Wow!  In a fascinating, 5-year long study, researchers at the University of Chicago found a greater than four-fold increased risk of developing coronary artery calcification in “bad” vs. “good” sleepers.  At the beginning of the study, none of the trial participants had evidence of arterial disease.  Of those who slept fewer than five hours a night, more than one in four developed coronary calcification.  In contrast, fewer than one in sixteen of the “good” sleepers, those who slept more than seven hours a night, developed calcifications.  Those who slept between five and seven hours?  You probably guessed it:  about one in ten developed the problem.  [JAMA. 2008;300(24):2859-2866]

 Insomnia and sleep deprivation are HUGE problems in our stressed out, high-pressure, chronically-fatigued American culture.

 Things you can do to improve your sleep:

• Try to maintain a steady schedule:  rising and going to bed at the same time each day.
• Avoid distractions when it’s time to sleep – No TV, radios, or laptops.  (In fact, such devices produce an electromagnetic field that reduces your body’s ability to produce melatonin, a hormone that helps you feel drowsy.)
• Keep the room as dark as possible – darkness triggers melatonin production.
• If you exercise, great!  But not in the late evening.
• Avoid snacking two to three hours before bedtime. 
• Consider a non-prescription sleep aid such as melatonin, valerian root, L-theanine, magnesium, or 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP).

There is a safe, effective approach to treating sleep disorders.  Functional Medicine – check it out.