Low Sodium Diets and Poor Sleep: The Surprising Connection Explained by Cardiovascular Research Scientist

The Surprising Link Between Salt Intake and Sleep Quality

By Alexandra Klausner

Published May 3, 2024 / Updated May 3, 2024, 3:09 p.m. ET

If you’re feeling salty about your lack of sleep, you may need more sodium in your diet. Dr. James DiNicolantino, a cardiovascular research scientist, recently shared a video on Instagram explaining why too little salt in your diet can make you toss and turn at night.

“People that were put on a low salt diet because of the activation of the sympathetic nervous system had a worsening in their sleep,” he explained.

According to Dr. DiNicolantino, the activation of the sympathetic nervous system is a stress response that can negatively affect sleep quality.

Several studies have shown that consuming a low-salt diet consisting of about 2200 milligrams of sodium was enough to lead to sodium depletion. This depletion leads to the body pulling sodium, magnesium, and calcium from bones—having detrimental effects on overall health.

An article in Ageist also explains that when sodium levels fall too low in the body, it triggers an adrenal response. In this response, adrenaline is produced in higher amounts which disrupts sleep by triggering the body’s fight or flight response—not conducive for relaxation.

In addition to poor sleep quality caused by low salt intake, individuals with low sodium levels are also prone to increased trips to the bathroom during nighttime due to reduced production of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) which helps retain urine when we sleep.

The American Heart Association recommends consuming around 2,300 mg of sodium per day while research has found that average Americans consume approximately 3

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“Cancer survivors who complain of loneliness have a higher risk of death.” / Provided by the American Cancer Society.

One study found that among cancer treatment survivors, those who felt very lonely had a 60% greater risk of death than survivors who felt less or not at all.

The Jingxuan Zhao research team at the American Cancer Society (ACS) announced in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (JNCCN) that they confirmed this fact by conducting a follow-up study on the relationship between the degree of loneliness felt and the risk of death among 3,400 cancer survivors.

Researcher Zhao said: “Cancer diagnosis and treatment can have long-term negative effects on health, negatively impact cancer survivors’ social relationships, and cause loneliness,” and added: “Loneliness, the feeling being isolated is the most common concern among cancer patients.” survivors.” he emphasized.

“There are currently more than 18 million cancer survivors in the United States, and that number is expected to increase to 22 million by 2030,” he said, adding, “We must address this important issue now.”

In this study, the research team measured the level of loneliness experienced using the UCLA Loneliness Scale among 3,447 cancer survivors aged 50 and older who participated in a nationally representative survey from the Health and Retirement Study from 2008 to 2018 and assessed their survival. state by 2020. A follow-up survey was conducted.

The UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3 is scored from 1 to 3 in response to various questions about how lonely you feel.

The research team calculated the total score by adding the scores for each question and divided the participants into four groups (low/no loneliness, mild loneliness, moderate loneliness, and severe loneliness) based on the total score.

As a result, there were 1,402 people (24.3%) in the low/no loneliness group, 1,445 people with mild loneliness, 1,418 people with moderate loneliness, and 1,543 people with severe loneliness.

As a result of the analysis of the risk of death during the follow-up period of a total of 5,808 person-years (one person-year is the value of observing a person for one year), the risk of death was higher for survivors who reported a lot of loneliness compared to survivors who reported little or no loneliness. The more severe it is, the greater the risk of death.

The group of survivors who felt most alone had a 67% greater risk of death than the group who felt least alone after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics.

“It is necessary to select cancer survivors who feel lonely and provide social support to those who need it,” said researcher Zhao He saying that integrating survivor management could be one way to achieve this.

◆ 출처: Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Jingxuan Zhao et al., “Risk of Loneliness and Mortality Among Cancer Survivors in the United States: A Retrospective and Longitudinal Study,” https://jnccn.org/view/journals /jnccn /aop/article-10.6004-jnccn.2023.7114/article-10.6004-jnccn.2023.7114.xml (서울=연합뉴스) [End_mark]

#cancer #patient #feels #lonely

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The “Health, Wellbeing and Regenerated Waters for Lerma” Forum recently took place in Lerma, State of Mexico, where various stakeholders came together to address the pressing issues surrounding water regeneration and environmental sustainability. The forum highlighted the urgent need to rethink water regeneration through wetlands in order to tackle the current water crisis in the region.

The Secretary of Water, Pedro Moctezuma Barragán, emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts between citizens, civil organizations, universities, and the state government to address environmental and water issues in the State of Mexico. The Development Plan of the State of Mexico 2023-2029 will serve as a guiding framework to ensure the sustainability of water resources for future generations.

For the first time, a sectoral plan will be developed to address environmental and water issues, led by the Water Secretariat and its counterparts from the Environment, Health, Urban Development, Infrastructure, and Education sectors. The lack of water, pollution of rivers, and overexploitation of aquifers have severely impacted water access for citizens, leading to the need for concrete solutions.

Participants at the forum discussed the preservation of natural resources and water sources in the region, emphasizing the importance of coordinated efforts between government agencies, organizations, and civil society. The Secretary of Health, Macarena Montoya Olvera, highlighted the link between environmental pollution and public health, stressing the need for a healthy environment to promote overall well-being in the community.

Concerns were raised about wastewater treatment, daily challenges faced by residents and farmers, and potential alternatives to conserve wetlands and other water sources. The forum served as a platform for dialogue and collaboration to address the pressing water and environmental issues in the State of Mexico, towards a more sustainable and regenerative future.

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