Pritikin

"A good laugh and good sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book." - Irish Proverb

The Irish may have been onto something, especially about sleep. New research is affirming that a good night’s sleep, about seven to eight hours for the vast majority of people, is vital for our hearts and overall health.

In April, the Institute of Medicine, comprised of the nation’s leading scientists on health issues, published a report announcing that sleep problems and sleep deprivation are linked with increased risk of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, stroke, and heart attack.(1)

And the Archives of Internal Medicine devoted its entire September 18, 2006, issue to studies on sleep and health. In its editorial review, sleep experts Drs. Phyllis Zee and Fred Turek of Northwestern University recommended that doctors make an assessment of sleep habits a regular part of their medical visits with patients.(2)

Sleep is particularly important for the heart. The heart, just like the rest of our body, needs repose. When asleep, men and women experience an average 25% lowering of blood pressure, and about a 15% reduction in heart rate.

In just-published research, scientists at Boston University School of Medicine interviewed more than 5,000 people on their sleep habits and found that those sleeping fewer than six hours nightly had a 66% greater incidence of hypertension compared to those sleeping about eight hours a night.(3)

Sleep-deprived individuals most at risk for heart problems are those with obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. With sleep apnea, you may transiently stop breathing during sleep. The soft tissues of the mouth and palate fall back, temporarily blocking the breathing passages. It can happen multiple times in one night. Some sufferers emit a gasping sound as they struggle to recover, often unaware they’re doing it.

Sleep apnea is most frequently associated with obesity. Other signs may include daytime sleepiness; snoring; waking up with a dry mouth; and, at night, waking up one or more times or needing to urinate repeatedly.

Sleep apnea is a leading cause of hypertension, right heart failure, and sudden death. In a newly published, seven-year study of more than 300 middle-age adults (ages 30 to 69 years), scientists found that having sleep apnea nearly quintupled the risk of coronary artery disease.(4)

The good news: Controlling sleep apnea significantly cuts risk. Highly effective treatments include the use of air pump systems called CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), the same treatment utilized in the Sleep Services Program at the Pritikin Longevity Center® in Aventura, Florida.

In addition to improving blood pressure and heart health, new studies suggest that controlling sleep apnea and getting back to a good night’s sleep may also help patients:

• Prevent or relieve symptoms of depression (5)
• Improve diabetes control (6)
• Shed excess weight more easily (7)(8)

“And the really good news is that losing just 10 to 15% of excess body weight often improves sleep apnea so much that it sometimes even disappears. Many patients, in fact, no longer need their CPAP machines. Yes, losing weight is the ultimate treatment for sleep apnea,” notes Dr. Sam Sugar, Director of the Sleep Services Program at Pritikin.

The immediatebenefits of a better night’s sleep are also profound. Nearly 60 guests have utilized the sleep therapy services at Pritikin since the program began last spring, “and feedback has been enthusiastic. Patients tell us they feel years younger and are far more rested and alert,” says Dr. Sugar.

“One patient had already been on CPAP for years, but we determined he needed a different type of machine and mask, and within 24 hours of using his new CPAP he went from four hours of sleep a night to seven hours.”

Many patients at Pritikin who are suffering from sleep disturbances discover that they have something other than sleep apnea. “They’ve been very grateful to get to the root of their problem, whether a medication-related side effect or other factors, and get back to the many rewards of a long, restful night’s sleep,” smiles Dr. Sugar.

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