Naturopathic Medicine: Sleep is Critical for Optimal Health

by Rachel Roberts Oppitz N.D.

1 in 10 Americans Sleep Deprived

          Sleep is an essential part of life, but is often pushed aside by the consuming tasks of daily life.

  If you feel that you are too busy to get a full night’s sleep, consider that sleep-deprivation, both in the

short and long-term, can cause serious,  adverse health effects.

            Chronic insomnia is prevalent in 10% of the adult population.  Insomnia is defined as a difficulty

 initiating and maintaining sleep, or also experiencing a non-refreshing sleep.  Some of the causes of

 insomnia include: medication, thyroid disorders, perimenopause, arthritis pain, chronic renal failure,

chronic obstructive lung disease, congestive heart failure, reflux esophagitis, psychiatric, circadian, and

sleep disorders. Although insomnia is typically secondary to another disorder, it can also be a primary

disorder.  Primary insomnia is estimated to occur in 25% of all chronic insomnia cases.    Age, sex,

medical and psychiatric disease, and shift work all represent an increased risk of chronic insomnia. 

 Chronic insomnia is associated with absenteeism, frequent accidents, memory impairment, and greater

health care utilization.  The consistent impact of insomnia leads to a high risk of depression.  

            How well you sleep can seriously alter the balance of hormones in your body.  This alteration can

disrupt your circadian rhythm (sleep/wake cycle).  A disrupted circadian rhythm may influence cancer

progression through shifts in hormones like melatonin, which the brain makes during sleep.  According

 to Brain Behavior Immunology October 2003, having a regular circadian rhythm may be necessary in

order for your body to defend against cancer, and sleep/wake rhythms that are disrupted due to stress or

other issues may promote cancer growth.  Melatonin is an antioxidant that helps to suppress harmful free

radicals in the body and slows the production of estrogen, which can activate cancer.  When your circadian

 rhythm is disrupted, your body may produce less melatonin and therefore may have less ability to fight cancer. 

 Another link between cancer and the disrupted circadian rhythm lies with a hormone called cortisol, which

 normally peaks at dawn then declines throughout the day.  Cortisol is one of many hormones that help

regulate immune system activity, including the activity of a group of immune cells called natural-killer cells

that help the body battle cancer. 

            Yet another mechanism that may be related to the cancer/sleep association is the hormone insulin. 

 University of Chicago researchers have repeatedly shown that insufficient sleep will result in an increased rate

 of diabetes due to increased insulin resistance.  Insulin has been clearly linked to cancer in previous studies. 

Furthermore, researchers have found that women who slept five hours or less every night were 34% more

 likely to develop diabetes symptoms than women who slept for seven or eight hours each night.

            Americans average about 6 hours of sleep per night.  Researchers believe that body chemistry might

explain the link between sleep deprivation and obesity.  A lack of sleep increases grehlin, a hormone that sends

a hunger signal to the brain.  At the same time, the level of protein called leptin drops.  Leptin helps suppress

 appetite, so when the level is low, appetite increases.  Combine too much grehlin and too little leptin, and you’ve

set the stage for an intake of too many calories.  The following statistics were reported from the National Health

 and Nutrition Examination Survey: less than four hours of sleep per night increases obesity risk by 73%, compared

 to subjects who slept 7-9 hours.  An average of five hours of sleep per night increases obesity risk by 50%; an

 average of six hours of sleep per night increases obesity risk by 23%.

            Sleep is critical to achieving and maintaining optimal health and should be a priority for all individuals, as well

as proper nutrition and exercise.    The research is quite clear that insufficient rest can result in increased rates of

cancer, diabetes depression, impaired memory, and obesity (to name a few).  Optimizing your sleep can slow down

the aging process.  If you need some help getting a good night’s sleep, look for my upcoming article on sleep

 guidelines that can help many patients with insomnia.

Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic
720 N. 30th St.
Billings, MT 59101
PHONE 406·259·5096/FAX 406·248·5655

ync@180com.net

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