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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.

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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.

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