better sleep la:southbay
NFL Star Reggie White: Death Due To Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Sleep Apnea a Major Contributer to Football Star Reggie White's Death at Age 43
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a very serious medical condition that causes a person to stop breathing in their sleep. This can occur hundreds of times throughout the night, causing the sufferer to briefly awake each time gasping for air. OSA occurs when throat muscles relax during sleep, allowing soft tissue in the throat to collapse and block the passage of air
Sleep Apnea
can lead to early death!
A new study from the New England Journal of Medicine shows that 33 percent of NFL players struggle with sleep apnea. This study researched 52 football players and revealed that the heaviest players, the linemen at 300 lbs. each, had the greatest risk of sleep apnea. A 2003 study from the New England Journal of Medicine evaluated 300 players with 14 percent having sleep apnea. Of this percentage, 34 percent were linemen
Sleep Apnea is:
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Common
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Dangerous
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Easily Recognized
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Treatable
The amount of sleep an athlete gets appears to have a large impact on sports performance:
Former NBA All Star Shaquille O’Neal has been active in raising awareness for sleep apnea, something he currently suffers from. Former Oakland Raider JaMarcus Russell says that sleep apnea was the contributing factor to many of his NFL struggles. Former San Diego Chargers Aaron Taylor and Rolf Benirschke have also suffered from the condition
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It seems likely that chronically poor or inadequate sleep over a season would impair performance. This might be particularly evident for athletes who train both in the early morning and afternoon, but have a delayed circadian system, which makes it difficult to obtain adequate sleep amounts for these athletes.
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Long distance flights can cause conflicts in circadian rhythms and sleep-wake cycles. For many athletes, this leads to jet lag, a condition characterized by sleep loss, headaches, dizziness, fatigue and reductions in energy, alertness and cognition. Jet lag creates travel fatigue and hinders elite athletic performance.
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Sleep deprivation has well-studied negative effects on reaction times, and even a single night of sleep deprivation can slow quick response times.
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Moreover, sleep apnea is common in some athletes with large body masses and neck sizes. Both sleep loss and intensive training have been associated with a higher incidence of illness and injury, so the combination of these factors could be detrimental to athletes.
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Misuse of sleeping medications in athletes can cause fatigue, drowsiness, slower reflexes, dependence and addiction, tolerance and decreased overall performance.
How does sleep disorders affect high performance athletes?
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Decreased energy. Sleep deprivation reduces your body's ability to store glycogen -- energy that you need during endurance events.
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Worse decision making and reflexes. Studies have shown that athletes who don't get enough sleep are worse at making split-second decisions and less accurate.
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Hormone changes. Not getting enough sleep can increase levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that can slow down healing, increase the risk of injuries, and worsen memory. It also lowers levels of growth hormone that helps repair the body
What are the benefits of treating sleep disorders?
The professional sports world appears to be continuing to turn more of its attention to what has been a much-overlooked issue: sleep. This time, it's the National Hockey League that is addressing sleep problems on several fronts
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Significantly improves the quality of life with Sleep Apnea treatment
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Helps the healing process to recover from any sort of injury
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Significantly improves the ability to react quicker and make smarter in game decisions
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Improves ability to concentrate and focus
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Increase energy and improves mood during practices and games
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Helps decrease level of fatigue
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Sleep Apnea treatment benefits the heart
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Lowered Blood Pressure
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Easier Weight Control
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Live longer
NHL Wakes Up to Sleep Problems
Sleep is getting well deserved recognition as a benefit to athletes
The search for performance enhancement leads some athletes to turn some pretty dark corners. It’s a shame, and not just because doping is dangerous, unethical, and frequently illegal. It’s also a shame because athletes at all levels of play have access to a powerful tool to improve their performance, one that won’t break any laws or put anyone’s health at risk.