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Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

bbc.co.uk

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Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#31

Post by willholloway »

jacques_chester wrote: post #9

Here's a little PSA: If you have: * High blood pressure * Depressive or angry episodes * Wake up tired no matter how long you've slept * Loud snoring Take a sleep study. You may have obstructive sleep apnea. I got it badly enough that sleeping for 14-15 hours daily did nothing for me. I didn't realise it at the time but I was on track to die, tired, at about 50. Today I sleep with a little CPAP machine that keeps my…

A pulse oximeter can also be worn overnight to check for oxygen desaturation during the night from pauses in breathing.

Polysomnography (sleep test) is the gold standard, but O2 saturation is a good indicator as well.

An oximeter isn't a bad thing to own and can be had cheaply from Amazon. Sleep apnea can emerge with as little as 10% weight gain, acid reflux or allergies. If you really care about your sleep, heart and brain it doesn't hurt to check once in a while.

Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#32

Post by glaugh »

jfb wrote: post #15
JabavuAdams wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes! This has been a huge win for me. I'd typically fall asleep at my desk around 3pm, or be fighting micro-sleep episodes. In any case, sitting there felt like torture. Never mind the effect on coding and debugging. Been doing that for decades. Tried ADHD remedies, etc. etc. I started using a machine on a Friday, and noticed that although I was still a bit tired, I didn't take my usual 2-hour afternoon naps on the w…

Good stuff. My dad had apnea so bad he had to have his nose and sinuses redrilled. I'm looking forward to the study.

Not saying this is a cure-all for everyone, but it's a good first thing to try:

My dad was diagnosed with sleep apnea. He was tired during the day and got bad migraines. They recommended a fancy apparatus but he instead sewed a golf ball into a small pocket on the back of his pjs. Like most folks, he only snored and suffocated himself when asleep on his back. So this way when he rolled from his side onto his back he woke up slightly and went back to his side. 100% cured him, no migraines since.

Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#33

Post by droidist2 »

guylhem wrote: post #26

Has anyone noticed how people who do not sleep a lot "look old" - I mean with wrinkles, spots, etc. Look at investment bankers - their chronological age does not seem to match their physical appearance. This article gives a potential explanation - bad sleep changes protein expression, but I'm curious about the visible outcomes. Hopefully there are many sleep deprived founders, and well rested lifestyle entrepreneurs…

Good point. They always say that about Presidents, they age like 20 years in 8 years.

Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#34

Post by colmvp »

nakedrobot2 wrote: post #29

This might explain why new parents look 5 years older after 1 year of having their first child (in my admittedly anecdotal sample, including myself)

As a single guy, I didn't realize how much sleep a parent loses until staying with my cousin and her newborns. It's like being a soldier constantly living on the front line.

Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#35

Post by adrianmsmith »

michaelgrafl wrote: post #16

In the past few weeks I've been shitty to my girlfriend a few times after a night of bad sleep (interrupted sleep and more dreaming than normally). I figured out that I sleep a lot better - especially when sharing a bed with her - when I omit drinking alcohol, even small amounts. So maybe that's worth a try for people suffering from light sleep.

I read on the internet (thus potentially to be taken with a pinch of salt) that even having a single beer in the evening can cause a worsening of the second half of your sleep. (Which is a bit weird as one might imagine the alcohol would be gone from ones system by then.)

I've tried total abstinence from alcohol and it really makes an AMAZING difference to how I feel the next day. (But perhaps it's just a placebo effect, since having read that internet article... YMMV)

Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#36

Post by rayiner »

jacques_chester wrote: post #9

Here's a little PSA: If you have: * High blood pressure * Depressive or angry episodes * Wake up tired no matter how long you've slept * Loud snoring Take a sleep study. You may have obstructive sleep apnea. I got it badly enough that sleeping for 14-15 hours daily did nothing for me. I didn't realise it at the time but I was on track to die, tired, at about 50. Today I sleep with a little CPAP machine that keeps my…

I think people need to be more proactive about this sort of thing. If you're uncomfortable, don't assume it's normal! See if there is something to it.

I used to have a lot of trouble breathing at night. I would sleep, but be exhausted in the morning. After college, I got surgery for a deviated septum. Then I started using a humidifier and Breathe-Right strips religiously at night. Now, I've got a baby that doesn't sleep through the night and I still wake up every morning quite refreshed. :)

Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#37

Post by septerr »

WHat stood out to me from the article -

"The findings also tie into research attempting to do away with sleep, such as by finding a drug that could eliminate the effects of sleep deprivation."

Every now and then I get upset with myself for sleeping too much, not utilizing all my time after work to work on side projects and learning new skills. I wish I could stay up till late AND wake up early or be able to do away with sleep altogether (and the need to eat)! How I wish I could do away with sleep!!

Recently after a few days of skimping on sleep, I had a few days where I let myself sleep enough and noticed how much more alert I felt during the day, I had forgotten that feeling! For now I have accepted that I need to make time for sleep. Side projects, new skills will just have to be done at a consistent even if a slow rate.

[EDIT: fixed typos]

Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#38

Post by philwelch »

droidist2 wrote: post #33
guylhem wrote: post #26

Has anyone noticed how people who do not sleep a lot "look old" - I mean with wrinkles, spots, etc. Look at investment bankers - their chronological age does not seem to match their physical appearance. This article gives a potential explanation - bad sleep changes protein expression, but I'm curious about the visible outcomes. Hopefully there are many sleep deprived founders, and well rested lifestyle entrepreneurs…

Good point. They always say that about Presidents, they age like 20 years in 8 years.

Stress is a contributor too, even if you sleep well. Clinton was known as a night owl but Bush, by most reports, got plenty of sleep and he still aged a lot.

Re: Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body

#40

Post by cglace »

jacques_chester wrote: post #9

Here's a little PSA: If you have: * High blood pressure * Depressive or angry episodes * Wake up tired no matter how long you've slept * Loud snoring Take a sleep study. You may have obstructive sleep apnea. I got it badly enough that sleeping for 14-15 hours daily did nothing for me. I didn't realise it at the time but I was on track to die, tired, at about 50. Today I sleep with a little CPAP machine that keeps my…

Another important thing to consider if you always feel tired, anemia. My wife was chronically anemic for years and no matter how much sleep she would get always felt tired. Started taking iron supplements and a week later felt perfectly fine.
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