Nicotine May Cause Sleep Deprivation
And we all know the havoc sleep deprivation can wreak on our brains.
I haven’t had a normal, healthy sleep schedule in the past couple of months - you know, going to sleep in the p.m., waking up in the a.m., shooting for eight hours, etc. The cause could be a number of reasons, or combination of reasons, such as:
- Caffeine.
- Staying up loooooooooong past midnight to watch episode after episode of Prison Break (seasons one and two) and Friday Night Lights (season one). Personally, I feel the blame here goes to the writers’ strike and not my obsession with Michael Scofield and Coach Taylor.
- Caffeine.
- The irresistible temptation to take advantage of the quiet night hours and catch up on reading or writing.
- Caffeine.
- StumleUpon.com.
- Caffeine.
However, now I may be able to add nicotine to that list. In addition to all the other nasty, deadly reasons why I shouldn’t smoke, a group of researchers led by Dr. Naresh Punjabi of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore tells me that smokers experience less “deep sleep” than nonsmokers.
The nicotine from cigarettes seems to be a nightmare for sleeping smokers. Because it can act as a stimulant, nicotine makes it harder to fall asleep, the researchers said. And minor withdrawal symptoms that occur as the night drags on can further disturb a smoker’s sleep, they added (Reuters, 2/4/08).
I seriously, seriously need to quit. This may be the year to do it. After all, I deserve better than this, right?
POSTED IN: Current Affairs & News, Personal Recovery Plan, Side Effects, Sites of Interest, Sleep Disorders
4 opinions for Nicotine May Cause Sleep Deprivation
Sarah
Feb 12, 2008 at 8:48 pm
1. I’m drinking coffee right now. I also think I’m dealing with a bit of hypomania. I am going to be up. all. night. long.
2. I love Coach. And Mrs. Coach. FNL is my boyfriend.
Alicia Sparks, NAMI Affiliation Leader
Feb 13, 2008 at 1:53 pm
You know…I think hypomania’s setting in with me, as well, and I’m just in denial about it. Not that I don’t love how it feels; I just hate the aftermath, which is usually a few days to a week of semi-crippling funk. *sigh*
Right now I’m hoping that it’s just my sleep schedule out of whack, and that it’s the flaxseed oil making me feel great.
The Taylors are the best!! I love them so much. Let’s move to Dillon.
Sarah
Feb 13, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Alicia, I’m so up for moving to Dillon! I grew up in a small football-centered town and so I really connect with the show. Disc 5 should be here today … I’ll find out what happens after winning the state championship … unless it’s just one of those “extra” DVDs that is included … and then I’ll be peeved!
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