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During Sleep Awareness Week, Saint Barnabas Medical Center Stresses the Importance of a Good Night’s Sleep Livingston, N.J.--For millions of people with chronic sleep problems, it would be a dream to return to the days of sleeping like a baby. Research shows that 40 percent of Americans have difficulty sleeping a few times per week; while 1 in 3 says insomnia strikes nearly every night. Although insomnia is the most common complaint, there are other sleep disorders that can have adverse effects and may initially go undiagnosed. During Sleep Awareness Week, March 27 through April 2, staff from The Kazmir Center for Sleep Disorders at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston remind individuals that sleep is just as important to one’s health as diet and exercise. For the millions of Americans struggling to maintain a healthy weight, getting more sleep may prove to be part of the answer. A study presented at the 2004 North American Association for the Study of Obesity has found a correlation between the amount of sleep a person gets each night and their chance of becoming obese. "Physicians have known for some time now that people who have problems sleeping are more likely to have heart attacks, strokes, and high blood pressure that is difficult to treat, as well as concentration and behavioral problems,” says Mangala Nadkarni, M.D., Medical Director of The Kazmir Center for Sleep Disorders at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. “This study provides further evidence that getting the right amount of sleep directly affects a person’s ability to maintain a healthy weight. According to the study, individuals who get less than four hours of sleep per night were 73 percent more likely to be obese than those who got the recommended seven to nine hours. Research showed that people who averaged five hours a night were 50 percent more likely to be obese and those who got six hours have a 23 percent greater risk. Though people burn less calories while sleeping, evidence exists linking sleep and the various neural pathways that regulate food intake. For individuals who are concerned about their weight, seeing a sleep specialist might prove to be as helpful as meeting with a nutritionist or beginning an exercise program. Treatment is offered for various sleep-related disorders, including snoring, insomnia, Sleep Apnea or Sleep Disordered Breathing, Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome, and Restless Leg or Periodic Leg Movement Syndrome. “Patients who have successfully sought treatment through the Sleep Disorders Center feel rejuvenated by their new sleep patterns, which results in a better quality of life,” said Dr. Nadkarni. The Kazmir Center for Sleep Disorders offers a full range of services used in the evaluation, diagnosis and management of sleep-related disorders in adults and children. The Center is equipped with the latest in monitoring equipment, providing the opportunity for daytime testing and full overnight sleep studies. For more information about sleep disorders or The Kazmir Center for Sleep Disorders at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, please call 973-322-9800. Date: February 16, 2006 [ top ] |
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