Everyone knows that it’s important to get a good night’s sleep, but the list of reasons to do it keep stacking up as scientists explore the relationship between sleep and wellness. There are myriad reasons for missing sleep, ranging from problems like sleep apnea or insomnia to things like working too much or caring for children, but short-changing your body’s sleep cycle is proving to be more and more dangerous.
The link between poor sleeping habits and breast cancer has been discussed for a long time, but a recent study from the University of Iceland in Reykjavik has shown a significant correlation between lack of sleep and prostate cancer in men.
This means that in addition to the cardiovascular problems that can arise when the body is deprived of sleep, both men and women are also at an increased risk of cancer. In fact, in this particular study, scientists found that men who don’t sleep well were fully twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as those who slept soundly each night.
This study only further proves the importance of taking extra care to manage your sleep time. Many people fall into the trap of thinking that they will catch up on their sleep tomorrow, always putting it off one day more, thinking that they can recoup their lost sleep over the weekend. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that. You should be sleeping well every night of the week, if possible.
If you find that you have a condition that prevents you from getting a full night of sleep, please arrange a consultation with an ENT specialist who can help you. Obstructive sleep apnea and excessive snoring are often the cause of disrupted sleep.
Don’t put your health on hold!
Ramie A Tritt, MD, President, Atlanta ENT
