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Craig Ballantyne
Do you remember being at the absolute top of your game, energized and completely alert? That was exactly how I felt, and of all of the times I needed to be at my best, this was one of them! But then, when isn’t a good time to be at your best?
My business partner and I had been negotiating a deal with a local hospital over several months. Our medical supply business is quick and nimble, unlike the large hospital hampered by size and bureaucracy. Nevertheless, we were making progress on what would be a great opportunity for our community.
In briefing each other before what we hoped would be the decision-making meeting, it was obvious my partner was not at all on his game. I had to ask, what in the world was going on? He seemed exhausted or depressed, but I knew neither possibility was hampering his typical charisma.
He admitted that while going through all the “what if” scenarios the night before, he had a terrible night’s sleep. Actually, he said, he couldn’t remember the last time he awakened with the kind of juice I had going on that day. He was wasted, and unfortunately, it showed.
A couple of months earlier I could have been in the same boat as my partner. I was, like all of us occasionally, going through a significant and sustained energy lull.
I was lucky, though; during my annual physical I complained to my Doc how much aging sucks. He asked what I meant, and by the end of the visit he felt strongly–even though I somewhat disagreed–that my problem was a lack of quality sleep.
I couldn’t believe all that ailed me was a lack of shut eye, so I requested a battery of blood tests. Soon the reports showed all my hormone levels were perfect as were all organ functions, triglycerides, cholesterol levels, blood counts, blood sugar level, etc. Bottom line, I couldn’t be any healthier.
This was great news. But still, I was less than happy knowing something was keeping me from my full potential.
So, had my Doc been right all along?
So, had my Doc been right all along?
I began to wonder after learning that the National Institute of Health claims more than 74 million Americans lack adequate sleep on a regular basis. That’s an amazing 24 percent of all Americans.
I also learned that leading sleep physicians have proven sleep deprivation doesn’t discriminate. No matter who you are, whether you are young or old, male, female, healthy or ailing, you can’t cheat sleep and expect to be all that you can be (or need to be) for yourself, your spouse, family, friends, co-workers, etc.
Scientific literature is extremely clear about the dangers of sleep loss. Excessive sleeplessness can result in higher rates of diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and increased cholesterol and depression. Other than these debilitating to literally deadly symptoms, there are also the aching muscles, headaches, irritability, ADD/ADHD symptoms, memory loss, lack of creativity and resourcefulness, as well as compromised problem solving abilities. ... Continue to read.
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