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Sleep Disorders News
Health Tip: Talking in Your Sleep
Posted 4 days ago by Drugs.com
-- Talking in one's sleep is common. But the National Sleep Foundation says it may not be anything to worry about, except when it is attributed to or results in: Using alcohol or drugs. Feeling stressed, depressed or anxious. Getting insufficient sleep. Waking up feeling tired or overwhelmed. Talk with your doctor if you're concerned about talking in your sleep. Read more
Related support groups: Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress, Sleep Disorders, Insomnia, Fatigue, Alcoholism, Hangover, Shift Work Sleep Disorder, Acute Alcohol Intoxication
How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?
Posted 4 days ago by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, July 20, 2017 – Health initiatives typically center on diet and fitness. But the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society state that getting enough sleep is just as important as eating right and exercising. Your health can truly suffer if you're constantly shortchanging yourself on sleep. Heart disease, diabetes and obesity as well as the risk of accidents like car crashes top the list. More than the embarrassment of falling asleep at an important meeting, sleep deprivation can result in cognitive impairment – your judgment just isn't as sharp as it should be. Missing out on needed sleep leads to higher levels of stress hormones and the hormones that regulate hunger. That can lead to the possibility of overeating and gaining weight. Poor sleep also been associated with increases in the inflammatory markers often seen with autoimmune diseases. Over a ... Read more
Related support groups: Obesity, Diabetes, Type 2, Sleep Disorders, Insomnia, Fatigue, Insulin Resistance, Sleep Apnea, Pre-Diabetes, Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome, Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Cardiovascular Risk Reduction, Abnormal Glucose Tolerance
Can Poor Sleep Boost Odds for Alzheimer's?
Posted 6 days ago by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, July 18, 2017 – Breathing problems during sleep may signal an increased risk for Alzheimer's disease, a trio of studies suggests. And, the researchers added, treating conditions like sleep apnea and hypopnea (shallow breathing) might lower the risk of dementia, or at least slow its progression. "What's exciting about these three studies is that they are looking at biological changes in the brain that may underlie a relationship between sleep problems and Alzheimer's disease," said Keith Fargo. He is director of scientific programs and outreach at the Alzheimer's Association. Fargo cautioned, however, that these studies only show an association between sleep problems and Alzheimer's disease, and not a cause-and-effect link. But it's possible that the development of the amyloid plaque that is a tell-tale sign of Alzheimer's is causing sleep problems, he noted. People with sleep ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Insomnia, Fatigue, Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, Sleep Apnea, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Shift Work Sleep Disorder
Sound Sleep May Help You Junk the Junk Food
Posted 10 days ago by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, July 14, 2017 – Get a good night's sleep and junk food may have less appeal at the end of a tough day. That's the suggestion of a study published online recently in the Journal of Applied Psychology. "We found that employees who have a stressful workday tend to bring their negative feelings from the workplace to the dinner table," said study co-author Chu-Hsiang (Daisy) Chang, of Michigan State University. That means they eat more than usual and opt for more junk food instead of healthy food, said Chang, an associate professor of psychology. "However, another key finding showed how sleep helped people deal with their stressful eating after work," Chang noted. "When workers slept better the night before, they tended to eat better when they experienced stress the next day." The findings stem from two studies involving a total of 235 men and women in China. Participants in one ... Read more
Related support groups: Obesity, Sleep Disorders, Insomnia, Fatigue, Sleep Apnea, Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome
Health Tip: If Lifestyle Interferes With Sleep
Posted 12 days ago by Drugs.com
-- Your evening routine may be affecting how easily you fall asleep and stay asleep. The National Sleep Foundation says problematic habits include: Eating a late dinner, especially a heavy one. Doing so can trigger heartburn, which may affect sleep. Watching TV in bed, as the device's blue light may interfere with your body's melatonin production. Going to bed with a smartphone. Checking email or social media can make you feel stressed when you're trying to wind down. Eating a sugary bedtime snack. Coming down from a sugar high may wake you in the middle of the night. Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Insomnia, Fatigue, Nightmares, Shift Work Sleep Disorder, Alcohol-Induced Sleep Disorder
Did Grandpa's Insomnia Serve an Evolutionary Purpose?
Posted 13 days ago by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, July 11, 2017 – Trouble sleeping is a common complaint among older folks, but what if their insomnia traces back to when Grandma and Grandpa were in charge of keeping the cave safe at night? A new study of modern hunter-gatherers in northern Tanzania who still live in groups found that age-related differences in sleep patterns ensure that at least one person is awake throughout the night. That would have offered the ancient ancestors of humans protection against predators lurking in the dark, the researchers suggested. "The idea that there's a benefit to living with grandparents has been around for a while, but this study extends that idea to vigilance during nighttime sleep," study co-author David Samson said in a Duke University news release. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Duke University at the time of the study. He's now an assistant professor of anthropology at the ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Insomnia, Fatigue, Shift Work Sleep Disorder
CPAP Mask Not a Prescription for Heart Troubles
Posted 13 days ago by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, July 11, 2017 – Using a breathing device to treat sleep apnea may help you get a good night's rest, but it might not lower your risk of dying from a stroke or heart condition, a new analysis suggests. Looking at data from 10 clinical trials, researchers found that apnea patients' risk of cardiovascular-related death remained the same whether or not they used a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. Until now, accepted medical practice has assumed that because sleep apnea can promote high blood pressure, inflammation and thicker blood, treating it should reduce a person's risk of fatal heart problems, the researchers explained in background notes. "There are an awful lot of people who are prescribing CPAP and a lot of patients using CPAP with the impression it's improving their outcome," said Dr. Alfred Bove. He is a professor emeritus at Temple University's Lewis ... Read more
Related support groups: High Blood Pressure, Sleep Disorders, Hypertension, Fatigue, Ischemic Stroke, Heart Attack, Transient Ischemic Attack, Sleep Apnea, Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome, Myocardial Infarction, Drowsiness, Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Ischemic Stroke - Prophylaxis, Hypersomnia, Cardiovascular Risk Reduction, Cardiac Arrest, Myocardial Infarction - Prophylaxis, Hypertensive Heart Disease
How Poor Sleep Might Raise Odds for Alzheimer's
Posted 14 days ago by Drugs.com
MONDAY, July 10, 2017 – Researchers may have pinpointed the reason why poor sleep has been linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease. The new study found that just one night of sleep disruption led to an increase in a protein called amyloid beta, while a week of sleep disturbance led to increased levels of a protein called tau. Both proteins are connected with Alzheimer's disease. "We showed that poor sleep is associated with higher levels of two Alzheimer's-associated proteins," said senior author Dr. David Holtzman. He is a professor and head of the department of neurology at Washington University School of Medicine, in St. Louis. "We think that perhaps chronic poor sleep during middle age may increase the risk of Alzheimer's later in life," Holtzman explained in a university news release. More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's, the study authors said. And previous ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Insomnia, Fatigue, Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Diagnosis and Investigation, Shift Work Sleep Disorder, Jet Lag
Living With Purpose May Help Seniors Sleep Soundly
Posted 14 days ago by Drugs.com
MONDAY, July 10, 2017 – Seniors who believe they have a purpose in life may sleep better, researchers say. Those who have good reasons to get up every day are less apt to have problems that keep them awake at night, such as sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome, according to a new study. People tend to have more trouble sleeping as they age, the researchers added. "Helping people cultivate a purpose in life could be an effective drug-free strategy to improve sleep quality, particularly for a population that is facing more insomnia," said study senior author Jason Ong. He's an associate professor of neurology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. The study included more than 800 people between the ages of 60 and 100 who did not have dementia. Those who said their lives had meaning were 63 percent less likely to have sleep apnea and 52 percent less likely ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Insomnia, Fatigue, Restless Legs Syndrome, Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, Sleep Apnea, Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome, Periodic Limb Movement Disorder, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Shift Work Sleep Disorder
Health Tip: Yoga Before Bed
Posted 18 days ago by Drugs.com
-- Yoga, practiced just before bed, may help you wind down and prepare for sleep. The National Sleep Foundation suggests these poses may help before bed: Cat/cow pose, done on the hands and knees and alternating between arching your back and letting it sink while raising your chest. Chair pose, performed in a position that resembles sitting in a chair. Reclining hand to big toe pose, done stretched out on the floor with a yoga strap around the sole of one foot. Stretch a leg straight up, pressing your heel upward while you hold the yoga strap. Alternate legs. Corpse pose, performed by lying flat on your back, legs and arms extended and palms facing up. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Insomnia, Fatigue, Sleep Apnea, Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome, Drowsiness, Hypersomnia
Sleep Problems: An Early Warning Sign of Alzheimer's?
Posted 19 days ago by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, July 5, 2017 – Trouble getting enough sleep may be linked to a bigger risk of Alzheimer's disease for some people, new research suggests. The results of the small study hint that people with a higher-than-normal risk of Alzheimer's disease who had worse sleep quality, more sleep problems and daytime sleepiness had more markers for Alzheimer's disease in their spinal fluid than those who didn't have sleep issues. The markers found by researchers included signs of the proteins amyloid and tau, and brain cell damage and inflammation, all linked to potential Alzheimer's. Amyloid is a protein that folds and forms plaques. Tau is a protein that forms tangles. Plaques and tangles are found in the brains of those with Alzheimer's disease and are considered a hallmark of the disease. "This study and others in the field suggest that sleep may be a modifiable risk factor for ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Insomnia, Fatigue, Alzheimer's Disease, Sleep Apnea, Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome, Diagnosis and Investigation
Poor Sleep May Worsen Suicidal Thoughts
Posted 28 Jun 2017 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, June 28, 2017 – Sleep problems may provide early clues about worsening suicidal thoughts in at-risk young adults as well as a potential way to intervene, a new study suggests. "Suicide is the tragic outcome of psychiatric illness interacting with multiple biological, psychological and social risk factors," said lead author Rebecca Bernert. She is a suicidologist and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences from Stanford University Medical School. "Sleep disturbances stand apart from other risk factors because they are visible as a warning sign, yet non-stigmatizing and highly treatable. This is why we believe they may represent an important treatment target in suicide prevention," she said in a university news release. How could sleep potentially prevent a suicide? "Sleep is a barometer of our well-being, and directly impacts how we feel the next day. We ... Read more
Related support groups: Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety and Stress, Sleep Disorders, Insomnia, Major Depressive Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Fatigue, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Schizophrenia, Mania, Borderline Personality Disorder, Dysthymia, Psychiatric Disorders, Drowsiness, Hypersomnia, Severe Mood Dysregulation, Cyclothymic Disorder
Could Shift Work Damage Your DNA?
Posted 27 Jun 2017 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, June 27, 2017 – When people work the night shift, their bodies might have less capacity to repair everyday damage to cells' DNA, a small study hints. The research found that people excreted lower levels of a chemical called 8-OH-dG when they worked at night. That might be a sign that the body's ability to repair DNA damage is diminished. While this is all theoretical, a number of studies have tied shift work to higher risks of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. The new findings might point to one reason for those risks, said lead researcher Parveen Bhatti, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, in Seattle. He explained that 8-OH-dG is excreted in the urine when the body repairs DNA damage that occurs during normal body processes. "So we think lower clearance [of 8-OH-dG] likely reflects a reduced ability to repair DNA damage," Bhatti said. "Over ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Insomnia, Fatigue, Shift Work Sleep Disorder, Diagnosis and Investigation
Health Tip: Get the Facts on Alcohol and Sleep
Posted 22 Jun 2017 by Drugs.com
-- A glass of wine may initially help you drift off to sleep, but it's hardly a prescription for a quality night of rest. Here's how alcohol can interfere with sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation: Alcohol's iniitial sedating effects wear off, which could make you more restless and likely to waken. Alcohol interferes with REM sleep, which could affect memory and concentration. Women are more likely than men to have poor sleep after drinking alcohol. Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Insomnia, Alcohol Dependence, Alcoholism, Acute Alcohol Intoxication, Alcohol-Induced Sleep Disorder
Breaking Bad (Eating Habits)
Posted 20 Jun 2017 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, June 20, 2017 – Breaking bad eating habits and starting good ones is one of the healthiest steps you can take. But making healthy choices second nature can take time. After all, it's hard to change a lifetime of bad habits overnight. In fact, research published in the European Journal of Psychology shows it can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to many months for a new habit to feel automatic. So how do you stay on track until your new healthy-eating plan takes hold? First, start small. Setting too many goals or too many unrealistic ones can sabotage you right from the start. Next, set yourself up for success. To break a 3 p.m. candy bar habit, have alternatives ready to grab, like cut-up veggies, low-fat yogurt, and berries. If you work outside the home, bring some healthy, tasty snacks to work with you each day to curb mid-morning and mid-afternoon hunger. Don't leave ... Read more
Related support groups: Obesity, Sleep Disorders, Weight Loss
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Insomnia, Narcolepsy, Sleep Apnea, Hypersomnia, Drowsiness, Shift Work Sleep Disorder, Sleep Paralysis, Jet Lag, REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, Non-24-Hour Sleep Wake Disorder, Alcohol-Induced Sleep Disorder
