The Missing Piece-The Role of Gut Health in Sleep

Course overview

A third of US adults report that they usually get less than the recommended amount of sleep. Not getting enough sleep is linked with many chronic diseases and conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and depression that threaten our nation's health. Not getting enough sleep can lead to motor vehicle crashes and mistakes at work, which cause a lot of injury and disability each year. Getting enough sleep is not a luxury - it is something people need for good health. Sleep disorders can also increase a person's risk of health problems. Insomnia is the inability to obtain an adequate amount or quality of sleep. The difficulty can be in falling asleep, remaining asleep, or both. Short-term, or transient, insomnia is a common occurrence and usually lasts only a few days. This is usually caused by a change in bedtime, stress, or short-term illness. Long-term or chronic insomnia lasts more than three weeks and increases the risk for injuries in the home, at the workplace, and while driving because of daytime sleepiness and decreased concentration. Chronic insomnia has many causes. This course is intended to educate on these causes. Solutions and the role of gut health in sleep will be explored.