Author Login | Popular Articles | RSS Feeds | Sitemap

Home | Arts-and-entertainment


Sleep Deprivation and Athletic Performance

By: EMMANUEL CHAVEZ

Getting enough sleep is important for athletes to achieve optimum athletic performance. It enables the body to recover from intense physical activities the body underwent because of training or competition. A recent study conducted by the researchers in the University of Chicago Medical School (UCMS) led by Eve Van Cauter, Ph.D. bolstered the beliefs of many health professionals and athletes. The study showed that sleep deprivation may hamper glucose metabolism by as much as 30 to 40 percent. This is important among athletes because glucose is the body's fuel. Slowed glucose metabolism may impair athletic performance and recovery.

The UCMS study showed that after only one week of sleep deprivation, young and healthy males involved in the study had glucose levels that were no longer normal and showed a rapid deterioration of the body's functions. This reduced ability of the body to manage glucose is similar to those found in the elderly. In addition to this, cortisol (stress hormone) levels may be higher on individuals who are deprived of sleep. This condition has been linked to memory impairment and age-related insulin resistance. Elevated levels of cortisol may also interfere with tissue repair and muscle growth. In the long run, this condition may prevent an athlete from responding to intense training, or he or she may physically suffer from overtraining.

Other studies suggest that consistent sleep deprivation reduces cardiovascular performance by about 11 percent. So how much sleep does one have to miss before this starts to happen? If an athlete needs eight hours sleep and only gets six, the said athlete would accumulate enough sleep debt in 15 days to significantly reduce their cardiovascular performance. Imagine an athlete studying for exams late into the night and getting up for an early morning to train. In just over two weeks, the athlete's performance could already show signs of regression or impairment.

Athletes need ample amount of sleep because adaptation to physical training and recovery are essential in achieving a higher level of fitness. Athletes who constantly undergo intense trainining should realize that the recovery period is as important as the training period. Because of the intensity of training of many athletes, they are encouraged to get at least eight hours of sleep. It is important for these individuals to get enough sleep because it boosts the immune system and enables the body to fight infection that can be developed with overtraining.

Athletes who suffer from sleep deprivation should seek the help of doctors and other health practitioners. These professionals may help identify the cause of the sleep problems and provide advice on how to improve their sleep. Alhough the use of medications to get better sleep is not prohibited, some sleep aid products may cause daytime drowsiness even after the amount of sleep has been increased. This may cause other health problems and hamper their athletic performance. Athletes may also involve low-intensity exercise to their post-competition recovery plan and see if they feel better, faster, and are getting adequate sleep. With the right daily routine, proper training, and appropriate medications --- athletes can improve their quality of sleep and achieve optimum athletic performance.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Emmanuel Chavez is a sports writer and holds a graduate degree in Sports Nutrition. There are so many sites devoting the attention to the promotion of this drug too. DrugstoreTM.com is one of the trusted sources of this product. Visit DrugstoreTM.com for more details. And also you can visit Drugstoretm- Articles for more health related articles.

| Print | Ezine Ready | |

Please Rate this Article

Recent Arts-and-Entertainment Articles

  • IWB Holsters - Can They Work For Me? By: Grant Jordan - IWB is an acronym for "inside the waistband", and it is typically used to describe gun holsters that are carried in that manner. Holster makers offer a variety of methods to attach the IWB holster to the belt. Those attachments include leather snap straps, steel or kydex clips, velcro, or plastic snaps. Just like the various carrying attachments, IWB holsters also offer a number of various carrying styles. IWB holsters can be worn as a cross draw, behind the hip, on the strong side, or even small of the back (commonly called SOB).
  • Information About online dating By: MaureenGreenAUSB - Online dating is becoming more sophisticated as technology improves. Prior to the audio-visual features of the internet, online dating information was restricted to text. These days, online dating has even been upgraded to what's popularly called video dating. Be especially wary of any individual you meet in an online dating room who contradicts information on his or her profile. Information disparity in profile in the course of an online date is indication that your date is not to be trusted.
    Tags: arts-and-entertainment, online dating, online date, singles online, online romance
  • The elite NYC Society By: Anne Harvester - One could say that NYC society is itself made up of many societies, each with its own focus and agenda. While normally the term "NYC society" refers to rich and/or famous socialites, the fact is that a society is in its most basic form, an association or organization of like-minded people. One interesting NYC society calls itself just that - "The Society.
    Tags: arts-and-entertainment, nyc society, new york city society
  • Who are the darlings of NYC society? By: Anne Harvester - It all depends on what part of NYC society one is speaking of. Different sectors of NYC society favor different people - but one class of people that almost everyone in NYC society can agree on are those talented entertainers known as cabaret performers. Cabaret is not unique to the Big Apple, and members of NYC society are not the only ones who appreciate this unique form of nightclub entertainment. However, the same members of NYC society who appreciate Broadway musicals are likely to appreciate its "little sister," cabaret.
    Tags: arts-and-entertainment, nyc society, new york city society
  • Useful Hint About cheap airfare By: VictorStephenPnP - Airline wholesalers provide cheap airfare. Airline wholesalers are like consolidators who buy tickets in bulk and sell them cheaply. You can comfortably purchase your ticket from an airline wholesaler for less than its normal price. You can save airfare costs by buying two tickets. Purchasing two tickets for two interconnecting journeys can help you save costs. Generally, a return ticket is much cheaper than a one-way ticket. You should bear in mind that cheap discounted airfares are non-refundable.
    Tags: arts-and-entertainment, travel, airport, airtravel, airplanes
  • News agencies By: Mary Kelly - News and press agencies (not to be confused with intelligence services) provide news, information on current events, as pre-media messages for use in newspapers and news broadcasts. In addition, there are so-called PR agencies, the press offices of companies and organizations information and distribute press releases. The press and news agencies play in the global news flow a central role (especially since many newspapers have less staff and fewer dates occupy themselves - trend of mainstreaming). Today's journalism would be without the news agencies impossible.
    Tags: arts-and-entertainment, newspapers, news, uk
  • Fact About Divorce Advice By: VictorStephenPnP - Being married for a long time can make a divorce extremely difficult. The enormity of a divorce may not hit you until way after the divorce is over. It is advisable that you seek the services of a counselor during a divorce to get good divorce advice and help you cope. Don't shut people out because you're in pain over your divorce. Keeping in touch with people after a divorce can help you recover from it faster. If you withdraw into a shell of your own after a divorce, you may never pull through it.
    Tags: arts-and-entertainment, divorce, wedding, marriage, society
  • Hint About Dog Training By: VictorStephenPnP - A puppy's extremely playful tendency can cause it to hurt your kids if you have them. Puppies tend to kick, scratch and nibble when they are overly playful. You should be able to train your puppy so that it does not exhibit innocently harmful behaviors such as scratching all the time. With the proper care, your friend can become a loyal companion. Part of taking care of your dog is taking your dog for monthly vet check ups and vaccination. A healthy dog is inevitably a happy dog.
    Tags: arts-and-entertainment, dog, dog training, pets, animals
  • NYC Nightlife is thriving By: Anne Harvester - NYC Nightlife has traditionally been an adult institution - most NY nightspots are clearly off limits to minors. However, there actually is a NYC Nightlife available to those under the age of 21. In fact, there is a large number of NYC nightspots that admit people as young as 16. Some of these clubs and nightspots cater especially to the under-21 crowd; others are open to minors on certain nights and/or for particular shows. One thing that young people heading out to enjoy NYC Nightlife will need is an ID;
    Tags: arts-and-entertainment, nyc nightlife, new york city nightlife
  • NYC Nightlife is alive and well By: Anne Harvester - NYC Nightlife means different things to different people. To some, it's the latest Broadway musical or play; to others, it's trendy dance and supper clubs ranging from the Rainbow Room to 21; for many however, its the Big Apple's many world-class jazz clubs - and there are hundreds to choose from. Jazz music and NYC Nightlife have been joined at the hip practically since before "jass" was even recognized as a distinct genre.
    Tags: arts-and-entertainment, nyc nightlife, new york city nightlife

Today's Hot Articles

Search Ebay

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!


Submit Your link to the Open Link Directory Project

Copyright 2005-2008 MJE Sales, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Proud member of the ArticleCkr Search Network Search Network!
ArticleSnatch.com is free for both publishers and authors to use and is supported entirely from advertising revenue.
Use of our service is protected by our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.