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Not getting enough sleep? Welcome to the machine…

Filed under: General News by Matt Emery on February 11, 2008 @ 13:07 PST

 

A recent report from the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research has confirmed what most people are already painfully aware of;  not getting enough sleep.

From the report:

Almost a fifth of NSW’s adult population doesn’t get enough sleep according to research to be published this month in international publication Internal Medicine Journal. 

With 11.7% experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness and 18.4% reporting sleeping less than 6.5 hours per night. the study warns the impact of sleep and sleepiness on the public health could be
large.

Results  found  excessive  daytime  sleepiness  was  most  commonly  associated  with  short  sleep durations, getting older and symptoms of insomnia and depression. 

Dr Delwyn Bartlett, Sleep Psychologist at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and chief author  of  the  paper,  explains  short  sleep,  either  self-imposed  or  forced,  is  being  increasingly recognised as a contributor to impaired health and increased death in the community.   “It  can  impact  on  everything  from  cardiovascular  disease,  type-2  diabetes,  insulin  sensitivity, appetite, immune responses to vaccinations and concentration levels for even the simplest tasks,” she said.

“If the NSW figures are reflective of the nation as a whole, chronic sleep restriction is likely to
have a major impact on Australian public health.”  Dr Bartlett says.

My opinion:

Society exploits people… and does so by appealing to our animal instincts.  Our consumerist culture with it’s attitude of "more, more, more!" convinces us to work longer hours to buy a bunch of stuff that we really don’t need, and usually that stuff will not bring any lasting happiness.  Alain De botton summed it up well in his book and documentary aptly titled "Status Anxiety" in which he observes the anxiety about what others think of us; about whether we’re judged a success or a failure, a winner or a loser.  He writes:

"A sharp decline in actual deprivation may – paradoxically – have been accompanied by a continuing and even increased sense of deprivation and a fear of it. Populations blessed with riches and possibilities far outstripping those imaginable by their ancestors tilling the unpredictable soil of medieval Europe have shown a remarkable capacity to feel that both who they are and what they have are not enough."

But for now, we’re sold on it, and we’ll keep consuming energy drinks and high sugar foods so we can work longer hours to get the stuff that we don’t really need.

Perhaps someday in the future people will look back on the 21st century in disbelief and horror at the exploitation people suffered.  Perhaps they will think we’re idiots… and I wouldn’t blame them.

So what we can we do about it?  Firstly, I would recommend getting out into the wilderness and looking around.  Take notice of all the things that are free… oh yeah, that would be everything.

Secondly, I would think of the times in  your life when you were genuinely happy, because the chances are that they weren’t based on money.  Some of my greatest memories involve times in my life where I was flat broke.

And last but not least, tell all the proverbial "Jones’s" to shove their have and have-not mentality up their butt.  That is, if their head isn’t taking up all the space.

We live in strange times, where slavery; rather being enforced, is chosen.  You do have a choice… yes you do.


5 Comments »

  1. Thought provoking post, Matt!

    Since your diet appears to be a low/no-carb diet, yet you advocate eating as though you live off the land, what’s your take on fruits?

    Also, why are you against potatoes? People have been eating roots for thousands of years. Consuming potatoes with fats and protein in a non-fasted state negates their supposed impact on blood glucose.

    Comment by Barry — March 12, 2008 @ 06:12 PDT


  2. Hi Barry, thanks for joining in the conversation :)

    I encourage people to avoid excessive amounts of fruit, particularly during the first phases of the Caveman Power Diet. It helps to avoid spiking ones blood sugar level, which is one of the critical factors of the diet. Living off the land is consistent with this approach (for some geographical areas). I am against the consumption of potato for the same reasons.

    Eating carbohydrates with fats and protein as in; 40% carbs, 30% fats, 30% protein is a well balanced diet, but the Caveman Power Diet goes through a detox phase before reaching this ratio of macro-nutrients. I personally still avoid potato, as there are plenty of other sources of carbohydrates that contain a higher density of vitamins and minerals, without the High GI factor.

    Comment by Matt Emery — March 12, 2008 @ 12:50 PDT


  3. Hi, Matt, just found your blog and it looks good! I’m on the paleo diet, myself (day 133) and I’ve lost 60 lbs (down from 233 lbs). I eat raw fruits and veggies and, of course, lots of meat.

    About the incidence of sleep deprivation, while I’m sure a lot of it does stem from lifestyle choices, as you’ve noted, I think you’re failing to account for the growing numbers of people with sleep disorders, especially sleep apnea. In 2004, I was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea, myself. While the paleo diet has reduced the effects of my sleep apnea some (probably by reducing the amount of fat in my pharyngeal tissues (those that cause the obstruction to my airway), thus reluieving some of the airway constriction I’ve experienced, I still suffer from at least a mild case of sleep apnea. I’m sleeping much better than before, though.

    Comment by Gary — March 16, 2008 @ 03:27 PDT


  4. Hi Gary, thanks for joining in the discussion.

    I intentionally left out sleeping disorders, as my focus is on sleep deprivation caused by modern lifestyle factors. However, I am aware that modern lifestyle factors such as diabetes, smoking and exhaustion can contribute to sleep apnea.

    It’s interesting to hear that eating a Paelo diet has helped you with sleep apnea, as well as the fact that you’ve lost 60lbs. That’s great news!

    Comment by Matt Emery — March 16, 2008 @ 10:26 PDT


  5. That’s a timely article that I think everyone in Australian and indeed wider western society needs to take away and think about. I myself sleep very poorly thanks to bad habits I formed in my early 20s around TV and internet gaming and I do see a direct and negative effect on my health. I’ve been winding back the late nights and things are getting slowly and steadily better but it’s a long road ahead to break such an ingrained habit.

    I can’t speak for anyone else but I find the TV to actually give me a headache quite often nowadays. The bright colours and flashing images aren’t good at all, this is acutely compounded by the fact that almost all shows are asinine drivel that would make garbage at the rubbish tip squeamish and the commercials, especially late at night, are immoral pox ridden filth that is a curse on us all. But I digress, my rant shall end here.

    Er, back on topic, I see paper after paper pointing out the negative health impact our modern way of living is having and I think it’s going to come to a head sooner rather then later. When it does our health services are going to collapse. They are already buckling at the knees so any serious extra load will be too much to handle.

    Comment by Seeker — March 20, 2008 @ 10:29 PDT


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