Getting by on six hours? Welcome to the ‘sleepless elite’ – Sydney Morning Herald

Posted on by

The short answer is yes, according to Sleep Health Foundation chair Dorothy Bruck, but true natural short sleepers are a rare breed, estimated to make up only about one per cent of the population. Thats because most people who claim to be short sleepers are in fact sleep deprived.

The Sleep Health Foundations 2016 survey found 12 per cent of Australian adults slept less than 5 hours before work days. Of those, three-quarters admitted to having two or more sleeping difficulties or daytime symptoms.

Many people claim they sleep less than six hours without consequences but when researchers look at them closely, they find the opposite.

That leaves a quarter who didnt complain of negative impacts due to short sleep. But Professor Bruck says its highly likely the majority of these are not doing as well as they think they are.

Many people claim they sleep less than six hours without consequences but when researchers look at them closely, they find the opposite.

Telltale signs that someone isnt getting enough sleep include guzzling down caffeine or playing catch-up on weekends and holidays. A true short sleeper wouldn't rely on coffee and would continue the same sleep habits regardless of the day of the week because they are naturally efficient when they hit the hay. It means they manage get the same amount of deep, restorative sleep in six hours or less as the rest of us would in eight hours.

Researchers are still trying to identify what makes somebody a natural short sleeper, but findings are suggesting it is genetic. Studies out of the University of California have identified two types of gene mutations that promote natural short sleep.

Some common traits have also been noted for reasons that are unclear, with short sleepers tending to be more optimistic, more energetic, better multi-taskers and more pain resilient.

But aspiring to become a short sleeper would be a fruitless pursuit. Australasian Sleep Association President Alan Young says that for the vast majority of us, short sleep is not an ingredient for success.

[Short sleep] is probably a genetic disposition, but for the rest of society who dont have those particular genes its actually very unhealthy to deprive yourself of sleep, Associate Professor Young says.

Adults who are sleep deprived have higher rates of absenteeism from work, their work performance is worse and there are higher rates of work accidents.

Negative effects from lack of sleep are wide-ranging, from impaired memory and concentrationto mood swings and irritability. Sleeping six hours or less is also linked to chronic illnesses such as obesity, type two diabetes, cardiovascular disease and depression.

Dont believe everything you hear because there are people who say they sleep 4-6 hours a night and are perfectly fine, but often their perception of how they are functioning is incorrect, Professor Young says.

Almost every adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep a night to function at their best You shouldnt be chasing less sleep to give time to do other things.

Professor Young says there are many industries, including health and politics, where people wear short sleep as a badge of honour.That really needs to stop, he says.

As it is, inadequate sleep affects up to 45 per cent of Australian adults and Professor Bruck says the "sleep machismo" whereby some people glamourise short sleep is not only unhelpful, it's also really silly.

Loading

We say sleep is one of the three pillars of a healthy lifestyle along with diet and exercise, but some think sleep is uncool and think soldiering on without sleep is praiseworthy, she says.

Its actually much better to perform at your best, which is only possible if you get the sleep you need. If youre trying to sacrifice sleep for being successful in other parts of your life, thats a completely ridiculous concept.

Her takeaway message is a simple one: Sleep is cool.

Sophie is a homepage editor, digital journalist and producer for The Age.

See the original post:
Getting by on six hours? Welcome to the 'sleepless elite' - Sydney Morning Herald

ThedaCare & Pleasant View partner to promote healthy lifestyle skills – Waushara Argus

Posted on by

During the first week in May, students at Pleasant View Elementary School in Wild Rose will see their school bustle with activities designed to help them build healthy lifestyle skills.

More than 300 ThedaCare employees will span out to five Northeast Wisconsin schools, including Pleasant View Elementary, for its third annual Good to Go initiative, engaging students through activities, advice, and encouragement to promote healthy habits and to share their learnings with their families.

This year, school leaders from Berlin, Clintonville, Kaukauna, Neenah and Wild Rose collaborated with committee members from ThedaCare to create programming that both engages children and leaves them with ideas about how integrate simple wellness behaviors into their future lives. Schools rotate each year, so ThedaCare employee volunteers will reach thousands of children over time. This years Good to Go initiative will be held May 1-5.

The overall goal is to spend some time with students during that one week to create habits that can last for a lifetime, said Heather Murphy, ThedaCare Cardiovascular Care manager and a Good to Go volunteer leader. The mission for our organization is to improve the health of our communities, and to work with the five schools in the communities we live and work in is really rewarding. Its a good way for us all to be able to live our mission.

To view more, please log in or subscribe to the digital edition.

Continue reading here:
ThedaCare & Pleasant View partner to promote healthy lifestyle skills - Waushara Argus

SF health center to host wellness walk – Finger Lakes Times

Posted on by

SENECA FALLS The Seneca Falls Health Center will host its first Family Fun Walk for Wellness on Thursday (Sept. 7).

The event will run from 5 to 7 p.m. The health center is on the campus of New York Chiropractic College.

The one-mile walk or run is a health-focused, family-friendly event designed to encourage school-aged children to learn about the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices as they start the school year. The event will include a health fair, free drawings, giveaways, refreshments and more.

Participants are invited to tour the Seneca Falls Health Center and meet the doctors, acupuncturists, clinicians and students who provide chiropractic care, acupuncture, Oriental medicine and nutritional counseling to the community.

Wegmans has sponsored four water stations along the walk route that will provide healthy, back-to-school information presented by NYCCs chiropractic and acupuncture students. Participants who stop at each water station will also receive a child-friendly giveaway.

The Seneca County Sheriffs Department will provide free SAFE Child ID cards, and many other community partners will be available to share information on a wide variety of health-related topics. Cornell Cooperative Extension, Eaves Family Dental Group, Finger Lakes Health, MVP Healthcare, Ovid Community Health Center, Seneca County Addictions/Prevention Program, Society for the Care and Protection of Children/WIC, Wayne County Action Program and Wegmans will participate under a tent next to the health center.

The Seneca Falls Health Center, an affiliate of the New York Chiropractic College, provides patient-centered, natural chiropractic care, acupuncture, Oriental medicine and nutritional counseling to the community. Call (315) 568-3166 or visit the health centers Facebook Page @sfallshealthcenter for more information about the family fun walk.

The Seneca Falls Health Center offers convenient hours, short wait times, close parking and participates in most insurance programs.

View post:
SF health center to host wellness walk - Finger Lakes Times

Welcome To My Channel: Beauty, Hair Journey, Makeup and Fashion – Video

Posted on by


Welcome To My Channel: Beauty, Hair Journey, Makeup and Fashion
Hey everyone, If you love engaging in beauty, makeup, hair care, skincare and healthy lifestyle then you need to hit that subscribe button! This is a just a peak into what you will be missing...

By: cocoabuttersilk

Original post:
Welcome To My Channel: Beauty, Hair Journey, Makeup and Fashion - Video

HOW I LOST 50.2 POUNDS IN 9 WEEKS!!!!… Beginning My Healthy Lifestyle :) – Video

Posted on by


HOW I LOST 50.2 POUNDS IN 9 WEEKS!!!!... Beginning My Healthy Lifestyle 🙂
Hello My Sweethearts:) Come Check Out My First Of Many Videos Regarding My Healthy Lifestyle Journey... I invite any and every question you may have for me.... So please stick around, Rate,...

By: thicksnickaslimdown1

Read more from the original source:
HOW I LOST 50.2 POUNDS IN 9 WEEKS!!!!... Beginning My Healthy Lifestyle 🙂 - Video

Holistic Approach for Healthy Lifestyle on Sthree TV on behalf World Health Day 2014 – Video

Posted on by


Holistic Approach for Healthy Lifestyle on Sthree TV on behalf World Health Day 2014
Ms.Anu Priya, Hydrotherapy consultant and Director of Atos Leo Healthfarm Pvt Ltd created a awareness on the importance of Holistic Approach for Healthy Lifestyle in SThree TV. Sthree TV...

By: Atos Leo Health Farm Private Limited

Follow this link:
Holistic Approach for Healthy Lifestyle on Sthree TV on behalf World Health Day 2014 - Video