ASKDOCTORANCA

 An amusing quote from two women health experts onOprah,
back in February : “Sleep is the sex of the next century,”
(meaning this one that we’re in, now), by Laura Berman,
Ph.D. and Jennifer Berman, M.D.
Good sleep being equated in importance to good sex?  Ahhh,
that’s not just humorous, that’s interesting!
Patients are always asking me to talk  about sleep AND
sex(though not necessarily at the same time).  However, both
are important to maintaining good psychological health and
happiness — and the reality is, they both have something to
do with a topic I frequently  mention:  cortisol. 
According to one expert, “Elevated cortisol levels
resulting from chronic stress” [PostTraumaticStressDisorder,
a CEO's continuous deadlines, a student's "never-ending"
exam times are all examples of  a chronic stress] have been
associated with the following conditions: increased appetite
and food cravings; increased body fat; decreased muscle
mass; decreased bone density; increased anxiety; increased
depression; mood swings (anger and irritability); reduced
libido (sex drive); impaired immune response; memory and
learning impairment; increased symptoms of PMS (cramps,
appetite); and increased menopausal side effects (hot
flashes, night sweats).” Oh, my goodness!  Is there anything
that ISN’T on that list?
Remember, too, that increased cortisol levels such as exist
in  veterans with PTSD are also implicated in risk for heart
disease and other chronic degenerative diseases.
By addressing the root cause-adrenals insufficiency-you can
take the first step towards balancing the wake-sleep cycle:
vutaminB5, Rhodiola herb capsules, adrenal glandular
supplements, and, of course, more zzzzzzzzzz!