(no subject)

[watertank]

Research shows that healthy sleep is key to the nation's health. I propose that, as part of its economic stimulus package, the Obama administration should invest in naps.

People who get five to seven hours of sleep nightly are almost twice as likely to develop early signs of blood-vessel damage as those who get more rest, according to a five-year study published in today’s Journal of the American Medical Association. Those who regularly sleep less than five hours a night are at even higher risk.

Abnormal sleep patterns skew the release of appetite-related hormones, which may contribute to obesity and diabetes, earlier studies showed. Today’s research is the first to suggest a shorter night’s sleep may have a more direct and damaging effect on heart health, said Diane Lauderdale, the University of Chicago epidemiologist who led the research team.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601124&sid=aKYtC_r9dyhs