Page 18 - Florida Sentinel 7-28-17

Health
YOU COULD LIVE LONGER
You’re more likely to die at a younger age if you sleep less than 5 hours a night. It’s hard to tease out all the reasons, but it’s clear that sleep problems make some health issues worse. By the same token, health problems can also get in the way of good sleep.
FEWER ACCIDENTS
Sleepy drivers cause at least 100,000 highway crashes a year. Nodding off at the wheel isn’t the only problem. A lack of rest can lead to a drop in what doctors call mental performance. You’re less motivated, focused, and happy. And you don’t think as clearly. This doesn’t just apply to road warriors.
LESS CHANCE OF DIABETES
When you don’t sleep much, especially if it’s less than 5 hours a night, your body doesn’t use glucose, its main fuel source, as well as it should. Over time that can boost your chances of getting diabetes.
FEWER WRINKLES
Cut your slumber short on a regular basis and your skin might wrinkle and sag before it should. That’s partly because your body releases the stress hormone cor- tisol when you haven’t had enough sleep. It can break down collagen, a substance that helps keep your skin smooth.
A HEALTHIER HEART
Sleep less than 6 hours a night? You’re more likely to get heart disease. Doc- tors aren’t sure how it works, but they know lack of sleep raises blood pres- sure, stokes your stress, and boosts adrenaline.
NO MORE NODDING OFF
You know when you fall asleep for a split sec- ond and wake right back up? Maybe you don’t even realize you’ve nod- ded off? There’s a name for that: microsleep. You can't control when, or if, it happens. It’s more likely when you haven’t slept and usually lasts from half a second to 15 seconds. That may not sound like much, but even a split second is a lot if you’re driving a car or in a big meeting.
IT’S EASIER TO LEARN
Can’t focus? It’s hard to do when you haven’t slept. You’ll also have trouble learning new stuff. And when you do, you’ll need some shut-eye to remem- ber it. Doctors call this consolidation -- sleep strengthens the links be- tween brain cells that form memories. That’s what makes learning stick.
BETTER MEMORY
It’s a triple whammy. If you haven’t slept, it’s harder to recall things. You also need sleep to create bonds between brain cells that strengthen your long- term memory. Finally, if your mind’s all over the place due to lack of rest, it’s harder for it to file away the things you want to remember.
YOU MIGHT LOSE WEIGHT
If you sleep less than 6 hours a night, you could have more body fat. You need about 8 hours to keep it to a minimum. When you get less sleep, your body makes too much insulin. That can lead to weight gain. It can also throw your hunger hormones out of whack and make you crave high-fat, high-sugar foods.
IT’S A MOOD BOOSTER
Do you get a little snippy when you’re short on sleep? That’s normal. Just one bad night can make you sad, stressed, angry, and tired. If the trouble lasts, you may start to feel worse about your life. Over time this can lead to mood disorders like depression or anxiety. A better sleep routine is the answer.
HOW MUCH SLEEP DO YOU NEED?
It depends on your age. Each person has different needs. In general:
• School-age children: At least 10 hours
• Teens: 9 to 10.5 hours
• Adults: 7 to 8 hours
PAGE 6-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2017