As if you didn’t already have enough to worry about to keep you up at night, a new study indicates that poor sleep can negatively affect your gut microbiome, which can, in turn, lead to additional health issues.
Great.
That’s at the heart – or gut – of the study just published in PLoS ONE that involved several researchers from Nova Southeastern University (NSU.) They wanted to see just how much of a connection there is between what is going on in our insides and how that may impact the quality of sleep we experience.
That's interesting because I sleep so poorly. I know sleep and the intestinal flora are equally essential to good physical and mental health. I'd guess it's easier to do something about improving your intestinal flora than influencing how you sleep. It is quite worrying because lack of sleep is well known to be bad for all kinds of reasons and I sleep very little and have very interrupted sleep. As I guess a lot of people here do, judging by the number of messages posted in the night 🌃
I have no problem getting off to sleep at night, at 11 pm, being shattered at the end of the day. My problem is I wake up at around 4/5 am, when a puff on the rescue inhaler is needed to relieve the laboured breathing but cannot get back to sleep again. Waking up at 6 am would be ideal.
Why is sleeping so difficult?! Sometimes I feel like I've forgotten how to sleep. Often I feel exhausted, for example after a long tiring day at work, or a long walk when I'm on holiday, yet however tired I am I don't go to sleep. When I eventually do I wake up numerous times. My brother is the complete opposite of me, he goes to sleep within moments of going to bed and sleeps all night with out interruption.
It my be physiological, having a chronic lung disease must eventually affect the subconscious as well so there is no escape from it, even in sleep. It is no wonder that depression can set in so easily with some.
I never have had a problem with sleeping even after an afternoon Siesta. BUT, when on Prednisolone, I lie there waiting & waiting then get up and have a Cuppa, then go Online, Then Read, Have my Oxygen on as to retain my 16 hours. Now I no longer need the "Devils Tic Tacs" I am back to Sleeping well, even getting up at 5am or (6 am,) my preferred time I have had enough Sleep and ready for the day. We are all different, we need to know how we work. Love n Wide awake Hugs, 2 gs. XXX C.
Interesting to read the replies. My whole life has been a series of cat naps day and night. It was difficult not to fall asleep in afternoon school classes. At night, like you I fall asleep easily but then wake every 1 1/2 -2 hrs. I hear half of a lot of plays on radio 4 extra. I do function in the day but think that I probably struggle compared to good sleepers. Everything is a struggle and I think that I subliminally plan everything I do from making a cup of tea to spending a morning volunteering.
I think that periodic depression goes hand in hand with lung problems and lack of sleep. As a child I didn't realise that depression was what I felt. From my thirties I had sessions on various happy pills but realised that they don't solve anything for me because my depression comes from physical things that I just have to manage as best I can.
Hi 2greys, my 2 sisters and I all suffer from that dratted condition known as insomnia. I do think it can have a genetic factor too.
My dr now gives me amitriptyline which gets me off to sleep and helps with back pain. I’ve had 3 spinal surgeries and don’t want any more! Taking drugs to sleep isn’t ideal but I feel ill whenever I’ve had a sleepless night and It’s the lesser of the 2 evils.
Re gut flora- I’ve just started taking Symprove, which is meant to be one of the best supplements for promoting gut health. The downside is that it is a foul tasting liquid and is expensive. However I believe gut health is important particularly after a round of antibiotics. If anyone knows where Symprove can be bought at a better price of £75 for a month’s supply, I’d be grateful.
I worked the night shift as a nurse for many years still finding it very hard to sleep up at 4 am when its dark is depressing not so bad in the summer.
I agree with Redsox nothing beats a good nights sleep and Im sure that promotes your gut health and they do say that most of your health problems start in the gut. I would settle for just the one night every month or so. I have no problems going to sleep its staying asleep. I am awake every 2 hours or so normally, but since I have had the shoulder problems I am just cat napping, just cant get comfortable without pain x
I have a book from the Library by Matthew Walker "Why We Sleep" a pengyuin national best seller. He has spent his loife studying why we sleep and the consequences and benefits of not sleeping and sleeping fully. A real eye opener.
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