Poor sleep patterns linked to heart disease, stroke
Huan Vo
Sleeping less than six hours or more than nine hours a night increases the risk of developing or dying from heart disease and stroke, according to Dr. Francesco P. Cappuccio, a researcher at the University of Warwick Medical School in England.People who get less than six hours of sleep a night increases their risk of developing or dying from heart disease by 48 percent, and from stroke by 15 percent.
For those with nine hours or more a night, the risk is 41 percent higher than those who sleep seven or eight hours a night.
In general, children should get about 10 to 11 hours of sleep a night, children 10 to 17 years of age need 8.5 to 9.25 hours while adults should get seven to nine hours, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
“People have stress and life problems like work and finance, and that’s what keeps them from sleeping,” said Joy Ladd, a clinical manager at SleepMed Inc.,
“the largest private sleep diagnostics provider and the largest ambulatory EEG (electroencephalography) provider in the United States.
“Due to school and work, I usually have three to five hours of sleep every night, so I drink coffee every single day,” said Chris Parker, an engineering major.
To cope with the lack of sleep, people drink coffee or take caffeine pills without knowing the potential of caffeine toxicity.
“It increases your heart rate and blood pressure. It makes you nervous, gives you (a) headache, and has withdrawal effect,” Ladd said.
Caffeine doesn’t actually replace the need of sleep. That’s why people usually fall asleep in inappropriate places like school, workplace, and even while driving.
Drowsy driving is one of the most lethal consequences of inadequate sleep, responsible for an estimated 1,550 deaths and 40,000 injuries each year in the United States, according to the Department of Transportation.
Ashley Trotter, theater arts major, was surprised by the numbers.
“I didn’t know that not sleeping enough can be that dangerous,” she said. “Maybe I should spend more time sleeping since I only sleep five to six hours a night.”
People can check to see if they have any sleeping disorders or get a prescription for a sleep aid from a doctor.
“A glass of milk before bed is good, so is any kind of relaxation,” Ladd said.
“The bedroom is for sleeping only, and you shouldn’t have (a) TV in it. The bedroom also should be nice, dark and quiet. Some people read before (they) go to bed, and it’s OK to read a little bit. You should make sure you go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning.”
A good sleeping habit is key to a good night sleep which comes with benefits.
