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How much can an extra hour's sleep change you?

bbc.co.uk

11–20 of 90 posts

Re: How much can an extra hour's sleep change you?

#11
post #4

Doesn't matter for me. I hardly get much deep sleep due to anatomical issues essentially blocking my airways. I can't afford the surgery (even though I have insurance) nor will my government contribute to it (even though it would increase my productivity multiple times over, meanwhile they throw trillions at universities offering useless degrees). But yes, we have a culture that doesn't value sleep. I know of people…

In LA the trash get's collected at 5am, it feels as though i have the trash cans next to me that's how loud it is. To top this off, they building an off ramp nearby, so i wake up at 1am but i can hear this drilling in the distance very faint, it doesn't disturb me, but i can hear it. I started thinking about those people living right there, how the hell are they sleeping, these guys are drilling 1am in the morning!

Re: How much can an extra hour's sleep change you?

#12
post #4

Doesn't matter for me. I hardly get much deep sleep due to anatomical issues essentially blocking my airways. I can't afford the surgery (even though I have insurance) nor will my government contribute to it (even though it would increase my productivity multiple times over, meanwhile they throw trillions at universities offering useless degrees). But yes, we have a culture that doesn't value sleep. I know of people…

Particularly when aircraft noise is correlated with heart disease risk: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131009100602.ht...

That said, there is a special place in hell for people who move next to an airport and then complain about the noise. The special place next to hell's airport.

Re: How much can an extra hour's sleep change you?

#13
post #6
post #4

Doesn't matter for me. I hardly get much deep sleep due to anatomical issues essentially blocking my airways. I can't afford the surgery (even though I have insurance) nor will my government contribute to it (even though it would increase my productivity multiple times over, meanwhile they throw trillions at universities offering useless degrees). But yes, we have a culture that doesn't value sleep. I know of people…

I am with you. In my neighborhood, the trash collecting on Sundays takes place (for whatever "reason") at, believe it or not, 6:15AM. Then the recycling people appear later on, at 8:15AM. I guess they are trying to get people motivated during the week-end?

More likely, they have a finite number of trucks and staff, and any reasonable arrangement of them is going to result in someone's neighborhood getting hit at 6:15AM on Sunday, and you just got lucky.

Re: How much can an extra hour's sleep change you?

#14
post #4

Doesn't matter for me. I hardly get much deep sleep due to anatomical issues essentially blocking my airways. I can't afford the surgery (even though I have insurance) nor will my government contribute to it (even though it would increase my productivity multiple times over, meanwhile they throw trillions at universities offering useless degrees). But yes, we have a culture that doesn't value sleep. I know of people…

Particularly when aircraft noise is correlated with heart disease risk: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131009100602.ht...

I wonder what are all the scenarios that lead to this pattern "sleep deprived ---> low energy levels ---> less activity ---> weight gain ---> heart disease ---> death". Another issue i wonder is about will power, if self control is mentally taxing, therefore your diet should be affected as well.

Re: How much can an extra hour's sleep change you?

#15
My FitBit tells me that my average sleep time is 7.5 hours. That's pretty good for me since I'm a light sleeper. My girlfriend moving in bed wakes me up.

Worse than that is that if I do have a lie in, or I sleep longer than 8 hours — yes, I recorded sleep before my FitBit — I'd end up with headaches all day and night, worsening my sleep the next night. 7.5 hours seems to be my perfect sleep duration.

I've never been able to have a lie in, even when growing up with my parents and going through puberty. I'd want to lie in, but my parents would have me up by 8:30 every day. 9AM on rare occasions. I wonder if that's got anything to do with it.

Re: How much can an extra hour's sleep change you?

#17
post #3

I often wondered about sleep recommendations that focus on the amount of time. I realize that if you try to sleep for seven hours instead of six you are likely to get more sleep. But my problem is that not every person is getting the same quality of sleep in that period of time. If I sleep seven hours I may be getting as much rest as another person who sleeps six or a person who sleeps eight or nine hours. Sleep is a…

There are some products out there that attempt to measure sleep quality via leaving your phone on the bed, or wearing a bracelet. I'm not sure of the accuracy, though.

I hope these will get even better (maybe a non-intrusive headpiece that can measure brainwaves?) in the future.

Re: How much can an extra hour's sleep change you?

#19
post #4

Doesn't matter for me. I hardly get much deep sleep due to anatomical issues essentially blocking my airways. I can't afford the surgery (even though I have insurance) nor will my government contribute to it (even though it would increase my productivity multiple times over, meanwhile they throw trillions at universities offering useless degrees). But yes, we have a culture that doesn't value sleep. I know of people…

You can really feel the anger in your comment and it resonates with me. I am a light sleeper and constantly amazed at what we as a society deem acceptable when it comes to noise at certain hours. Why does the fire truck needs to blast its horns at 3am on a Tuesday going down a large empty street? There is no need and in some countries that would be against noise pollution laws. Doesn't seem to matter here. Leaf blowe…

Yes. I actually got into confrontations with the leaf blowers once (the manager, and the property owner). I also called the police because they are clearly violating the city's own noise ordinance. Nobody cares, the owner called me and told me that it doesn't matter because the work day starts at X a.m. What about people who work odd shifts, or students?

Resistance is futile. I just started using wax earplugs and find they make a huge difference and actually drown out a lot of noise.

Re: How much can an extra hour's sleep change you?

#20
post #4

Doesn't matter for me. I hardly get much deep sleep due to anatomical issues essentially blocking my airways. I can't afford the surgery (even though I have insurance) nor will my government contribute to it (even though it would increase my productivity multiple times over, meanwhile they throw trillions at universities offering useless degrees). But yes, we have a culture that doesn't value sleep. I know of people…

To me it seems we have a culture that doesn't value well-being in general. People might say that they do, but the entire culture is set up against it. Sleep is just one more neglected aspect of well-being. We also have ridiculous working hours, insane commutes, pathetic diet and exercise habits, and a health record to show for it. Keeping busy at one's job is valued above most else.
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