How many hours do you sleep each night? The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults sleep between 7 and 9 hours per night.  However, it found that most adults only get around 6.5 hours of sleep. The number of hours that you sleep per night may be impacting your foot health.

Lack of sleep has been tied to diabetes, and now several studies also show a connection between lack of sleep and weight gain. Both of these issues are leading causes of foot and ankle pain.

While previous studies have shown that those suffering from sleep deprivation tend to eat more, and often have increased carbohydrate cravings, it wasn’t until recently that the cellular impact was studied. The research, published in the “Annals of Internal Medicine,” found a decreased sensitivity to insulin in fat cells removed from sleep deprived participants. Diabetes and obesity are known to be associated with such insensitivity, and foot conditions such as neuropathy and heel pain can result.

Doctors have long prescribed diet and exercise to those who are diabetic or overweight. Now, it appears that another critical piece of that prescription is sleep!  Adequate sleep provides other benefits such as:  improved mental focus, better attitude, a younger appearance, overall safety (you’re more prone to accidents when tired), AND healthier feet!

Has foot and heel pain kept you up at night? Call our office today, and find out the reason for your discomfort.  With three Oregon offices, our friendly staff looks forward to assisting you. Call the Hillsboro office at (503) 648-1713, or the Newberg office at (503) 538-0466 or the Beaverton office at (503) 292-9252. You can also visit our website to schedule an appointment.

K.G. Gauntt, DPM