USA/Sleep Deprived—
By Mike Moen, producer, Minnesota News Connection, a bureau of Public News Service.
Sleepless nights may be common for Minnesotans and other Americans deeply affected by the federal immigration crackdown and other stressful issues. However, it can be harmful to your help.
The American Heart Association says poor sleep can worsen major cardiovascular disease risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Minnesota-based neurologist Dr. Haitham Hussein, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota and a volunteer for the American Heart Association Twin Cities, said prolonged sleep deprivation can also cause seizures in people who don’t have a disorder. People with a lot of demands on their plates might think sacrificing sleep makes their life easier. But Hussien says it’s the opposite.
“Lack of sleep will increase our inability to focus and concentrate and be efficient in what we do,” he said.
Hussein said sleep schedules getting thrown off course is also linked with signs of depression or a sense of hopelessness. When those patterns emerge, he said, it’s time to talk to your primary-care doctor. As for getting back into a healthy sleep cycle, experts recommend avoiding caffeine in the afternoon and evening, and not using electronic devices before bed.
If you’re having a hard time falling asleep in bed, Hussein said, it’s actually best to get up, find a couch or chair, and read for a bit or listen to soft music. That way, your brain can calm back down before you go back to bed.
“If you are in bed and not sleeping night after night after night,” he said, “then the brain starts to associate the bed with not sleeping.”
Hussein said adults might assume drinking alcohol later in the evening can put them in a sleepier state, but he cautioned against that as a solution, noting that it sometimes can contribute to insomnia. According to the Heart Association, roughly one in three adults reports not getting adequate rest on a regular basis.
