Can People Get By with Less Sleep?

People who sleep much less than they’re supposed to may be efficient sleepers, but their patterns of neural connections suggest they may also be more tired than they realize, new research shows. The study, from the University of Utah, was published in Brain and Behavior. “This is tantalizing evidence for why some people feel like… Continue reading Can People Get By with Less Sleep?

The Truth about Naps

Taking a nap often sounds like a great idea, especially if you’ve had trouble sleeping the night before. But how good is it for you? Here, the experts from the Mayo Clinic break it down. Unquestionably, naps can help revitalize you. The benefits, according to the Mayo experts, also include relaxation; fatigue reduction; increased alertness;… Continue reading The Truth about Naps

10 Tips to Fall Asleep Faster

Restless tossing and turning and trouble falling asleep or staying sleep are a familiar problems for many Americans over the age of 40. Factors such as stress, insomnia, and sleep disorders make it difficult to maintain healthy sleep patterns. In the past few years, more and more people have turned to sleep aids like Ambien… Continue reading 10 Tips to Fall Asleep Faster

Sleep Tight

Having trouble getting to sleep? If and when you do finally nod off, do you wind up having a fitful, choppy slumber broken up by bathroom trips, glances at the alarm clock, and other external and internal distractions? If it’s any comfort as you toss and turn, valiantly trying to get comfortable so you can (finally)… Continue reading Sleep Tight

Solving the Sleep-Wake Cycle Mystery

Scientists are drawing closer to understanding the biological basis for our patterns of sleeping and waking. Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) have identified the workings of a key pathway for these processes. The pathway that appears to play a key role in regulating the “switch” between wakefulness and sleep.… Continue reading Solving the Sleep-Wake Cycle Mystery

Always Tired? You May Have Sleep Apnea

Your spouse says your snoring is driving her nuts. You wake up feeling unrested and irritable. These are common signs that you may have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a sleep disorder that—left untreated—can take its toll on the body and mind. Untreated OSA has been linked to high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, car accidents,… Continue reading Always Tired? You May Have Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea and Brain Chemicals

Researchers have discovered that people with sleep apnea showed changes in two important brain chemicals – and those changes may be why many sufferers are significantly affected by the condition. The finding was published in the Journal of Sleep Research. One in 15 adults has moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder in which… Continue reading Sleep Apnea and Brain Chemicals

Poor Sleep in Seniors Linked to Hardened Brain Arteries

Poor sleep quality in elderly people is associated with more severe arteriosclerosis in the brain as well as a greater burden of oxygen-starved tissue (infarcts) in the brain – both of which can contribute to the risk of stroke and cognitive impairment. The findings were published in the January 2016 issue of the American Heart… Continue reading Poor Sleep in Seniors Linked to Hardened Brain Arteries

Hospital Practices Can Make Patients Sicker

Up to half of seriously ill patients are sickened further by avoidable and risky bouts of food and sleep deprivation, according to a Johns Hopkins surgeon and prominent patient safety. researcher is calling on hospitals to reform emergency room, surgical and other medical protocols that sicken up to half of already seriously ill patients —… Continue reading Hospital Practices Can Make Patients Sicker

Sleeping on the Job? Actually, That’s a Good Thing

Employees seeking to boost their productivity at work should take a nap, according to a University of Michigan study published online in June 2015 in Personality and Individual Differences. The findings show that taking a nap may be an effective strategy to counteract impulsive behavior and to boost tolerance for frustration. Napping, the researchers say,… Continue reading Sleeping on the Job? Actually, That’s a Good Thing

Types of Physical Activity That Help You Sleep Better – or Not

Can housework lead to good zzz”s? Nope. How about taking care of the kids? Wrong again. In fact, those two types of physical activity can actually lead to insufficient sleep. At least that’s what researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found in a study presented on June 8th at… Continue reading Types of Physical Activity That Help You Sleep Better – or Not

Wny Can’t I Fall Asleep?

According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), older adults need about the same amount of sleep as young adults—7 to 9 hours each night. But there are a number of reasons why they may not get enough sleep. Here, from the experts at NIA, is close look at the problem, why it happens and… Continue reading Wny Can’t I Fall Asleep?

Why Are The Holidays So Hazardous To Our Health?

It’s a sad statistical fact: The holidays, from Christmas to New Year’s, are a treacherous time when it comes to our health. “There’s a spike in heart attacks and other cardiac issues,” says Dr. John Young, a physician specializing in the treatment of chronic illnesses through biochemical, physiological and nutraceutical technologies. “The incidence of pneumonia… Continue reading Why Are The Holidays So Hazardous To Our Health?

8 Ways to Reorganize Your Bedroom for Better Sleep

By Robert Rosenberg This article originally appeared on DemosHealth.com http://www.demoshealth.com/w/8-ways-to-reorganize-your-bedroom-for-better-sleep/ Your bedroom environment plays a critical role in your ability to sleep well. For people who have trouble sleeping at night, simple changes to your bedroom can yield quick results. Design and organize your own sleeping space as a sanctuary where you can retreat from… Continue reading 8 Ways to Reorganize Your Bedroom for Better Sleep

Older Women With Breathing Problems During Sleep

Older women with disordered breathing during sleep were found to be at greater risk of decline in the ability to perform daily activities, such as grocery shopping and meal preparation, according to research led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the University of California, San Francisco. The study was… Continue reading Older Women With Breathing Problems During Sleep

How Lack of Sleep Affects Us at Different Ages

Most Americans who spend part of the year on daylight saving time look forward to the extra hour of sleep when it’s time to “fall back” to standard time. We are a nation of sleep-deprived people, and experts at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center say all ages suffer in various, unhealthy ways. A… Continue reading How Lack of Sleep Affects Us at Different Ages

Sleep Problems and Aging

From the National Institute on Aging: Older adults need about the same amount of sleep as young adults—seven to nine hours each night. But they may not get it very often Insomnia is the most common problem in seniors 60 or older. Why? Seniors tend to go to sleep earlier and get up earlier than… Continue reading Sleep Problems and Aging

4 Simple Steps to Get You Back to Sleep Fast

We’ve all been there. You are wide awake at 3 a.m., your mind racing with a rising sense of panic about the difficult day ahead if you don’t fall back to sleep.
What you’re experiencing is a type of insomnia, says sleep disorders specialist Harneet Walia, MD, DABSM, of Cleveland Clinic’s Sleep Disorders Center.

Many underlying health problems such as chronic pain, sleep apnea or acid reflex can cause insomnia. But if your difficulty in sleeping is not due to health problems, here are some tips that can help you get back to sleep.