can break this vicious cycle. You are too tired to exercise, but you need exercise to have energy. You are too tired to get up, but you stayed up until 2am watching TV. You want to lose weight but keep munching because you are up so late. You can't stay asleep because your stomach is too full.
Just pick a place to break the circle. Pick right now when you are reading this. Pick today to make the small changes that will have a dramatic impact on your life.
*****
I am not sure about this joke. A sign of times most certainly.
MOSES & THE RED SEA
Nine-year-old Joey, was asked by his mother what he had learned in
Sunday school.
"Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines
on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the
Red Sea, he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked
across safely. Then, he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They
sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved."
"Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?" his mother asked.
"Well, no, Mom. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!
until next time - smile
Sharon
(c)Answers For Your Health
As people age, the level of melatonin naturally produced by the body begins to decrease, doing its bit to add to the aging process. According to sleep related studies, taking a melatonin supplement on a regular basis is a good thing - if you are over 50.
This excerpt from a report at
http://www.smart-publications.com/sleeping_disorders/melatonin.php
Scientists know that sleep is as important as food and air, and the quantity and quality an individual gets is also extremely important. Six and one-half to seven hours of uninterrupted sleep seem to be the magic number for a lot of people. Interestingly, research shows that sleeping more than eight hours may have deleterious effects, although the reasons for this are less clear. According to data from the Cancer Prevention Study II, individuals who average seven hours of sleep each night have a lower mortality rate than do those who sleep eight hours or more.
Specifically, he said, individuals who slept eight hours per night were 12% more likely to die within six years than were those who slept seven hours. The highest mortality rates occurred among men and women who slept more than eight and one-half hours. This group had at least a 15% increased risk of death, said Dr. Kripke. As for short sleep, men who slept less than four and one-half hours and women who slept less than three and one-half hours also had at least a 15% increased risk of death. Dr. Kripke presented his findings at the 16th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies
Although melatonin hasn’t been called a rejuvenating supplement—yet—it appears that it can be significantly beneficial to the elderly and to the aging process for these reasons:
1. The amount of melatonin that is secreted by the pineal gland falls gradually over one’s lifetime.
2. Melatonin was recently discovered to be a potent antioxidant and oxidative stress is believed to be a contributor to aging, as well as to age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson diseases.
3. Melatonin is naturally produced by the body as a sleep-inducing agent, and its reduced concentrations may result in insomnia and/or sleep disturbances, which are very often associated with advancing age.
4. Melatonin is a natural immune enhancer, and as we age the immune system seems to work less efficiently.
Melatonin can be purchased from your local health food store, online, every drug store and the grocery store. The secret is to discover just how much you need. The standard dosages vary. The effects vary. I know one young man that takes melatonin as a type of speed because that is how it works for him. A different dosage would definitely be in order.
It will be a trial and error period for you. Start with the lowest dosage and work up until you get that perfect 6 1/2 - 7 hour sleep period. Remember that when you take it is just as important as how much.
And if you are one of those people that sleep too much, wake up. Literally this could be the turning point of your health. If depression or boredom is keeping you in that bed then it is time to realize that life is for the living moving creatures. Get some help from your doctor, friends, family, church - something to give you a reason to get up and get moving.
You can break this vicious cycle. You are too tired to exercise, but you need exercise to have energy. You are too tired to get up, but you stayed up until 2am watching TV. You want to lose weight but keep munching because you are up so late. You can't stay asleep because your stomach is too full.
Just pick a place to break the circle. Pick right now when you are reading this. Pick today to make the small changes that will have a dramatic impact on your life.
*****
I am not sure about this joke. A sign of times most certainly.
MOSES & THE RED SEA
Nine-year-old Joey, was asked by his mother what he had learned in
Sunday school.
"Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines
on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the
Red Sea, he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked
across safely. Then, he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They
sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved."
"Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?" his mother asked.
"Well, no, Mom. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!
until next time - smile
Sharon
(c)Answers For Your Health
Labels: sleep problems
posted by sharono at 11:23 AM
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