Sleep Disorder Link To Chronic Diseases.

Getting adequate good night sleep is one of the most important aspects in your entire life. We all need sleep for repair, regeneration and rejuvenation. Our body produces melatonin in the dark and it plays a role in both sleep and aging.

In young people, the pineal gland generally secretes melatonin naturally, but this is not the case in older adults. Older adults exhibit a decline in melatonin production as they age. Besides contributing to sleep loss, this reduction alone is associated with many age-related degenerative disease.

Melatonin is produced primary at night and affects well being thus sleep loss has been associated with depression. It is a known fact that sleep debt elicit depression like symptoms. Sleep deprived people have low levels of melatonin, which triggers an inflammatory response.

Inflammation is process whereby our body natural defense system comprising white blood cells and other chemicals known as inflammatory chemicals protect us from foreign harmful substances such as bacteria and viruses.

In some circumstances, the body natural defense system or immune system triggers inflammatory response unnecessary, usually in the absence of foreign substances which it is suppose to fight off and this cause damage to the body tissues. Chronic inflammation can create havoc to the body immune system and affect vital organs.

In addition to its ability to control your daily cycle which better known as circadian rhythm, melatonin modulates the expression of a number of genes related to inflammation. It may therefore have a two-pronged effect in improving mood: Its ability to regulate your daily cycle, and its ability to control inflammation. Controlling inflammation is more important than most people would ever imagine.

Chronic insomnia can lead to early death. Ongoing research indicates insomnia's role in promoting constant state of low grade inflammation which accelerates many diseases and aging. Low grade inflammation is recognized as one of the leading contributors of heart attacks and strokes.

Recent reports of sudden death involving otherwise healthy people while running on thread mill or doing rigorous exercise has been attributed to low grade inflammation. More and more people suffering heart attacks and strokes has normal healthy cholesterol level .

More doctors has now come to understand that low grade inflammation is as dangerous, if not more dangerous than high cholesterol in contributing to heart disease and stroke. Insulin resistance leading to diabetes can also be cause by low grade inflammation.

In summary, the act of preventing chronic inflammation within the body by simply getting adequate sleep could very well help prevent obesity, hypertension, stress, rapid aging as well as a whole host of chronic diseases.