By Dr. Richard Chern M.D.
Sleeping through the night seems like an impossible task for many of us. Waking up at three or four in the morning can be an everyday ordeal for many as we age. You should already know sleep is one of the most important tools to heal our bodies, maintain the immune system, keep our mind invigorated and our memory healthy. So, you would think we would sleep better as we age.
The effects of sleep deprivation are more than just a day of feeling tired and fighting to make it through. Sleep deprivation has been well studied and has catastrophic long-term results. Besides daytime sleepiness, irritability and a shortened attention span, sleep deprivation causes obesity, hypertension, diabetes, anxiety, heart attacks, reduced sex drive, impaired memory, and depression. That’s not, might cause, that’s does cause.
Did you know that the rate of heart attacks increases with daylight savings? A New England Journal of Medicine study showed a 24% increased risk of heart attack on the Monday morning after daylight savings. Waking up just one hour earlier can put at risk people over the edge.
A lack of sleep decreases your ability to make new memories by up to 40%. Sleep impairs the hippocampus which is the key player in memory formation. This can only be reversed by getting adequate sleep.
Sleep is also a primary way to reduce cortisol levels. Cortisol is responsible for increasing blood pressure, stress, and anxiety.
Hormones are a primary driver in our body’s ability to stay asleep. When was the last time you woke up feeling refreshed in the morning? If you can’t remember a time you slept well. If you drink more than one serving of caffeine daily. If you have hypertension, diabetes, irritability, or other symptoms described above then you need to call us at (850) 837-1271 for an appointment. You should probably call right now because if you are not sleeping well you might not remember reading this article when you wake up sleepy tomorrow.
Dr Richard Chern MD and Sue Griffin ARNP specialize in hormone therapy and have the largest and longest-running bioidentical hormone therapy practice in the Southeast. Dr Richard Chern is also part of the teaching staff for Biote and has taught new providers in our area and across the country how to properly treat patients. There is a lifetime of learning in the treatment of hormones and treatments, and results are not the same everywhere. Don’t make the mistake of seeing a provider who dabbles in everything and think you are getting the best treatment. At a minimum, make sure you are seeing a Platinum Provider. Getting your labs and having a consultation is easy and affordable.
Dr. Richard Chern M.D. and Sue Griffin ARNP are currently accepting new patients so don’t miss out on this opportunity. Call (850) 837-1271 today and make an appointment.
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