“Sleep Problems ?”
We sleep for 1/3 of our lifetimes and still don’t know exactly what for. Studies have shown that 40% of Americans are sleep deprived and get less than 5 hours of sleep per night. Sleep and rest is recommended for recovery from many forms of illness. All mammals and birds sleep. Insects appear to sleep, too. And, people who cannot sleep, die. Rats die after about 17 days of total sleep deprivation. One of the first things to change after 1 week of sleep deprivation in rats is an increase in food consumption and a drop in body temperature, even as the rats attempt to keep themselves warmer. In humans, one of the first things to happen, even after a single night of sleep deprivation, is a subjective feeling of cold. Insomnia or sleep deprivation may be a risk factor for cancer, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, arthritis and cataracts. Insufficient sleep has been linked to a wide variety of health problems, including pain, heart disease and cancer.
