- With Mayo Clinic oncologist
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
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Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Edward Creagan, M.D.
"The magic of the electronic village is transforming health information. The mouse and keyboard have extended the stethoscope to the 500 million people now online." — Dr. Edward Creagan
The power of the medium inspires Dr. Edward Creagan as he searches for ways to share Mayo Clinic's vast resources with the general public.
Dr. Creagan, a Newark, N.J., native, is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hospice medicine and palliative care. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1973 and in 1999 was president of the staff of Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Creagan, a professor of medical oncology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, was honored in 1995 with the John and Roma Rouse Professor of Humanism in Medicine Award and in 1992 with the Distinguished Mayo Clinician Award, Mayo's highest recognition. He has been recognized with the American Cancer Society Professorship of Clinical Oncology.
He describes his areas of special interest as "wellness as a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-financial model" and fitness, mind-body connection, aging and burnout.
Dr. Creagan has been an associate medical editor with Mayo Clinic's health information websites and has edited publications and CD-ROMs and reviewed articles.
"We the team of (the website) provide reliable, easy-to-understand health and wellness information so that each of us can have productive, meaningful lives," he says.
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Stress blog
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March 23, 2011
Wake up to the dangers of sleep deprivation
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Little children are often asked, "What did you learn in school today?" Picking up on that theme, let me share something I learned from an airline pilot and a banquet manager about the risks of sleep deprivation.
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A friend who is a pilot shared with me that new federal regulations require that pilots get, at a minimum, 8 to 10 hours of sleep between their itineraries. Many times the rest period evaporated while the pilots were caught in traffic or stranded on the runway. This is no longer acceptable, especially in view of some tragic crashes in which pilot fatigue played a role.
Another acquaintance is a convention and banquet manager at a prominent resort. After working nine consecutive days and averaging five hours of sleep a night, he had a complete meltdown and was temporarily relieved of his duties.
No matter what your job entails, sleep deprivation can be a catastrophe. Spiritual thinkers and philosophers from Eastern and Western traditions underscore the importance of rest and time away to clear the mind.
With today's fast-paced world, you must be proactive and preemptive to take care of yourself, or risk squandering your gifts and skills. It's not rocket science or brain surgery, just common sense — which isn't after all so common.
12 comments posted
March 2, 2013 8:57 p.m.
Very interesting information and helpful to.
- Vicki Hales
October 25, 2012 9:29 a.m.
So how do you compensate your on call surgical personnel with back to back 16hr days and call?
- H
November 11, 2011 4:46 p.m.
Why does this article only offer 2 general narratives on sleep deprivation and no concrete information? Seems to be a waste of space.
- K
November 9, 2011 1:11 p.m.
While sleep deprivation can be a problem, 2 anecdotal reports is not what I expect from the Mayo
- eyekew
August 27, 2011 11:08 a.m.
It seems like when we need more time, sleep is the first thing to go by the wayside. I'm not sure people realize how dangerous sleep deprivation really is, especially among professionals like pilots and doctors who must stay sharp every minute.
- Debra
July 5, 2011 6:11 a.m.
Hi guys, i'm new here. I've been reading through this site Sleep Acne and it says that sleep deprivation may cause acne. Is it true?
- JackT
March 31, 2011 3:31 p.m.
Barb, it sounds like you need the kind of ear plugs that Drag Racers and their fans wear. Whoever does your shopping can ask for THIS SPECIFIC KIND of earplugs at an auto parts shop, like Pep Boys. Good luck to you!
- Chel
March 31, 2011 12:35 p.m.
Thank you to all who took the time to reply to my comments. I will try to address each of them Suzannem I have ear plugs sitting right here on my table but sadly the noise is too close and gors right through the ear plugs. Julia, I am very familiar with the Sundown Syndrome and one can almost tell the hour of the evening when certain ones begin their shouting. I am told this is being addressed by doctors but i can't see a difference.' And sadly I can't leave and go anywhere as someone would need a van with a ramp or lift with tie downs to take me anywhere. elinda, How right you are but I just can't see that happening.
- Barb
March 31, 2011 1:01 a.m.
Barb, wearing ear plugs works wonders for me. I keep them at my bedside and insert them whenever there's a loud party outside, barking dogs, etc. I always take them with me on a trip when we stay in motels. Try wearing them all night and good luck!
- Suzanne
March 30, 2011 2:41 p.m.
To Barb. I do understand you problem with the nursing home and hope you can maybe sometime soon get away from all of the stuff going on there. My husband gets Sun down syndorme very very easy and can't sleep at night or day time do to medicines he is given. He keeps me up for days and nights with out being able to sleep and it keeps me from sleeping. When he was in rehab at a nursing home for 3 weeks I could see just what you are saying. Most of the patients have Sun down syndrome from to much medicine or one that they react to. To much is also perscript for patients and can cause this also. Older people CAN NOT take the strong doses, they must be treated like a small child. I wish you lived close for I would take you in and get you away from all of the noises and have your self some peace and quiet. May God Bless you and will pray for you to have some help very soon. Julia
- Julia
March 30, 2011 2:27 p.m.
That is why it should be mandatory for Dr.'s in training!! 12 hour shifts should be strictly enforced in med school and residence programs!!
- Melinda
March 30, 2011 2:08 p.m.
And then there are those of us who are disabled as I. I have M.S. and live in a nursing home. I'm so tired and at bedtime i so very sleepy. Although this is a fine n.h. those who are noisey at night, yelling, screaming out due to Alz., etckeep the others such as I awake and in the morning, altho there are many things I could take part in, I am too tired to even get up. I take a sleeping pill plus valium but here I lay wide awake. How I wish someone could have cared for me at home.
- Barb
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