To ward off the negative effects of sleep loss – experts tell us repay our sleep debts. Do you agree?
We hear often of workplace disasters caused by tired workers. Sleep loss also takes a huge bite out of the mind as well as the body’s well being.
Researchers grouped healthy men and women, ages 21 to 38, to sleep different amounts nightly— into those who slept eight, six, or four hours per night. Another group didn’t sleep at all for three nights in a row.
Nobody in the study slept during their day. Think it would add to crankiness where you work?
Every two hours during the day, all participants completed sleepiness quizzes and showed reaction times, memory capability, and cognitive acumen.
It likely will not surprise you that those without sleep scored far less than those who slept well. What may surprise you - is that lost sleep can be repaid to your health account.
Based on this study - Harvard Women’s Health Watch recommended that people missed 10 hours of sleep over one week, make up for it over the weekend and during the following week. How so?
To repay short term deficits of sleep missed during a week – it's advised to sleep in on weekends. Both days!
Those who missed sleep over years or decades, might take a few weeks to repay their sleep debt. Researchers suggested that this group may wish to plan a vacation with no schedule, and then sleep every night until you awaken without an alarm.
Not surprisingly, they also suggested that people determine how much sleep they need to awaken well, and then make alterations in the weekly schedule to avoid regular sleep loss. In so doing people can often avoid depression, and other serious risks that come from too little sleep.
Another alarm just sounded on this one. What do you think? ZZZZZZZZ Let us know in the morning, Ok? ....
Ellen, having recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea, I can tell you that not getting enough sleep can ruin your life. I didn't realize how miserable I actually was until I got my CPAP machine and started feeling alive again. I forgot what being really awake felt like. I feel like myself again and like I have a life I enjoy waking up to.
Linda
Posted by: Linda Zdanowicz | July 16, 2007 7:58 PM | Permalink to Comment