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FITNESS MADE
SIMPLE
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SLEEP
Why are some people
more susceptible to the common cold, and the flu than
others?
Sadly, I must admit to knowing some very fit
people that I would categorize as being "susceptible" to the
common cold and the flu. Ken Wilson is a rowing buddy of mine;
we row out of the Fairmount Rowing Association, 2 Boathouse
Row, Philadelphia. Ken, a Springfield, Delaware County
resident is a 53 year old US Government attorney who has on
more than one occasion scolded me on my rowing technique while
we rowed in a "quad" (four oarsmen, each with two oars). Ken
rows 5 or 6 mornings per week about 10 months per year. He
ordinarily commences his rows about 5:30 AM in a "quad." I
sometimes row in Wilson's quad. This translates into a 4:15 to
4:30 AM wake-up call.
Hold that thought.
Along
with nutrition and exercise, sleep is a very important
component of wellness. Generally, It is the most
underemphasized - but not by me. I suspect that I've annoyed
many people by emphasizing the importance of sleep
because I've discussed it so often and with such
passion.
Simply put, we need about 7 to 8 hours of
sleep per night. This is more critical to those
"work-out hounds" (a/k/a "gym rats"), like me. Your immune
system requires adequate sleep to function properly, to
fight off those minor, sometimes potentially major,
illnesses.
Your body will break down and your athletic
performance will suffer without adequate sleep. You
will develop colds and the flu much more often without proper
sleep.
There are even studies that relate the
lack of adequate sleep to weight gain. Although I
cannot relate the science behind this theory, I've read it
more than once and I believe there must be something to it.
This brings me back to my rowing buddy, Ken Wilson.
Ken, in my opinion, does not get adequate sleep. Much
like his coaching me on my rowing technique, I advise
("coach") him to get more sleep to fight off those
common colds he too often contracts. I recently told him that
I routinely go years without contracting a common cold or flu;
this amazed him.
Admittedly, it is tough to get 7 to 8
hours of sleep when your wake-up call is 4:15 AM but
there are trade-offs in life, decisions we must make. I know
other work-out hounds who do not get adequate sleep.
They feel more fatigued and are more susceptible to the common
cold than those of us who make an effort to get the 7 to 8
hours per night that our immune system requires to perform
optimally.
In conclusion, do yourself (particularly,
your immune system) a favor, get 7 to 8 hours of sleep
per night, and more if your body demands it. The change you'll
experience will be very noticeable and healthful. This is of
particular significance to those of you who work-out on a
daily basis.
Your body demands this type of
sleep to perform.
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