Our sleeping patterns determine what times of the day we feel tired and at what times we are most alert. Your job usually determines your sleeping hours on weekdays. If you work nights then you will sleep during the day and vice versa. Most of the population work between 9am and 5pm. This means that you can go to sleep when the sun goes down and wake up just after the sun rises, it is the most natural way to live. But if you do work nights then you have to sleep during the day, which feels extremely unnatural and is proven to be unhealthy. It is unhealthy because the sunlight releases certain chemicals in your body when it interacts with your skin that plays a little part in keeping you awake. Another problem is that you will be working while your friends have their social time with each other and means you cannot join in. This can make a person feel isolated and eventually depressed.

Some studies have shown that sleeping for around 8 hours is a persons optimal time to sleep. This of course does not apply to every single person as all people are different. A lot of factors can determine a persons optimal sleeping time such as age, fitness and daily tasks. However it is well documented that sleeping say even 1 hour under your optimal sleeping time can severely reduce your ability to say awake during the next day. This effect becomes worse when you consistently sleep under the required amount of hours.

Most Americans are suffering from lack of sleep.  At the beginning of the last Century, we all enjoyed ten hours sleep per night but now that has gradually reduced until now we have an average 6.9 hours sleep on weeknights and 7.5 on weekends.  An amazing 74% of adults experience sleeping difficulties during the week, with 39% managing less than seven hours each week night.  More than one adult in three are so tired during the day that their daily activities are affected.

The main problem is that we have increased the amount of time we spend each week working, reducing our leisure time.  As our leisure time is consequently reduced by our need to perform chores and household duties in that time set aside for our social entertainment, we suffer from sleep deprivation more and more.

Less sleep means more stress, which is known to be the main cause of sleeplessness and this can lead to physical illness.  More than 51% of adults claim that stress disturbs their sleep, according to a survey by the Better Sleep Council which analysed 2,000 people and their sleeping patterns.

Our moods can be affected by changing seasons and the amount of light we are exposed to as a result.  Some people who suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affected Disorder) might not get enough sleep and also be prone to general ill health which can affect our ability to sleep well.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) also affects 18 million Americans, 90 ??” 05% of whom remain undiagnosed as they are unaware that are suffering with OSA, which causes a sleeper to cease breathing for between 10 and 120 second pauses hundreds of times throughout the night.  The disorder is featured by heavy snoring; exhaustion during daylight hours; sometimes an inability to remain awake; poor memory; possibly depression. 

OSA can lead to some serious diseases and disorders, not the least of which are cardio vascular diseases; Type 2 Diabetes; stroke and high blood pressure.  The symptoms of OSA lead to road traffic accidents as sufferers are prone to falling asleep while driving.  OSA can affect every area of a person’s life, which is why sleep testing is imperative to ascertain whether sleep apnea is present, especially for those displaying the tell tale symptoms of snoring and extreme daytime fatigue.

Treatment for sleep apnea is easily available through the Aviisha Medical Wellness Institute.  Dr Avi, Director of the Institute, says: “It’s important to remember that improving the quality of your sleep can have a major impact on your stress levels, your immune system, your mood, and your ability to function at your best at all times. While we can’t always control the stressors in our lives, getting tested and treated for sleep apnea is something we can all do to sleep and feel better.”

 

 

 

Most people understand that being overweight can interfere with a good night’s sleep for a number of reasons but modern research shows us that actually a poor night’s sleep and obesity are connected ” poor sleep on a regular basis can cause you to put on weight!

A poor sleep routine can cause weight gain: two reasons the hormones leptin and ghrelin ” leptin suppressed the appetite while ghrelin stimulates it, and during a few weeks of a poor sleep routine, leptin levels can increase to 15%, sending the wrong message to the brain ” the message that says, “I’m hungry!”

Some years ago, the obese community hoped that leptin would provide a solution to obesity but in fact, most obese patients also suffer from leptin resistance; a condition that leads obese people to resist the effects of the hormone.  In order to regain their sensitivity to leptin, patients must first decrease body fat.

As many as 20 million Americans are suffering from OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) ” a condition that causes the sufferer to experience pauses in normal breathing rhythm.  For anywhere between 10 and 120 seconds, breathing will stop completely: oxygen levels drop dramatically and this can happen several hundred times throughout a normal night’s sleep, leaving the sleeper exhausted during daylight hours.  Sleep apnea can cause obesity, leading to other serious diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes and cardio vascular disorders.  90 ” 95% of sufferers are unaware they have a problem.

Sleep disorder specialist at the Aviisha Medical Wellness Institute and former Director of the Medical Weight Loss Clinic at Olympia Medical Center in Los Angeles, Dr Avi Ishaaya, recommends that all overweight people undergo a sleep test as soon as possible. “Once treated, you will be able to lose weight.   Getting a good night’s rest contributes to proper hormone function as well as providing energy for exercise ” both of which are essential for effective weight loss. Patients need to recognize the importance of sleeping well for long term weight control, as well as for overall good health”, he says. 

The Aviisha Medical Wellness Institute in California uses home sleep tests or an overnight session in a sleep lab to diagnose and treat patients with sleep disorders, also customizing a medical weight loss plan to put patients on the road to health and wellness.  The result is an effective, long term weight control with permanently improved health and a better quality of life.