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Many U.S. Workers Sleep-Deprived: CDC

Posted 26 Apr 2012 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, April 26 – Many American workers get fewer than six hours of sleep each night, putting themselves and their co-workers at risk for serious and sometimes deadly consequences, federal health officials said Thursday. "There about 41 million workers who aren't getting the recommended amount of sleep," said Dr. Sara Luckhaupt, lead author of a new study from the division of surveillance, hazard evaluations and field studies at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The institute is part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Not surprisingly, workers who work the night shift are more likely to not get enough sleep," she said. Also, people who work more than one job or more than 40 hours a week are likely to get too little sleep, Luckhaupt said. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults sleep seven to nine hours a night. About 44 ... Read more

Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Insomnia, Fatigue, Sleep Apnea, Shift Work Sleep Disorder

For Sleep Struggles, Women Urged to Alter Routines

Posted 2 Mar 2012 by Drugs.com

FRIDAY, March 2 – Driven to sleeplessness by the effects of stress and the demands of their own biology, women are more likely than men to have serious sleep problems, experts say. "We see insomnia much more frequently in women, probably at least 50 percent more often than men," said Dr. Ryan Hays, an assistant professor of neurology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. In response, women have turned to medication for help. In the age range most affected by insomnia, ages 40 to 59, nearly 15.5 million American women got a prescription last year to help them sleep – nearly double the rate for men in the same age group, according to IMS Health, a health-care consulting firm in Danbury, Conn. But sleep researchers believe there's a better way. Changes to a person's lifestyle and to the way they approach sleep can help in a more natural and more effective way ... Read more

Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Insomnia

Lack of ZZZs May Fuel Appetite

Posted 24 Jan 2012 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, Jan. 24 – Getting too little sleep can make you hungrier than normal and may lead to weight gain, a small study suggests. The team at Uppsala University in Sweden used functional MRI to observe the brains of 12 normal weight males while they looked at images of food. This was done on two occasions – after a night of normal sleep and after a night without sleep. The results showed that a specific brain region that plays a role in appetite shows more activation in response to food images after a night without sleep than after a night of normal sleep. This suggests that poor sleep habits can affect a person's risk of becoming overweight in the long run, according to the study published online Jan. 18 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. "After a night of total sleep loss, these males showed a high level of activation in an area of the brain that is involved ... Read more

Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Insomnia, Obesity

Health Tip: Physical Problems May Cause Insomnia

Posted 4 Jan 2012 by Drugs.com

-- Insomnia is the general term used to mean waking too early, or having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute says many factors can lead to insomnia, including: Headache or arthritis. Heart failure or asthma. Hyperthyroidism, the term for an overactive thyroid. Heartburn. Menopause and associated hot flashes. Other sleep disorders, including sleep-related breathing problems or restless legs syndrome. Read more

Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Insomnia

FDA Approves Intermezzo for Middle-of-the-Night Waking Followed by Difficulty Returning to Sleep

Posted 23 Nov 2011 by Drugs.com

November 23, 2011 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Intermezzo (zolpidem tartrate sublingual tablets) for use as needed to treat insomnia characterized by middle-of-the-night waking followed by difficulty returning to sleep. This is the first time the FDA has approved a drug for this condition. Intermezzo should only be used when a person has at least four hours of bedtime remaining. It should not be taken if alcohol has been consumed or with any other sleep aid. Insomnia is a common condition in which a person has trouble falling or staying asleep. It can range from mild to severe, depending on how often it occurs and for how long. Insomnia can cause excessive daytime sleepiness and lack of energy. It also can make a person feel anxious, depressed, or irritable. People with insomnia may have trouble focusing on tasks, paying attention, learning, and remembering. ... Read more

Related support groups: Insomnia, Zolpidem

Loneliness Linked to Sleepless Nights

Posted 1 Nov 2011 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, Nov. 1 – Loneliness can be harmful to a person's sleep and health, according to a new study. Researchers examined levels of loneliness and sleep quality among 95 adults in rural South Dakota. None of the participants was socially isolated, but those who had higher loneliness scores due to perceived feelings of being "alone" woke much more often during the night and were deemed to have what the study authors called fragmented sleep. There was no connection between loneliness and total amount of sleep or levels of daytime sleepiness, the investigators noted. The findings, published in the Nov. 1 issue of the journal Sleep, suggest that fragmented sleep may be one of a number of ways that loneliness can harm health, according to the researchers. "Loneliness has been associated with adverse effects on health," lead author Lianne Kurina, of the department of health studies at the ... Read more

Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Insomnia

Insomnia Might Boost Heart Attack Risk

Posted 24 Oct 2011 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, Oct. 24 – People who have trouble getting a decent night's sleep may also face a higher risk of heart attack, Norwegian researchers report. The connection between insomnia and an increased risk for heart attack isn't clear, but sleep problems might have an effect on blood pressure or inflammation, which can both be risk factors for a heart attack. "As insomnia symptoms are common and fairly easy to treat, it is important that people are aware of this connection between insomnia and heart attack, and talk to their doctors if they have sleep problems," said lead researcher Dr. Lars Erik Laugsand, an internist from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. The finding remains an association, and cause-and-effect has not been proven. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings and to uncover the possible mechanisms behind the association, Laugsand ... Read more

Related support groups: Insomnia, Heart Attack, Myocardial Infarction

Mixed Results Seen With 'Off-Label' Use of Antipsychotics

Posted 27 Sep 2011 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, Sept. 27 – Even though off-label use of atypical antipsychotic drugs is common, a new review finds that such use is only effective in a few conditions and can be harmful in others. Also known as "second-generation" antipsychotics, these drugs are approved in the United States for treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. But off-label use – or use not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration – of these drugs to treat a number of other conditions is growing. Researchers analyzed findings from 393 clinical studies to gauge effectiveness and uncover harmful side effects when Risperdal, Zyprexa, Seroquel, Abilify, Geodon, Saphris, Fanapt and Invega were used outside of FDA-approved indications. Off-label use included treatment for behavioral symptoms in dementia, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, post-traumatic ... Read more

Related support groups: Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Insomnia, Seroquel, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Abilify, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Geodon, Zyprexa, Schizophrenia, Risperdal, Seroquel XR, Saphris, Risperidone

High Cost of Insomnia May Be Wake-Up Call

Posted 1 Sep 2011 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, Sept. 1 – Lost sleep costs the average American worker 11.3 days, or $2,280, in lost productivity each year, and the total cost to the nation is $63.2 billion annually, a new study says. Researchers analyzed information about sleep habits and work performance from 7,428 workers who took part in Harvard Medical School's American Insomnia Study survey in 2008-09. Overall, about 23.2 percent of the participants had insomnia, characterized by a hard time falling or staying asleep. Insomnia rates were lower for workers age 65 and older (14.3 percent) and lower for working men (19.7 percent) than for working women (27.1 percent). The researchers also found that insomnia rates were 19.9 percent for those with less than a high school education and 21.5 percent for college graduates. The study, funded by Merck & Co., which is developing a new sleeping pill, appears in the Sept. 1 ... Read more

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'Hammock' Effect May Help Adults Fall Asleep Faster

Posted 21 Jun 2011 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, June 21 – Babies aren't the only ones who fall asleep faster when rocked, according to researchers who found that, like infants, adults find it easier to nap on a slowly swinging bed. Gentle rocking can also improve one's quality of sleep, Swiss researchers reported in the June 21 issue of the journal Current Biology. The finding may offer hope for those suffering from sleep problems, the authors suggested. "It is a common belief that rocking induces sleep: we irresistibly fall asleep in a rocking chair and, since immemorial times, we cradle our babies to sleep," study co-author Sophie Schwartz, of the University of Geneva, said in a news release from the journal's publisher. "Yet, how this works had remained a mystery. The goal of our study was twofold: to test whether rocking does indeed soothe sleep, and to understand how this might work at the brain level." In conducting ... Read more

Related support groups: Insomnia

Sleeptime Head-Cooling Cap Eases Insomnia, Study Finds

Posted 14 Jun 2011 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, June 14 – Not only do cooler heads prevail, they might also sleep better, according to researchers who say they have developed a cooling cap that, when worn during sleeptime, may help treat insomnia. Previous research has shown that the brains of people with insomnia are "hyperaroused" and have a higher brain metabolism in the frontal lobes, which helps explain why they have trouble drifting off to sleep and staying asleep, said study co-author Dr. Daniel Buysse, a professor of psychiatry and clinical and translational science at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. To help the brain cool down, researchers outfitted 12 primary insomnia patients with a temperature-controlled cap that has cool water flowing through it and recruited 12 healthy controls matched for age and gender. ("Primary insomnia" means that medical problems, medicines, or other substances have been ... Read more

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Less Stress, Better Sleep May Help You Lose Weight

Posted 29 Mar 2011 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, March 29 – If you're looking to lose those extra pounds, you should probably add reducing stress and getting the right amount of sleep to the list, say researchers from Kaiser Permanente's Center for Health Research in Portland. In fact, although diet and exercise are the usual prescription for dropping pounds, high stress and too little sleep (or too much of it) can hinder weight loss even when people are on a diet, the researchers report. "We found that people who got more than six but less than eight hours of sleep, and who reported the lowest levels of stress, had the most success in a weight-loss program," said study author Dr. Charles Elder. Elder speculates if you are sleeping less or more than recommended and if your stress levels are high, you will not be able to focus on making behavioral changes. These factors may also have a biological impact, he added. "If you ... Read more

Related support groups: Insomnia, Anxiety and Stress, Obesity

Using Electronics Before Bed May Hamper Sleep

Posted 8 Mar 2011 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, March 7 – Sleep tight, but not right after looking at something bright. That's the message of a new survey that suggests many Americans might be losing valuable shut-eye because they spend the hour before bedtime in front of the electronic glow of a television, cell phone or computer. The survey doesn't prove that exposure to bright light before bed disrupts sleep. But some experts recommend an "electronic curfew" an hour before bedtime, when people should dim lamps and avoid checking their e-mail or watching late-night TV. "Falling asleep isn't like flicking a switch. We don't put our heads on the pillow and fall off to sleep," said Allison G. Harvey, a sleep specialist and professor of psychology at the University of California at Berkeley. "We take time to wind down at night. If we've got bright light conditions, we're not giving ourselves a chance to get off to sleep and ... Read more

Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Insomnia

Particular Brain Rhythm in Sleep Makes You More Vulnerable to Disturbances

Posted 7 Mar 2011 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, March 3 – New findings about brain rhythms could lead to the development of improved sleep treatments, a new study suggests. A team at Massachusetts General Hospital found that a brain rhythm regarded as the emblem of wakefulness persists in a hidden form during sleep, where it becomes more intense at certain times – something that appears to affect people's vulnerability to being awakened by noise or other disturbances. To test their theory, the researchers used computerized electroencephalography (EEG) rhythms in 13 volunteers who slept – or at least tried to – three nights in the MGH Sleep Lab. At many intervals throughout each night, the volunteers were exposed to 10 seconds of typical background noises, such as traffic or a ringing telephone. The sounds were repeated at increasingly louder levels until the EEG showed that sleep had been disrupted. An analysis of the ... Read more

Related support groups: Insomnia

1 in 3 Americans Gets Less Than 7 Hours of Sleep: CDC

Posted 4 Mar 2011 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, March 3 – More than one-third of Americans routinely sleep fewer than seven hours a night, which affects their concentration and general health, new government research shows. Insufficient sleep also impairs work performance and the ability to drive safely, found researchers for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which published two sleep studies March 4 in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. "Over the last 20 years there has been a decline in overall sleep duration in adults," said lead author of one report, Lela McKnight-Eily, a clinical psychologist and epidemiologist at the CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention. Changing lifestyle habits, including longer workdays and late nights on the computer, have pared away much-needed sleep time, she noted. "Within our culture there seems to be a belief that sleep isn't a part of overall ... Read more

Related support groups: Insomnia

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Night Terrors, Insomnia - Stimulant-Associated, Nightmares, Sleep Disorders

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Seroquel, Ambien, Ativan, gabapentin, clonazepam, trazodone, Neurontin, lorazepam, amitriptyline, view more... Benadryl, Elavil, Zyprexa, Remeron, Seroquel XR, zolpidem, mirtazapine, temazepam, melatonin, diphenhydramine, Tylenol PM, Lunesta, Restoril, phenobarbital, doxepin, Ambien CR, tryptophan, quetiapine, 5-HTP, Unisom, valerian, olanzapine, triazolam, Silenor, Advil PM, Halcion, doxylamine, Zyprexa Zydis, Rozerem, Dalmane, Benadryl Allergy, Valerian Root, Simply Sleep, Sonata, 5-hydroxytryptophan, Sinequan, zaleplon, Endep, chloral hydrate, Seconal, Nytol, Excedrin PM, Sominex, estazolam, Nembutal, flurazepam, Sleepinal, Butisol Sodium, lavender, Edluar, Diphen, Nightime Sleepaid, eszopiclone, secobarbital, Headache Relief PM, butabarbital, Prosom, Sleep Tabs, Nembutal Sodium, Nervine, Seconal Sodium, Diphenyl, Q-Dryl, Midol PM, Bio-Melatonin, pentobarbital, quazepam, Gabarone, Somnote, Luminal, Percogesic Extra Strength, Intermezzo, Desyrel Dividose, Aldex AN Chewable, Adapin, Diphenmax, Pharbedryl, Solfoton, Q-Dryl A/F, Doxytex, Diphendryl, Allermax, Zolpimist, Twilite, Banaril, Uni-Tann, Diphenydramine Quick Melt, Aler-Tab, Busodium, Genapap PM, VesPro Melatonin, Tryptan, Health Aid Melatonin, Melatonin Time Release, Doans PM, Dicopanol, Fanatrex, Aldex AN, SGard, Dormin, Mapap PM, Seconal Sodium Pulvules, Unisom with Pain Relief, Tylenol Severe Allergy, Aminomine, Anacin PM Aspirin Free, Legatrin PM, Motrin PM, Nytol Maximum Strength, Allergia-C, Vanatrip, Amytal Sodium, Dytan, Ben-Tann, Desyrel, Hyrexin, Hydramine Cough Syrup, Diphedryl, Diphen AF, 40 Winks, Bydramine, Diphenhist, Doral, Remeron SolTab, diphenhydramine/ibuprofen, diphenhydramine/magnesium salicylate, aspirin/diphenhydramine, amobarbital, acetaminophen/diphenhydramine, ramelteon, Aquachloral Supprettes, Medi-Sleep, Banophen, Dytuss, Complete Allergy, Aler-Dryl, Benahist-10, Siladyl SA, Silphen Cough, Siladryl DAS, Siladryl, Hydramine, Sleep-ettes, Tusstat, Quenalin, Nu-Med, Pardryl, Hydramine Compound, Diphenylin, Belix, Beldin, Diphenadryl, Genahist, Calm-Aid, Benoject-50, Benahist-50, Sleep Tab II, Sleep-Eze-3, Altaryl, Valu-Dryl, Trux-adryl, Somnicaps, Nytol Caplet