Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Scientists Finding Out What Losing Sleep Does to a Body
The Washington Post ^ | 10/09/2005 | Rob Stein

Posted on 10/10/2005 11:14:46 AM PDT by Pragmatic_View

Beyond leaving people bleary-eyed, clutching a Starbucks cup and dozing off at afternoon meetings, failing to get enough sleep or sleeping at odd hours heightens the risk for a variety of major illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity, recent studies indicate.

Physiologic studies suggest that a sleep deficit may put the body into a state of high alert, increasing the production of stress hormones and driving up blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. Moreover, people who are sleep-deprived have elevated levels of substances in the blood that indicate a heightened state of inflammation in the body, which has also recently emerged as a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes.

The analysis of a nationally representative sample of nearly 10,000 adults found that those between the ages of 32 and 49 who sleep less than seven hours a night are significantly more likely to be obese.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Science
KEYWORDS: health; medicine; obesity; sleep
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-50 next last
I happened to come across this, while deciding that I really needed another cup of coffee.

It is quite interesting. A lot more info in the article, but I guess we must excerpt The Washington post.

1 posted on 10/10/2005 11:14:52 AM PDT by Pragmatic_View
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: xsmommy; WhyisaTexasgirlinPA

You'd think getting less sleep would burn off more calories but no...


2 posted on 10/10/2005 11:17:54 AM PDT by secret garden (<= easily amused)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pragmatic_View

Since I end up working all ours of the day/night, I am well acquainted with lack of sleep. I think I average at best 5 hours/24.


3 posted on 10/10/2005 11:18:08 AM PDT by RadioAstronomer (Senior member of Darwin Central)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pragmatic_View

For some of us.....it means that Free Republic is going to kill us.


4 posted on 10/10/2005 11:18:31 AM PDT by BulletBobCo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: secret garden

i would have sworn i heard that you burned calories being awake! who lied to me????


5 posted on 10/10/2005 11:19:00 AM PDT by xsmommy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Pragmatic_View

Well, its official. I'm screwed.


6 posted on 10/10/2005 11:20:19 AM PDT by Crazieman (6-23-2005, Establishment of the United Socialist States of America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pragmatic_View

Well, I never wake up cranky...
I let him sleep.


(groan)


7 posted on 10/10/2005 11:20:19 AM PDT by MaryFromMichigan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RadioAstronomer

Same here. If I got 8 hrs/night I'd never do anything but work and sleep!


8 posted on 10/10/2005 11:21:02 AM PDT by RockinRight (I am beginning to think conservatism is buried somewhere under New Orleans mud...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Pragmatic_View

I always thought the bad thing was to have varying sleep patterns. In other words, it's better to sleep 5 hours every night, as opposed to getting 8 hours one night, than 4 the next, then 12 the next, etc.


9 posted on 10/10/2005 11:21:08 AM PDT by dfwgator (Flower Mound, TX)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pragmatic_View

Interesting article...many thanks for posting it:)


10 posted on 10/10/2005 11:22:44 AM PDT by SE Mom (Keep an open mind; nothing will fall out.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

On my days off from work, I can sleep 12 hours or more. On the days I do work, it's on about 6-8 hours of sleep a night. I'm 40, but people swear I'm in my late twenties or early thirties. I've been an advocate for sleeping more for a long time...LOL.


11 posted on 10/10/2005 11:23:53 AM PDT by Dr Stormfist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Pragmatic_View

What happens if you aren't sleep deprived but you still sleep a lot? Does that make me extra healthy?


12 posted on 10/10/2005 11:23:59 AM PDT by Mr. Blonde (You know, Happy Time Harry, just being around you kinda makes me want to die.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RadioAstronomer

ours = hours! LMAO!


13 posted on 10/10/2005 11:24:07 AM PDT by RadioAstronomer (Senior member of Darwin Central)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: xsmommy

My problem might be what I do during those hours I am awake and am not exercising.


14 posted on 10/10/2005 11:25:49 AM PDT by secret garden (<= easily amused)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Pragmatic_View

"people who are sleep-deprived"

By their own choice, never enough time to do everything, but always enough time to do what is "important"...


15 posted on 10/10/2005 11:27:17 AM PDT by dakine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Crazieman

Me too. The older I get, the less sleep I get.


16 posted on 10/10/2005 11:34:57 AM PDT by tob2 (Old Fossil and Proud of It!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: secret garden; xsmommy

Well then, CGEP better watch himself - lack of sleep will catch up eventually


17 posted on 10/10/2005 11:35:35 AM PDT by WhyisaTexasgirlinPA (Prayers for healing and relief from pain for Cowboy...........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Pragmatic_View

I do very well on VERY little sleep. I average 2-4 hours in 24 hours. Im not saying its all that good, but it is do-able.

MM


18 posted on 10/10/2005 12:02:44 PM PDT by motormouth (Good Grief!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WhyisaTexasgirlinPA

ROR! Does he know his nickname?


19 posted on 10/10/2005 12:07:38 PM PDT by secret garden (<= easily amused)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: secret garden

Only if he is stalking........Outside of a few attorney friends, I don't keep company with known liars


20 posted on 10/10/2005 12:15:59 PM PDT by WhyisaTexasgirlinPA (Prayers for healing and relief from pain for Cowboy...........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-50 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson