Sleep and Denial

Today, I’m sharing a few paragraphs directly from the book “The 8-hour Sleep Paradox” by Dr. Mark Burhenne.

“We are in denial about how we’re sleeping.  Sleep-disordered breathing reduces our productivity and even earnings.  In fact, the biochemical restoration that the brain and body go through during sleep is so powerful that brushing off sleep is akin to saying, “Yep, I’m okay with a little brain damage every day for the rest of my life.””

Do you catch that?

“Yep, I’m okay with a little brain damage every day for the rest of my life.”

What a wake up call!  I don’t know about you, but I am NOT okay with brain damage.

“Even if you are able to barrel through the short-term effects of sleep deprivation, there’s no escape from the long-term effects.  As the damage accumulates, the immune system is weakened and you increase your risk of multiple types of cancer.  the body becomes more susceptible to metabolic and endocrine issues, raising the risk of heart disease and diabetes.  You accelerate cognitive decline, increasing your chances of dementia and Alzheimer’s.  People with untreated sleep disorders have a 20% shorter life expectancy.”

So, how are you sleeping?  Are you in denial?  Are you okay with a little brain damage every day for the rest of your life?