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Sleep Disorders News
Health Tip: Get the Facts on Alcohol and Sleep
Posted 5 days ago 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 7 days ago 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: Sleep Disorders, Obesity, Weight Loss
How to Beat Jet Lag This Summer Vacation
Posted 8 days ago by Drugs.com
MONDAY, June 19, 2017 – Flying across time zones to your vacation destination this summer? You can't prevent jet lag, but you can minimize it, a sleep specialist says. "Anyone who has ever suffered jet lag knows firsthand that our bodies are persistent in how they keep track of time," said Dr. Alon Avidan, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the University of California, Los Angeles. "During jet lag, a rapid shift in the light-dark cycle temporarily disrupts one's normal sleep-wake pattern, and our bodies become desynchronized," he explained in a university news release. Eastbound travel usually causes difficulty falling asleep, while westbound travel makes it harder to stay asleep. Avidan said the most effective ways to speed your adjustment to the new time zone are low-dose melatonin (0.5 mg or less) and light exposure. To shift your body clock to a later time when traveling ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Insomnia, Fatigue, Jet Lag
Better Sleep for Better Weight Loss
Posted 8 days ago by Drugs.com
MONDAY, June 19, 2017 – Did you know that the key to your "dream diet" may be as close as your bedroom? Along with cutting calories and adding exercise, getting enough sleep is important to fight weight gain. Sure, you can't eat if you're asleep. But there's more to it than that. Studies show that sleep deprivation increases the hormone that stimulates the appetite and lowers the one that tells your brain you're satisfied. So, sleepy people really may feel more hunger than those who are rested, and they tend to reach for comfort foods, too, like those rich in fat and carbs. Most adults should get at least seven hours of sleep a night, with some people needing up to nine, according to the National Sleep Foundation. But, between work, the house, and the kids, how do you "turn off the day" and get more Zzzzzs? Exercise regularly, but do it several hours before hitting the sack so you ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Obesity, Insomnia, Fatigue, Weight Loss, Shift Work Sleep Disorder
Study Cites Top Reasons Young Autism Patients Are Hospitalized
Posted 11 days ago by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, June 16, 2017 – Having a mood disorder significantly boosts the odds that young people with autism will be hospitalized for psychiatric care, according to a new study. People with autism are often hospitalized when their behavior problems overwhelm their caregivers, the study authors said. "The demand is far greater than the number of clinicians, the number of programs and the number of beds we have," said study leader Giulia Righi. She is an assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior research at Brown University's Warren Alpert Medical School. Righi's team reviewed records of 473 people with autism, aged 4 to 20. The risk of hospitalization was seven times higher for those with a mood disorder. In addition, sleep problems more than doubled the chances of a hospital stay. And those with high scores on a scale of autism symptom severity had a slightly increased risk, ... Read more
Related support groups: Depression, Sleep Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Insomnia, Fatigue, Social Anxiety Disorder, Mania, Borderline Personality Disorder, Autism, Psychiatric Disorders, Asperger Syndrome, Severe Mood Dysregulation, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Cyclothymic Disorder, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
Nighttime Airport Noise May Raise Heart Risks
Posted 13 days ago by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, June 14, 2017 – Aircraft noise, particularly at night, may be linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure and heart flutter in people who live near large airports, a new study suggests. It's one of the first long-term follow-up studies of aircraft noise, but more research is needed to draw conclusions about cause and effect, the researchers said. For the study, Klea Katsouyanni, of the University of Athens department of hygiene, epidemiology and medical statistics, and colleagues analyzed data from 420 people living near Athens International Airport in Greece. As many as 600 aircraft take off and land at the airport every day. Nearly 45 percent of participants were exposed to more than 55 decibels (dB) of daytime aircraft noise. Just over 27 percent were exposed to more than 45 dB of nighttime aircraft noise, the findings showed. Between 2004 and 2006, and during a ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, High Blood Pressure, Insomnia, Hypertension, Arrhythmia, Hypertensive Heart Disease
Could You Spot Bed Bugs in a Hotel Room?
Posted 13 days ago by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, June 14, 2017 – While many travelers think that finding bed bugs in their hotel room would be the stuff of nightmares, very few know what one looks like, a new survey shows. Just 16 percent were able to spot bed bugs in a lineup of five bug illustrations. Ticks and lice were most often mistaken for bed bugs, while ants or termites were least likely to be confused with the pesky blood suckers. Study co-author Michael Potter, a professor of entomology at the University of Kentucky, said the findings suggest that plenty of travelers are in the dark about these night-time nuisances. "Considering all the media attention paid to bed bugs in recent years, the fact that most travelers still have a poor understanding of them is troubling," he said. Most travelers who took the survey also said they'd seek different lodgings if they saw a single online report of bed bugs, even if it ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Skin Rash, Insect Bites, Minor Skin Irritation, Minor Skin Conditions
Poor Sleep Habits Equal Poor Grades
Posted 15 days ago by Drugs.com
MONDAY, June 12, 2017 – With late-night study sessions and plenty of opportunities to socialize, college life seems geared toward an erratic sleep schedule. But new research suggests that an unpredictable sleep pattern may take a toll on students' grades. "Our results indicate that going to sleep and waking up at approximately the same time is as important as the number of hours one sleeps," said study lead author Andrew Phillips. A biophysicist in the division of sleep and circadian disorders at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, he made his comments in a hospital news release. The study included 61 full-time undergraduates at Harvard College. They kept sleep diaries for 30 days. Although the study can't prove cause-and-effect, irregular patterns of sleep and wakefulness were associated with lower grade point averages. Irregular sleep patterns were also linked to delays in the ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Insomnia, Fatigue
NBA Players' Late-Night Tweets May Be Bad for Their Game: Study
Posted 18 days ago by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, June 9, 2017 – When LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers face the Golden State Warriors tonight for their last shot at an NBA championship, the Cavs better hope players didn't stay up tweeting late Thursday night. Why? New research suggests that pro basketball players who tweet the night away before a game turn in a poorer performance on the court the next day. The likely culprit? A lack of sleep, researchers said. "Using late-night tweeting activity as a proxy for being up late, we interpret these data to show that basketball skills are impaired after getting less sleep," said study author Jason Jones, an assistant professor of sociology at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, N.Y. Jones and his colleagues pored over Twitter account activity for 112 NBA players over the course of seven basketball seasons between 2009 and 2016. All told, the analysis looked at the timing ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Insomnia, Fatigue, Insomnia - Stimulant-Associated
Bed Partner Often Fuels Loved One's Insomnia
Posted 18 days ago by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, June 9, 2017 – If your bed partner routinely struggles to fall asleep, you probably have some well-meaning advice. But it may be best to keep it to yourself. Australian sleep specialists found that when a loved one had insomnia, the partner's suggested solutions – including watching TV or going to bed earlier – often backfired. "It is possible that partners are unwittingly perpetuating insomnia symptoms in the patient with insomnia," said study author Alix Mellor. Mellor, a postdoctoral research fellow, is coordinator of the Researching Effective Sleep Treatments (REST) project at Monash University in Victoria. People with insomnia have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, which can lead to daytime fatigue and irritability. Mellor's team's surveyed 31 partners of insomnia patients who were seeking treatment for their sleep problem. Roughly three-quarters said they ... Read more
Related support groups: Xanax, Sleep Disorders, Klonopin, Insomnia, Clonazepam, Ativan, Fatigue, Valium, Lorazepam, Alprazolam, Diazepam, Temazepam, Librium, Restoril, Xanax XR, Oxazepam, Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome, Halcion, Serax, Triazolam
Health Tip: Stress-Busting Tips for Caregivers
Posted 20 days ago by Drugs.com
-- When you're a caregiver, is seems like there aren't enough hours in the day to finish your tasks. The National Sleep Foundation suggests these stress-busting tips for caregivers: If your loved one has Alzheimer's disease, call for extra help in the evenings. The disease can trigger evening confusion and anxiety known as "sundowning." Keep any appointments with your doctor, just as you would for the person you're caring for. Talk with your doctor about any sleep problems. Exercise daily. This may help you ward off depression and improve your sleep. Read more
Related support groups: Depression, Anxiety, Sleep Disorders, Anxiety and Stress, Insomnia, Major Depressive Disorder, Fatigue, Alzheimer's Disease, Dysthymia
Do You Have 'Social Jet Lag?'
Posted 20 days ago by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, June 7, 2017 – If you tend to keep to a regular sleep schedule during the week, but then turn into a late-night party animal on the weekends, you may be risking your health, new research suggests. Sleep experts call this sleep pattern "social jet lag," a mismatch between your body's biological clock and your actual sleep pattern due to social activities. In the new study, researchers found the pattern is linked with heart disease, depression and other problems. The researchers evaluated nearly 1,000 adults, ages 22 to 60, asking about their sleep duration and sleep quality on weekdays and weekends. They also asked about any insomnia and about their general health. "With social jet lag, you are more likely to have heart disease, to feel fatigued, to feel tired and to have a worse mood," said study lead author Sierra Forbush, a research assistant at the University of Arizona. ... Read more
Related support groups: Depression, Sleep Disorders, Insomnia, Major Depressive Disorder, Fatigue, Dysthymia, Ischemic Heart Disease
Can Sharing Your Bedroom With Older Baby Come With Risks?
Posted 5 Jun 2017 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, June 5, 2017 – It's healthiest to evict infants from their parents' bedroom at 6 months of age, suggests new research that runs counter to national guidelines. "The longer you leave a baby in the same room as a parent, the worse the outcomes are in terms of sleep," said study author Dr. Ian Paul. There's also a higher risk that infants will migrate into bed with mom, putting them at greater risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), said Paul, a professor of pediatrics and public health sciences at Penn State College of Medicine. Last fall, the American Academy of Pediatrics updated its recommendations about "room-sharing" between parents and babies. To lower the chances for SIDS, it advised at least 6 months, and ideally 12 months, in the same bedroom, but not the same bed. Prior guidelines had recommended moving infants to their own rooms by 6 months. "The recommendation ... Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Insomnia, Fatigue, Delivery, Labor and Delivery including Augmentation
Health Tip: Get More Sleep if You Have a Cold
Posted 2 Jun 2017 by Drugs.com
-- Trying to sleep with a cold can be a miserable battle. It may be difficult to breathe, and you're probably coughing, neither of which make it easy to sleep. The National Sleep Foundation suggests: Run a humidifier or vaporizer while you sleep. Clean and dry it frequently to prevent mold. Use a foam wedge or stack several pillows to elevate your head. Keep a box of tissues by your bed so you don't have to get up when it's time to blow your nose. Tissues with moisturizing lotion can help comfort an irritated nose. Before bed, rinse your nose with a saline wash. Use nasal strips to help open nasal passages while you sleep. Read more
Related support groups: Sleep Disorders, Insomnia, Fatigue, Cold Symptoms, Pseudoephedrine, Sore Throat, Phenylephrine, Cough and Nasal Congestion, Ephedrine, Phenylpropanolamine, SudoGest, Entex, Dexatrim, Sudafed 12-Hour, Neo-Synephrine, Contac Cold, Sudafed 24-Hour, Suphedrine, Sudafed Congestion, Silfedrine
Can Loneliness Rob You of Needed Sleep?
Posted 1 Jun 2017 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, June 1, 2017 – Loneliness may rob you of your sleep, British researchers report. In the study, more than 2,200 18- and 19-year-olds in England and Wales provided information about their loneliness levels and sleeping patterns. Between 25 percent and 30 percent of the participants said they felt lonely sometimes, and another 5 percent said they frequently felt lonely. Lonelier people were 24 percent more likely to feel tired and have difficulty concentrating during the day, according to the King's College London researchers. "Diminished sleep quality is one of the many ways in which loneliness gets under the skin, and our findings underscore the importance of early therapeutic approaches to target the negative thoughts and perceptions that can make loneliness a vicious cycle," said study author Louise Arseneault. "Many of the young people in our study are currently at ... Read more
Related support groups: Depression, Anxiety, Sleep Disorders, Anxiety and Stress, Insomnia, Major Depressive Disorder, Fatigue, Social Anxiety Disorder, Dysthymia
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Related Condition Support Groups
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
