Is Lack of Sleep Killing You?

“I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”

Sadly, that joking remark has become the motto of many overachievers in our society. The list of reasons why we pass up a good night’s sleep is extensive. It’s estimated that as many as 70 million Americans have trouble sleeping and the problem is progressively getting worse with the proliferation of gadgets and bad habits.

Skimping on sleep can affect your health in more ways than you might imagine. Getting less than 6 hours of sleep each night has been associated with lower overall brain activity.

That affects people’s productivity, physical safety, and weight. Inadequate sleep increases your risk of developing psychiatric disorders such as ADD/ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and can also lead to serious health issues like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

When you miss out on sleep, your brain pays the price. A recent study conducted in Italy found that a sleep deprived brain can actually begin to eat itself. Chronic lack of sleep leads to irreversible loss of brain cells and also increases the brain plaque believed to contribute to age-related memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease.

If you’re tired of being tired, here are three simple ways you can prevent the negative effects of sleep deprivation:

Avoid Sleep Stealers

Getting a good night’s sleep is becoming little more than an elusive dream for many of us. It’s easy to develop bad sleep habits when leading a busy life. To restore proper balance to your sleep cycle, avoid common sleep stealers like caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, daytime naps, and using technology in bed and right before bed.

Get Nutritional Support

There are many contributing factors to habitual wakefulness. If you’re having problems “turning off” your brain at night or staying asleep, a good nutritional supplement can support your body’s natural relaxation response and produce a soothing, sedative effect. Look for supplements that contain vitamin B6, magnesium, GABA, valerian, and melatonin. These can help relax your body and mind.

Practice Good Sleep Hygiene

Though often associated with cleanliness, hygiene also applies to behavioral practices designed to sustain optimal health. Sleep hygiene is extremely important for a person’s brain health, physical health, and overall well-being. Follow these proven strategies to improve your sleep hygiene.

Since sleep disorders often occur alongside other physical and mental health conditions, we seek to understand each patient’s individual challenges. We don’t just treat symptoms, we treat the root of the problem. Our goal is to help you achieve and maintain peaceful sleep without the use of sleeping pills or sedatives.

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About the Author:

Daniel G. Amen, M.D. is a double board-certified psychiatrist, professor and 10-time New York Times best-selling author. He is one of the world's foremost experts on using brain imaging tools to help optimize and treat patients. He is founder of Amen Clinics, which has the world’s largest database of functional brain scans relating to behavior.