Master the Art of Healthy SleepBy Jeffrey Tucker, DC, DACRB If you habitually stay up late at night, but still get up early, you are doing more harm than good! Research has shown that sleeping five hours or less per night is associated with a significant increase in heart disease. A lack of sleep has been associated with migraines and chronic pain. College students who slept four hours of sleep for six nights produced only 50 percent of the antibodies from their flu shot (not advocating flu shots here).1 There is significant evidence that sleep-deprived people consume more calories and higher amounts of fat in their daily diets. Studies also suggest five hours of sleep and sedentary lifestyle habits can bring a person to a prediabetic level in a matter of two weeks.2 Poor Sleep: An Epidemic As we learn more about the human brain, we are starting to get some real insight into sleep. Here are some of the latest statistics:3
Understanding the Physiology of Sleep The 100 billion cells that make up our brain interact to become our thoughts, feelings, dreams, hopes, memories, movement and how you sleep. The master clock in the brain is called the suprachiasmatic nucleus or SCN. It regulates our circadian rhythm. Light regulates the master clock. The light passes through the pupils and ganglion cells relay the information to the SCN. When light passing through the pupils is inhibited, the SCN sends a signal to release melatonin. Levels of melatonin remain level throughout the night until interrupted by the light of the morning. When you feel tired at night is determined in part by when you are in the presence of sunlight in the morning. To keep the biological clock on a cycle, the brain needs input of sunlight through the eyes to reset itself each day. The tip here is to get natural light within one hour of being awake. What happens in the brain when you are sleeping? The entire sleep cycle takes about 90 minutes and is then repeated: In stages 1 and 2, you first fall asleep, but are not in a deep-sleep state yet. During stages 3 and 4, you are in a deep, restful sleep. Your breathing and heart rate slow down, and your body remains still. In stage 5, your brain is active and you dream. Here's the entire 90-minute cycle: light sleep (lasts about 20 minutes), deep sleep, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and repeat. It's interesting to note that your eyes move under your eyelids during REM sleep. Deep sleep is crucial for immune system repair. Blood supply to muscles increases; tissue growth and repair occur; energy is restored; growth hormone is released, which is essential for growth and development, including muscle development; and other hormones are released, such as leptin and ghrelin, which keep your appetite in check, regulate fat storage and send signals to your brain when your stomach is full. UV damage also is repaired during deep sleep. If you wake up during REM sleep, you might vividly remember your dreams. During REM sleep, our breathing becomes more rapid, irregular and shallow, and our eyes jerk rapidly in various directions. Our heart rate increases and our blood pressure rises. REM sleep also allows our memory to improve.4 What's really important to understand here is that REM sleep promotes the consolidation of long-term memories for motor skills, facts and figures, and complex thought. If you are spending money on yourself or your child for a tutoring session (math, SAT prep, golf, tennis, soccer, swim lessons, etc.), and you / they don't get enough sleep, you are throwing money away! One of the most important things that happens during sleep is that the brain's cells shrink. Researchers believe it's easier for brain cerebrospinal fluid (like lymphatic fluids) to flush out its many crevices. During sleep, proteins that could build up and become responsible for Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders are removed more efficiently from the brain than during waking hours. In this way, toxins and other waste products are washed out.5-6 How Much Sleep Do We Need?
Tips to Promote Healthy Sleep When you complain about being tired during the day, think about your sleeping habits. For most adults, it is essential to sleep for at least seven to eight hours every night. Some people need even more. There is evidence to suggest many people are biologically programmed to sleep not only for a long period in the middle of the night, but also for a short period in the middle of the day. Because of the sleep cycle, nap recommendations should include less than 30 minutes or a full 90 minutes (best option).7 Here are some simple lifestyle changes / considerations:
I also find insomnia is often related to diet and lifestyle (too much caffeine and an overloaded calendar, which could potentially be disrupting diurnal cortisol rhythm). There are potential side effects of sleep drugs (Rufinamide, etc.), and although we cannot discourage someone from taking prescription medication, there are certainly nutritional support and lifestyle approaches that can be considered as first-line therapy. Finally, a considerable number of people seem to be taking prescription sleep aids. This seems unfortunate to me when we have many natural remedies available. Prescription sleep drugs can cause severe allergic reactions and complex nighttime behavior that goes beyond sleepwalking. Diet / Supplement Considerations (to Discuss With Your Doctor) In terms of nutritional support, these are some of the common recommendations I offer to help my patients maximize the quality and duration of their restorative sleep:9
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Jeffrey Tucker, DC, is a doctor of chiropractic and rehabilitation specialist who integrates chiropractic, exercise and nutrition into his practice in West Los Angeles. You can sign up for his newsletter at DrJeffreyTucker.com. |