Angeles Cruz Martinez
Newspaper La Jornada
Thursday, November 10, 2022, p. 19
Sleep disorders, which range from sleeping fewer hours than recommended according to people’s age, which is not continuous or at night, increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer, among others, warned Guadalupe Terán, president of the Mexican Society for Sleep Research and Medicine.
Poor sleep is not a normal condition and requires medical attention. The specialist commented that the problem is common in women over 50 years of age due to hormonal factors that combine with stress, traumatic events and problems such as depression and anxiety.
Between 40 and 60 percent of the female population in that age group report difficulty falling asleep.
In a conference, he commented that as age increases, the production of melatonin decreases in the brain, which is the hormone that tells the body when it is night to sleep
which, together with hormonal changes during pregnancy and the climacteric, causes sleep disorders.
The ideal for adults is to sleep between 7 and 9 hours a day, with a minimum of six and a maximum of 10. Meanwhile, for older adults, it is recommended between 7 and 8 hours at night and without interruptions.
He pointed out that people with difficulty falling asleep should see a doctor to determine the causes of the condition, which, in turn, can become a risk factor for cardiovascular conditions, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression and decreased productivity. .
He stressed the importance of people knowing that sleeping well increases life expectancy.
Likewise, the gynecologist Víctor Marín urged paying attention to vitamin D levels, since one in three Mexicans have a deficiency of this substance, which causes the development of osteoporosis, 18 types of cancer, including breast, colon , prostate and ovaries, as well as pneumonia, influenza and covid infections. The challenge with vitamin D deficiency is that it does not give symptoms and to increase it, he recommended exposure to the sun.
