A Good Night's Sleep is Good for Your Heart
By Jesse Cannone, CFT, CPRS

Ahh…a good night's sleep... We all want to get the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep, yet, according to the National Sleep Foundation, almost one-third of Americans sleep six-and-a-half hours or less each night. So, not only are we walking around in a bad mood, eyes half open, giant cup of ”Joe” in hand, but now research shows that we actually are putting our hearts at risk. Research by Dr. Alexandros Vgontzas, professor of psychiatry at Pennsylvania State University in Hershey, reveals that even modest sleep deprivation may be associated with low-grade inflammation, the likes of which can lead to a number of cardio-vascular problems.

Over a six-week period Vgontzas and his team of researchers deprived 25 men and women of just two hours of sleep per night. Then they measured blood levels for immune-system molecules called cytokines normally secreted during inflam-mation and infection. Both men and women in the study had increased concentrations of cytokines, confirming that lack of sleep may contribute to chronic inflammation.

This discovery is troublesome, particularly because long-term inflam-mation has been shown to lead to hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease and even heart failure. In addition, lack of good quality sleep has a significant effect on blood-sugar levels. It has been proven that a sleep-deprived person requires more insulin to balance blood-sugar levels, which, in turn, can lead to heart disease and a host of other health-related problems.

So, you know you need more shut-eye, but getting to bed early and sleeping in later just are not options with your busy schedule. Well, maybe the quantity of hours should not be your main focus; instead focus on the “quality” of the sleep you are able to get. The first option that may come to mind for most people who want to sleep more soundly is to seek out over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids. However, there are several downsides to consider here:
1) Risk of tolerance: Your body can require more and more of the medication in order to achieve results.
2) Lingering effects: Sleepiness from the previous night's dosage can affect your alertness, jeopardizing the safety     of those around you and even put lives at risk.
3) Addiction: Sleep aids can be highly addictive, creating the risk that the body will never really learn to sleep on     its own again.

A far better choice is to consider more natural approaches. For example, you can do simple things such as avoiding caffeine and television before bed-time, or practicing relaxation exercises to help you unwind. After consulting your physician, you can seek out natural remedies, such as teas or supplements containing valerian root, chamomile, lavender or skull cap, magnesium or melatonin supplements. These can help you achieve the solid sleep you need in order to maintain good health and take care of your heart without the risks associated with other traditional medications. It is up to you to make the right decisions regarding your individual health. Remember… more Zs equals less disease!

For more information on how to get a better night's sleep and simple steps to controlling deadly systemic inflammation – the root cause pain and disease – go to www.sleepzyme.com.