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In Scotsman:
Poor sleep increases ghrelin hormone which triggers feeling of hunger. That makes people eat more, gain more weight and then sleep worse, making it a viscious circle potentially leading to sleep apnoea.
Poor sleep increases ghrelin hormone which triggers feeling of hunger. That makes people eat more, gain more weight and then sleep worse, making it a viscious circle potentially leading to sleep apnoea.
Their study of 1000 volunteers found that people who habitually slept for five hours had 15 per cent more ghrelin – a hormone that increases feelings of hunger – than those who slept for eight hours.
So could it really be that easy? Sadly not. Dr Idzikowski points out that many of us are suffering from "junk sleep" – an umbrella term he uses to describe poor quality sleep. On average, he says, people experiencing junk sleep wake up or experience a momentary lighter sleep around 90 times every hour.
Those who suffer from sleep apnoea – a breathing problem that often leads to snoring – can find themselves being completely awakened or partially roused from sleep more than 300 times a night.
So could it really be that easy? Sadly not. Dr Idzikowski points out that many of us are suffering from "junk sleep" – an umbrella term he uses to describe poor quality sleep. On average, he says, people experiencing junk sleep wake up or experience a momentary lighter sleep around 90 times every hour.
Those who suffer from sleep apnoea – a breathing problem that often leads to snoring – can find themselves being completely awakened or partially roused from sleep more than 300 times a night.
"If they put on weight then that, in turn, can make the problem worse because it leads to poor breathing and sleep apnoea."
It's a vicious circle that's hard to break, especially as those who need treatment to stop them from snoring are often unable to undergo surgery because they are overweight.
This is why Dr Idzikowski and his team are now focusing on the link between junk sleep and weight, and are referring patients to see a fitness trainer.
The Edinburgh Sleep Centre is also about to employ a dietician to make patients aware that the high sugar foods and caffeine drinks they are consuming during the day are contributing to their restless nights. This is difficult, of course, because – hormones aside – if you feel yourself flagging, the chances are your good-intentioned diet is going to be pushed into the back of your mind in favour of a bar of chocolate and yet more caffeine to compensate for the low energy level reached.
It's a vicious circle that's hard to break, especially as those who need treatment to stop them from snoring are often unable to undergo surgery because they are overweight.
This is why Dr Idzikowski and his team are now focusing on the link between junk sleep and weight, and are referring patients to see a fitness trainer.
The Edinburgh Sleep Centre is also about to employ a dietician to make patients aware that the high sugar foods and caffeine drinks they are consuming during the day are contributing to their restless nights. This is difficult, of course, because – hormones aside – if you feel yourself flagging, the chances are your good-intentioned diet is going to be pushed into the back of your mind in favour of a bar of chocolate and yet more caffeine to compensate for the low energy level reached.
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