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February 28, 2007 | Issue 105 |
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Sleep Is Good For Your Heart
"A good laugh and good sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book." - Irish Proverb.
The Irish may have been onto something, especially about sleep. New research is affirming that a good night’s sleep, about seven to eight hours for the vast majority of people, is vital for our hearts and overall health.
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In April, the Institute of Medicine, comprised of the nation’s leading scientists on health issues, published a report announcing that sleep problems and sleep deprivation are linked with increased risk of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, stroke, and heart attack.(1)
And the Archives of Internal Medicine devoted its entire September 18, 2006, issue to studies on sleep and health. In its editorial review, sleep experts Drs. Phyllis Zee and Fred Turek of Northwestern University recommended that doctors make an assessment of sleep habits a regular part of their medical visits with patients.(2)
Sleep is particularly important for the heart. The heart, just like the rest of our body, needs repose. When asleep, men and women experience an average 25% lowering of blood pressure, and about a 15% reduction in heart rate.
New Sleep Services Program
To help people struggling with sleep problems, the physicians at Pritikin have established a Sleep Services Program that identifies, diagnoses, and treats sleep disorders, particularly a serious one called obstructive sleep apnea.
Read More at Sleep Apnea May Be Keeping You From Losing Weight
In just-published research, scientists at Boston University School of Medicine interviewed more than 5,000 people on their sleep habits and found that those sleeping fewer than six hours nightly had a 66% greater incidence of hypertension compared to those sleeping about eight hours a night.(3)
Sleep-deprived individuals most at risk for heart problems are those with obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. With sleep apnea, you may transiently stop breathing during sleep. The soft tissues of the mouth and palate fall back, temporarily blocking the breathing passages. It can happen multiple times in one night. Some sufferers emit a gasping sound as they struggle to recover, often unaware they’re doing it.
Sleep apnea is most frequently associated with obesity. Other signs may include daytime sleepiness; snoring; waking up with a dry mouth; and, at night, waking up one or more times or needing to urinate repeatedly.
Sleep apnea is a leading cause of hypertension, right heart failure, and sudden death. In a newly published, seven-year study of more than 300 middle-age adults (ages 30 to 69 years), scientists found that having sleep apnea nearly quintupled the risk of coronary artery disease.(4)
The good news: Controlling sleep apnea significantly cuts risk. Highly effective treatments include the use of air pump systems called CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), the same treatment utilized in the Sleep Services Program at the Pritikin Longevity Center® in Aventura, Florida
In addition to improving blood pressure and heart health, new studies suggest that controlling sleep apnea and getting back to a good night’s sleep may also help patients:
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Copyright 2007 Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa. All rights reserved.
The Yacht Club at Turnberry Isle. 19735 Turnberry Way, Aventura, FL 33180
Phone (305) 935-7131
Pritikin Perspective - Healthy Living Made Easier
Pritikin Perspective is a publication for Alumni of the Pritikin Longevity Center. It is dedicated to helping people make healthy changes in their lives. The articles in this publication should not be considered specific medical advice, as each individual circumstance is different. You are strongly encouraged to seek medical advice before beginning a program of diet and exercise.
Editor/Writer: Eugenia Killoran.
Please do not reply to this email. Replies to this email will not be responded to or read. If you have any questions or comments, contact us via our web site or by postal mail to: Pritikin Longevity Center® & Spa, 19735 Turnberry Way, Aventura, FL 33180.
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