Sleep Challenges

We need to understand why we need a good night's sleep, and in the majority of cases, more of it. If you habitually stay up late at night, but still get up early, you must understand that you are doing more harm than good. Research has shown that sleeping five hours or less per night is associated with a significant increase in heart disease. A lack of sleep has also been associated with migraines and chronic pain.

College students who slept four hours of sleep for six night produced only 50 percent of the antibodies from their shot (NOT promoting flu shots here). There is significant evidence that sleep deprived people consume more calories and higher amounts of fat in their daily diets.

Studies also suggest five hours of sleep and sedentary lifestyle habits can bring a person to a pre-diabetic level in a matter of two weeks.

As we learn more about the human brain, we are beginning to get insight into sleep. Some of the latest statistics are:

Nearly 60 percent of adults report having sleep problems.

Only 37 percent get the recommended hours per night.

About half of sleep problems are stress related.

American filled 60 million prescriptions for sleeping pills last year.

"Laugh and world laughs with you; snore, and you sleep alone!"