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Lack of ZZZs May Fuel Appetite
Posted 20 days ago 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: Food Can Affect Sleep
Posted 20 days ago by Drugs.com
-- What you eat and drink can have a big impact on your ability to fall or stay asleep. Many foods can make you feel drowsy, while others can cause trouble sleeping. The National Sleep Foundation mentions these examples of foods and beverages that can affect your sleep: Carbohydrate-laden foods make it easier for a sleep-inducing amino acid called tryptophan to reach the brain. Tryptophan is found in many protein rich-foods. So combining proteins and carbs makes for good pre-bedtime snacks. Examples include milk and cereal, cheese and crackers or peanut butter and toast. Eating a big meal also can trigger sleepiness, particularly when it's heavy in carbohydrates. Caffeine in the late afternoon or before bedtime can inhibit drowsiness, but can lead to trouble sleeping. Energy drinks may temporarily boost energy levels, but they often cause a crash and ultimately can lead to drowsiness. ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders
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
More Exercise Could Make For Better Sleep: Study
Posted 1 Dec 2011 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Dec. 1 – A new study suggests regular physical activity might encourage better shut-eye: People who met national exercise guidelines reported better sleep and less daytime fatigue than those who didn't. The research doesn't confirm that exercise directly leads to improved rest, and it's possible there may be another explanation for the apparent connection between exercise and sleep. Still, the findings are mostly consistent with previous research, said Matthew P. Buman, an assistant professor of exercise and wellness at Arizona State University who's familiar with the study. But if you think a daily walk or jog will clear up your sleep problems, that might be a bit too optimistic. "In general, the relationship between physical activity and sleep is moderate," Buman said. More than one-third of U.S. adults have trouble falling asleep at night or staying alert during the day, ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders
Health Tip: Sleep Soundly During Pregnancy
Posted 2 Nov 2011 by Drugs.com
-- Getting plenty of sleep is important during pregnancy, but those inevitable physical changes while you're pregnant can make sleep uncomfortable. The National Sleep Foundation offers these suggestions to help pregnant women get a better night's sleep: Once you reach the third trimester, sleep on your left side. Avoid lying flat on your back for long periods. Drink lots of fluids during the day, but limit fluids before bedtime. Snack during the day on bland foods, and avoid any foods that trigger heartburn. Sleep with special "pregnancy pillows" or use extra regular pillows, especially if you have heartburn. Take naps during the day, and practice relaxation techniques for better sleep. Talk to your doctor if you have insomnia. Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders
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
Poor Sleep Might Be Linked to Preterm Labor
Posted 1 Nov 2011 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, Nov. 1 – Pregnant women who have trouble sleeping or experience sleep disruptions during their first or third trimesters are more likely to deliver prematurely, according to a new study. Sleep problems in the second trimester, however, were not associated with increased chances of preterm birth. Researchers don't know why there may be a connection between sleep and preterm labor, although hormones or other biological influences may play a role. One possibility is that poor sleep combined with stress may result in inflammation, which could trigger preterm delivery. The link between sleep and preterm labor was seen even when researchers controlled for other factors that could impact preterm labor, such as other medical conditions. Researchers said improving the sleep habits of expectant mothers early on may help reduce the risk of preterm births. The study appears in the Nov. 1 ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Premature Labor
Obesity More Likely in 'Night-Owl' Kids
Posted 30 Sep 2011 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, Sept. 30 – Going to bed early and waking up early may help teens stay thinner and more physically active than their night-owl peers, and this was the case even when both groups got the same amount of sleep, researchers say. "The children who went to bed late and woke up late, and the children who went to bed early and woke up early got virtually the same amount of sleep in total," study co-author Carol Maher, a postdoctoral fellow with the University of South Australia, said in a news release from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. "Scientists have realized in recent years that children who get less sleep tend to do worse on a variety of health outcomes, including the risk of being overweight and obese. Our study suggests that the timing of sleep is even more important," Maher added. In conducting the study, researchers collected information from 2,200 Australian children ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Obesity
Modern Shift Work Patterns May Be Less Harmful to Health
Posted 29 Sep 2011 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Sept. 29 – Working rotating shifts is not as potentially unhealthy as it used to be, according to new Canadian research that suggests modern shift patterns may not carry the same risks for cancer as older, more extreme shift schedules. "Recent research has suggested shift work could increase the risk of cancer, although the biological mechanism responsible for this observation is still unknown," the study's lead author, Anne Grundy, a doctoral student in the Queen's University department of community health and epidemiology in Ontario, said in a university news release. "Our study indicates that the now common rotating shift pattern of day-day-night-night may not disrupt circadian rhythm or melatonin production significantly." Melatonin, a hormone shown to have anti-carcinogenic qualities, is tied to the light-dark cycle, and melatonin levels typically peak between midnight ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders
Study Suggests Link Between Sleep Deprivation, Alzheimer's Risk
Posted 28 Sep 2011 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 28 – A new study shows that levels of amyloid beta, a byproduct of brain activity that is considered a marker for Alzheimer's disease, normally rise during the day and decrease at night. While the finding is preliminary, it could suggest a possible link between sleep deprivation and people's risk for developing the brain-robbing disease, researchers say. "We've known for some time that significant sleep deprivation has negative effects on cognitive [brain] function comparable to that of alcohol intoxication," Dr. Stephen Duntley, professor of neurology and director of Washington University's Sleep Medicine Center, said in a university news release. "But it's recently become apparent that prolonged sleep disruption and deprivation can actually play an important role in pathological processes that underlie diseases. This connection to Alzheimer's disease isn't confirmed ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Alzheimer's Disease
More Evidence That Alcohol Hinders Good Sleep
Posted 15 Aug 2011 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, Aug. 15 – You might want to take a pass on that nightcap, a new study suggests. Japanese researchers report that alcohol hinders the restorative functions of sleep. The findings, from a study of 10 male university students, appear online and in the November print issue of the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. Booze's effect on sleep appears linked to a disruption in nervous system function. Normally, as people sleep through the night, "the parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for 'rest-and-digest' activities, is dominant over the sympathetic nervous system, responsible for stimulating activities," Yohei Sagawa, a physician in the department of neuropsychiatry at the Akita University School of Medicine, explained in a journal news release. "We wanted to investigate how alcohol may change this complementary relationship." To do so, Sagawa and his ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Alcoholism, Ethanol, Dehydrated Alcohol, Alcohol 5% in Dextrose 5%, Ethyl Alcohol, Acute Alcohol Intoxication
Sleep-Deprived Teens May Crave Carbohydrates
Posted 14 Jun 2011 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, June 14 – Daytime sleepiness is associated with an increased craving for carbohydrates among teens, according to new research. The study of 262 high school seniors in New Jersey found that their desire for carbohydrates increased with the severity of daytime sleepiness. The likelihood of having a strong craving for carbs was 50 percent higher among those with excessive daytime sleepiness. The researchers also found that students with strong cravings for carbs were more likely to have depression (34 percent) than those with little or no desire for carbohydrates (22 percent). Students with major depression were nearly three times more likely to have a strong craving for carbohydrates. "This is one of the first studies in a high school population to show a linear relationship between carbohydrate craving and sleep deprivation," principal investigator Dr. Mahmood Siddique, a ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders
Young Girls May Lose Sleep Over Pressure to Be Thin
Posted 14 Jun 2011 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, June 14 – Some people may lose sleep over the pressure to be thin – especially young white girls who are being pushed by female friends to lose weight or stay skinny, according to a new study. "There is a significant amount of research in other areas regarding pressure on adolescent females to minimize body weight, but this pressure as it relates to sleep health is a less-explored topic and its consequences are mostly unknown," said the study's principal investigator, Katherine Marczyk, a doctoral student in clinical health psychology and behavioral medicine at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. "These results are important as this discovery could be one of the first steps in this research," she explained in a news release from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. In conducting the study, which was to be presented Tuesday at the annual meeting of the ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Obesity
Poor Sleep Might Worsen Diabetes
Posted 6 May 2011 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, May 6 – People with diabetes who sleep poorly have higher blood glucose levels and a more difficult time controlling their disease, a new study shows. Researchers compared 40 people with type 2 diabetes to 531 people without the blood sugar disease. The investigators looked at potential links between sleep quality, blood glucose levels and other measures of diabetes control. "We found that in those with diabetes, there was an association between poor sleep quality and worse glucose measures," said study leader Kristen Knutson, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago. "We did not see a relationship in people without diabetes," she said. The study is published in the May issue of Diabetes Care. Previous research has found some linkage between diabetes and poor sleep. Knutson said it is just an association, not cause-and-effect. "It may be that people with ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Diabetes, Type 2
Brain's Learning Ability Seems to Recharge During Light Slumber
Posted 8 Mar 2011 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, March 8 – Your brain's ability to learn may get recharged during the light, dreamless slumber that accounts for up to half of your night's sleep, according to a new study. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley conducted tests on 44 healthy young adults and found strong evidence that bursts of brain waves called sleep spindles may network between important regions of the brain to clear a path to learning. These spindles – which are fast pulses of electricity that are generated during non-rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and can occur up to 1,000 times per night – help to transfer fact-based memories from the brain's hippocampus to the prefrontal cortex's "hard drive." This enables the hippocampus, which has limited storage space, to take in fresh data, the researchers explained. "All these pieces of the puzzle tell a consistent and compelling story – that sleep ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders
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