Daylight-saving time is a killer.
The annual ritual in which we "gain" an hour of sleep each November by pushing the clocks backwards may seem like a harmless shift.
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The annual ritual in which we "gain" an hour of sleep each November by pushing the clocks backwards may seem like a harmless shift.
Topics: sleep loss, daylight saving time
A missed night of sleep is a fairly common experience for young people, new parents, and all kinds of busy adults. And while sometimes it’s because you’re having fun (New Year’s Eve!) and other times it’s because you must (an infant in the house).
The end result of a sleepless night is the same: Your body has been deprived of an essential component for good health and energy.
Most adults do best with between seven and nine hours of sleep a night, but nearly 30 percent get less than six, and some occasionally miss a night entirely, resulting in a slow accumulation of sleep debt that can affect your appearance, your immune system, and even the way your brain functions. Read on to discover a few of the ways a sleepless night affects your body.
Puffy eyes and a pasty complexion aren’t what you want to see when you wake up in the morning, but your appearance can be affected when you get too little sleep. Missing a night’s sleep can cause fluid to accumulate below your eyes, leading to circles and swelling.
Lack of sleep changes the way your body interprets hunger signals, leaving you with cravings that can be hard to control. In fact, women who sleep five hours or less a night are 15 percent more likely to become obese during the next decade.
Missing a night of sleep increases the likelihood that you will feel forgetful or experience slow reaction times, which can result in small mistakes (typos on a work presentation) or very big ones (impaired driving).
An itchy, drippy nose is another potential side effect of a missed night of sleep. Your immune system may also be affected, leaving you more susceptible to colds.
Fatigue is a big factor when it comes to being in the mood for sex. In National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep in America poll, about a third of women say they put sexual activity with their partner on the back burner when they are sleep-deprived.
A single night without sleep isn’t usually a big deal, but over time, these occasional lapses can lead to more serious conditions. Longer term, too little sleep may contribute to heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and stroke.
The big takeaway here to a healthy life is to strive to practice good sleep habits, including getting to bed on time.
If your sleep issue goes way beyond one night of lost Zzzz's, you may have a sleep disorder. Don't panic! Alaska Sleep Clinic's board-certified sleep specialists will correctly diagnose and treat that sleep problem.
Call us today 
or click the link below.
Topics: sleep habits, sleep hygiene, sleep loss
Many people report that they experience problems with sleep. But what does that really mean?
Topics: insomnia, Narcolepsy, sleep loss
This weekend will bring a treat to those who love to sleep.
Daylight Saving Time kicks in early Sunday, Nov. 3, meaning you'll need to set your clocks back an hour on Saturday night.
Of course, talking about DST brings up the inevitable debate about the usefulness of the practice.
Topics: sleep loss, daylight saving time, fall back
Ever drink coffee too close to bed and find yourself staring at the ceiling? Or take an Adderall only to toss and turn all night? What about making a desperate reach for a sedative, a leftover pain pill, or a nightcap to help you get to sleep? If so, you might be caught up in the chemical insomnia cycle.
Topics: medication, addiction, sleep loss
