Do you awaken in the morning feeling energized, rested, and ready to embrace what lies ahead for you? Or do you instead groggily hit the “snooze” bar on your alarm clock, desperately in need to seven more minutes of sleep? If you fall into the latter category, you are far from alone. How important is sleep? This year the first sleep book by a leading scientific expert—Professor Matthew Walker, Director of UC Berkeley’s Sleep and Neuroimaging Lab—made it to the New York Time’s Bestseller list. It reveals his groundbreaking exploration of sleep, explaining how we can “harness its transformative power to change our lives for the better.” Dr. Walker offers the best and most intriguing thoughts and research about dreams that I have ever read.
In my city, Salem, OR, there is a renown sleep study center. “There was a time a decade ago when we would have some nights with no one in our sleep study facility. Last year we added another sleep room, personnel, and still have to refer patients to other facilities for analysis,” said Dr. Thye Schuyler, director at the Salem Hospital Sleep and Neuro-diagnostic Center. Along with fellow pulmonologist Dr. Hyong Shim, they perform diagnostic testing in all-night sleep testing or a daytime “nap” study. “Sleep disorders affect every aspect of your life,” says Dr. Schuyler. “Over one third of adults in the U.S. are not getting enough sleep. Each year we treat thousands of patients with sleep problems, including the big one, sleep apnea, which is an obstructed or partially obstructed airway during sleep. It is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and depression. Many times, learning that sleep deprivation can result in sexual disfunction is all the impetus a person needs to start getting help with sleep.” The reduction in blood oxygen level that occurs during the pauses in breathing in those with sleep apnea can increase the burden on the heart and lungs and lead to significant health issues over time, including obesity and premature death.
Sleep has finally become a top priority in American society. Research continues to find that a lack of sleep can cause weight gain, anxiety, and out-of-whack hormones. Public figures like Amazon’s Jeff Bezos name adequate sleep as a driver of success and health-conscious consumers are chasing those sacred eight hours like never before.
Unfortunately, after years of bad sleep hygiene, many people who mocked those who made eight hours of sleep each night their standard now have trouble finding the deep, restorative rest their bodies crave. For a little help, they’re even turning to a little cannabis. The rise of CBD oil as a relaxation tool, now available medically in 29 states, and additionally available recreationally in nine states, has allowed thousands of Americans to turn to this first, before trying pharmaceutical sleep aids like Lunesta or Ambien.
How has adequate sleep improved your life, or the lack thereof become a stumbling block? Please post a reply for discussion. I really want to know how you have found solutions and also if sleep still remains out of reach. Thank you.
The Fuller Mind 