You don’t have to be a medical professional to recognize the importance of sleep. After all, we all know how difficult it can be to function during the day when we haven’t gotten the recommended seven to eight hours of nightly sleep. Unfortunately, studies suggest that insufficient sleep can also negatively impact our health by increasing our risk for cancer, dementia, diabetes and heart disease. Now, new research indicates that sleep deprivation could also negatively impact men by making them less potent.
Lower Sperm Counts
Past research has shown that poor sleep can make men less virile by lowering their testosterone levels. Now, Danish researchers have demonstrated that it can also lower their sperm counts. Published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, the study collected blood and semen samples from 953 men. After questioning each subject about his sleeping habits, the researchers found a strong correlation between insufficient sleep and lower sperm counts. In fact, poor sleepers demonstrated 29 percent fewer sperm in their semen. They were also more likely to have dysfunctional sperm, which were unlikely to result in pregnancy.
Far-reaching Implications
This new study is just a drop in the bucket of disturbing research related to sleep deprivation. Countless studies have shown that inadequate sleep leaves us susceptible to life-altering and life-shortening problems. While some people may use these warnings as motivation to adopt habits that promote better sleep; others are caught in a constant battle against disorders which make it impossible for them to sleep well on a consistent basis.
There’s a Simple Cure
If sleep apnea is keeping you from getting the recommended seven to eight hours of nightly sleep each night; it’s time to reach our for help. We offer patients permanent relief from sleep apnea by providing sleep appliances, which promote clear breathing by adjusting the jaw. To learn more, contact our sleep clinic today.
