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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
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To: Pragmatic_View; All

Am I the only one on Earth who gets more than 7 hours per night?

Likewise, am I the only one who drinks lots of water each day?

Someday, I shall be dancing on the graves of those who ridicule my healthiness.


21 posted on 10/10/2005 12:22:10 PM PDT by pcottraux (It's pronounced "P. Coe-troe.")
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To: xsmommy

You do, but you burn more calories while asleep. More importantly, lack of sleep messes up the levels of various hormones that govern blood sugar and appetite, resulting in overeating.


22 posted on 10/10/2005 12:27:53 PM PDT by GovernmentShrinker
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To: RadioAstronomer
Since I end up working all ours of the day/night,

Ooops, maybe you need more sleep :)

23 posted on 10/10/2005 12:35:13 PM PDT by MotleyGirl70
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To: BulletBobCo

Better lack of sleep.

Than lack of FReep.


24 posted on 10/10/2005 12:36:26 PM PDT by Tijeras_Slim (Now that taglines are cool, I refuse to have one.)
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To: pcottraux

You're gonna get hit by a bus...quit gloating....


25 posted on 10/10/2005 12:36:37 PM PDT by dakine
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To: motormouth
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.

I wouldn't function too well on 2-4 hours of sleep. I'd be pretty cranky.

I try to average at least 7 hours a night.

26 posted on 10/10/2005 12:42:59 PM PDT by MotleyGirl70
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To: MotleyGirl70

"I wouldn't function too well on 2-4 hours of sleep. I'd be pretty cranky"


Once every few weeks it does catch up to me.. and I need to sleep for a while and kind of catch up.. Im not usually cranky.. :o) and if I am, its my personality, not lack of sleep LOL

I think 7 hours is the norm, isnt it?


MM


27 posted on 10/10/2005 12:48:42 PM PDT by motormouth (Good Grief!)
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To: Pragmatic_View

when I worked Mids and since I have been working swings and going to school, I have noticed that if I don't get more than about 7 hours I just don't feel right for the next couple days.

Of course when I worked mids, after about the 2nd year if I didn't sleep more than about 9 hours I was in trouble and started getting migraines regularly...


28 posted on 10/10/2005 12:51:33 PM PDT by MikefromOhio (Just confirm Miers so that FR can have a REAL meltdown. Yes I have popcorn ready.)
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To: dakine

"You're gonna get hit by a bus...quit gloating...."

Ha...due to the superpower I receive from drinking so much water and sleeping so much, I will have become so strong that the bus will be crushed if it tries to hit me...and I will be unharmed. BWah ha ha haaa!!!!


29 posted on 10/10/2005 12:52:26 PM PDT by pcottraux (It's pronounced "P. Coe-troe.")
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To: motormouth

The longest I ever stayed up (working in a spacecraft control room for most of it) was 6 continuous days and nights. 136 hours. I crashed for almost 22 hours when I finally did head to bed. The seven mile drive home was one of the hardest seven miles I have ever driven. :-)


30 posted on 10/10/2005 12:58:19 PM PDT by RadioAstronomer (Senior member of Darwin Central)
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To: Dr Stormfist
I get about 8-9 hours on work nights, and on the weekends I will sleep until someone wakes me up. I'm gonna live forever!
31 posted on 10/10/2005 12:59:10 PM PDT by Serb5150
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To: MotleyGirl70

LOL! I noticed it as well just as I hit post.


32 posted on 10/10/2005 12:59:46 PM PDT by RadioAstronomer (Senior member of Darwin Central)
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To: Serb5150

I can't remember the last time I slept for 8 hours strait thru.


33 posted on 10/10/2005 1:00:43 PM PDT by RadioAstronomer (Senior member of Darwin Central)
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To: GovernmentShrinker

And it is difficult to eat while asleep.


34 posted on 10/10/2005 1:01:54 PM PDT by justshutupandtakeit (Public Enemy #1, the RATmedia.)
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To: RadioAstronomer

YIKES!

I dunno, I just cant sleep. And when I do, its in naps. I couldnt stay awake THAT long..well, I dont think I could. LOL

Seven miles must have felt like 700! :o) Glad you made it home in one piece.

MM


35 posted on 10/10/2005 1:02:14 PM PDT by motormouth (Good Grief!)
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To: motormouth
I dunno, I just cant sleep. And when I do, its in naps.

You and me both. I have been like this all my life.

I couldnt stay awake THAT long..well, I dont think I could. LOL

Bet you could if your were pushed. I used to routinely stay up for 48 hours at a time.

Seven miles must have felt like 700! :o) Glad you made it home in one piece.

Thanks. :-)

36 posted on 10/10/2005 1:12:51 PM PDT by RadioAstronomer (Senior member of Darwin Central)
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To: RadioAstronomer

I havent been like this all my life.. I did, at one time, sleep "normal". Not sure what happened. Have you tried everything under the sun to sleep more normally?

If I were pushed, I could probably stay up for long periods of time, but NOT that long!! LOL

Your welcome!

MM


37 posted on 10/10/2005 1:16:36 PM PDT by motormouth (Good Grief!)
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To: Serb5150
I can't remember the last time I slept for 8 hours strait thru.

Well I must qualify this with my 22 hour crash. I meant on a routine basis. :-)

38 posted on 10/10/2005 1:19:26 PM PDT by RadioAstronomer (Senior member of Darwin Central)
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To: Pragmatic_View
I've developed "Farmer Syndrome" ....up before the sun.... down by dark.
39 posted on 10/10/2005 1:21:56 PM PDT by wolfcreek
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To: wolfcreek

Wait till you are on continuously rotating shifts. :-)


40 posted on 10/10/2005 1:23:55 PM PDT by RadioAstronomer (Senior member of Darwin Central)
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