With Mayo Clinic oncologist Edward T. Creagan, M.D.

Every once in a while, a medical article confirms what many of us intuitively know. We need rest. We need time for introspection. We need time to be "silent." Please read on.

Spiritual belief systems of the Eastern and Western traditions have underscored the importance of a day of rest which is typically referred to as the sabbath. There is now compelling evidence why this is important.

A recent scientific study from physicians in Sweden clearly documented over a 20-year period that the number of heart attacks dramatically decreased on the Monday after clocks were set back an hour. On the other hand, there were more heart attacks during the week after the start of standard time, especially during the first three days of the week.

The researchers have speculated that sleep has a beneficial effect on the heart and certainly on the soul, and if we continue to "push the envelope," we do so at our own peril. Do you have any tips you can share about how you can get enough sleep, or why it's difficult to do just that?

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