Children sleeping[/caption]If you are one of those people who gets less than six hours of sleep per night on a regular basis, you may want to read this as lack of sleep can exacerbate or cause a number of health problems.
Recently it has been found by the University of Alabama researchers that regularly sleeping less than six hours nightly can increase the risk of stroke. There are, however, ways of assessing this potential risk through a simple eye test.
At the University of Zürich, researchers have found that an eye test that can be performed during routine examinations by ophthalmologists can help assess what is called carotid artery stenosis. This is a condition that blocks arteries in the neck and therefore could eventually lead to stroke.
There are number of health risks related to lack of sleep. "Sleep is no different from diet or exercise," says Carol Ash, D.O., as reported in Self.com. She is a specialist in sleep disorders in New Jersey.
Lack of sleep can lead to weight gain and weight gain to other illnesses such as diabetes. In fact the American Journal of Epidemiology has reported that one third of women who sleep five or less hours nightly will likely gain about 33 pounds over the next 16 years.
Dr. Susan Redline, a sleep specialist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, told ABC news,. "Sleep deficiency can affect mood and the ability to make memories and learn, but it also affects metabolism, appetite, blood pressure, levels of inflammation in the body and perhaps even the immune response." is also been found that lack of sleep can increase risk of cancer and heart problems.
Sleep. diet and exercise, are the major pathways to good health, according to the latest research. Whereas many Americans may read these reports, many still find it difficult to maintain healthy routines. Ignoring these recommendations, however, can impact health in later years and reduce lifespan, all of which adds up to a host of social problems that could be solved by individuals taking responsibility for their health, as experts stress.
