| Finnish researchers recently analyzed sleep | | | | nights of sleeping 4 hours a night, these young |
| patterns in a large group of women over the | | | | men in their 20s had hormone profiles typical of |
| course of many years. They found that women | | | | 60-year-olds! |
| who regularly slept less than 6 hours a night had a | | | | As with chronic stress, chronic sleep deprivation |
| 10 percent greater risk of breast cancer | | | | suppresses immune function, which increases the |
| compared with those who always slept 7 or 8 | | | | possibility that malignant cells will proliferate. The |
| hours per night. And the women who got the | | | | researchers also theorize that hormones released |
| most sleep (more than 8 hours) had a significant | | | | when we sleep (such as melatonin) are protective |
| 72% reduction in breast cancer rates! | | | | against cancer. Long, regular sleep encourages |
| Most American adults report that they get 6 | | | | melatonin production, as does sleeping in a |
| hours of sleep or less on most nights. Could the | | | | darkened room. |
| simple act of getting more sleep could make a | | | | You can "catch up" on lost sleep to a certain |
| significant difference in the nation's breast cancer | | | | extent. After just a few days of resuming regular |
| rates? | | | | sleeping patterns, for example, the hormone |
| What's the connection between sleep and | | | | levels of the college students at the University of |
| disease? | | | | Chicago had just about returned to normal. But |
| The link between stress and disease is | | | | the strongest benefits--such as the dramatic |
| well-documented. The hormones that your body | | | | reduction in breast cancer rates--come to those |
| produces in response to physical and emotional | | | | who consistently get sufficient, quality sleep. |
| stress lower your resistance to disease, damage | | | | If you are taking good care of your health in |
| your organs and blood vessels, and accelerate the | | | | every other way, don't cheat yourself on a good |
| aging process. It's not just an expression: Too | | | | night's sleep. If you think you don't have time to |
| much stress really can turn your hair grey or | | | | get more sleep, just think of how much more |
| take years off your life. | | | | you will be able to accomplish when your body |
| Not as widely known is the fact that your body | | | | and brain are fully rested and energized. Stop |
| experiences a lack of sleep as stress. A couple of | | | | thinking of sleep as a luxury and start thinking of |
| years ago, there a study at the University of | | | | it as an essential part of your prescription for a |
| Chicago measured the effects of sleep | | | | long and healthy life. |
| deprivation on college students. After just a few | | | | |