Fall Back to Sleep & Standard Time

Tonight marks the end of daylight saving time. The return to standard time officially occurs at 2 a.m. Sunday morning.This means you get an extra hour in your day. This is a great opportunity to catch up on your sleep!To get an extra hour of sleep, you should go to bed at your normal bedtime. Then set all your clocks back an hour just before getting into bed.Lifestyle choices, personal

Sleep Across America

Today the CDC released new survey data about the sleep of people in the U.S. It examined the rate of “insufficient rest or sleep” in 2008.The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System is the world’s largest, ongoing telephone health survey. It collects data on risk behaviors and health conditions. One question on the 2008 survey was, “During the past 30 days, for about how many days have you

Sleep Duration & Obesity in Children

A new study examined the relationship between sleep duration and obesity in children.The study involved 5,159 children from 13 schools in Hong Kong; they had a mean age of 9 years. Sleep times and other data were collected using questionnaires.Results show that children with shorter sleep durations had higher body mass index scores. Children slept for more than 10 hours at night on weekends and

Sleep Apnea & Surgery: Caught on Camera

Surgery is one treatment option for people who have obstructive sleep apnea. Procedures tend to be “site-specific;” they will seek to eliminate the cause of the obstruction.The challenge is finding the right site for surgery. Problem areas related to OSA include the tonsils, tongue, soft palate, throat, jaw and nose.As a result, surgery isn’t a “one size fits all” treatment. In fact, the AASM’s

Sleep Apnea May Trigger Abnormal Heart Rhythms

A new study suggests that episodes of obstructive sleep apnea may trigger two types of “cardiac arrhythmias,” which are abnormal heart rhythms.The study involved 2,816 people. Their sleep was evaluated during an overnight sleep study.The sleep study results were examined for two types of abnormal heart rhythms: ventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation – or AF.Results show that the overall

Infant Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is common in adults; OSA also occurs in children, especially in preschoolers. Central sleep apnea is most common in middle-aged and older adults. But did you know that infants can have sleep apnea too?Primary sleep apnea of infancy is most common in small, preterm infants; it is rare in full-term newborns.During the first month after birth it may occur in about 84 percent

To Sleep, Perchance to Dream: Or Stroll or Snack...

Former "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul told Fox News that while they were living together, her former co-star Kara DioGuardi suffered from sleep eating and sleepwalking.Sleepwalking is typically seen as a childhood problem. While it is more common in children (as many as 17 percent of children sleepwalk), up to four percent of adults sleepwalk as well.Sleepwalking, also known as somnambulism,

Celtics Getting Sleep for the NBA Season

Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers is looking for any advantage that will help his team return to the NBA Finals this year. After winning the 2008 NBA Title, the Celtics were ousted from the 2009 playoffs by the Orlando Magic.This season the Celtics get All-Star forward Kevin Garnett back from a knee injury. They’re also getting more sleep.The team is being advised by Harvard sleep researcher

Biofeedback to Treat Insomnia

A recent article from Health magazine describes the use of “biofeedback” to treat insomnia.What’s biofeedback? It’s a form of therapy that gives you visual or auditory feedback for certain body signals. Cues may give you details about your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing or body temperature. Then you learn to control the body in a way that promotes sleep.Author Leslie Goldman describes

Sleep Deprivation: A Memory-Enhancing Drug?

Researchers report that they have identified the molecular mechanism by which sleep deprivation causes memory problems. They also suggest that drug treatment may be able to prevent the cognitive effects of sleep deprivation.Their letter was published today in the journal Nature.“Millions of people around the world suffer from a lack of sleep,” study co-author George S. Baillie said in a

Sleep Related Leg Cramps

You wake during the night with an intense feeling of pain in your leg or foot. A muscle suddenly contracted and tightened.The pain may last for a few seconds or several minutes. Then it ends as suddenly as it began.This describes a typical episode of a sleep related leg cramp. These leg cramps can be disruptive to your sleep. Lingering soreness from a leg cramp also can make it hard for you to go

Sleepless in Brazil

A new study shows that Americans aren’t the only people who have sleep problems. The study surveyed Brazilian adults about their sleep complaints. The results were published last week in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.The study involved a random sample of 2,110 adults from 150 cities in Brazil. Surveys were conducted during face-to-face interviews.Results show that 63 percent of people

Positional Therapy: Sleep Apnea & the Tennis Ball Technique

A new study from Australia examined long-term compliance with the tennis ball technique in people with obstructive sleep apnea. The results were published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.What is the tennis ball technique? It is a simple method of positional therapy that helps you avoid sleeping on your back. It was first introduced in the early 1980s.A tennis ball is fastened to the

Use Bedtime Routines and Relaxation Techniques to Sleep Better

A new study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine examines the strategies people use to reduce daytime sleepiness.Taking a bath was the most common sleep management practice for both men and women; 59 percent of men and 64.4 percent of women used it. Keeping a regular sleep schedule was the second most popular tactic.People also wound down for the night by listening to music, snacking and

Sleep, Infants & Breastfeeding

A new study suggests that nighttime breast milk may help babies fall asleep.Researchers in Spain analyzed the content of breast milk samples. They found a “circadian rhythm” for some nucleotides in the milk. The levels of some nucleotides rose at night; others rose during the day."This made us realize that milk induces sleep in babies," lead author Cristina Sánchez told The Telegraph.She said the

CPAP Therapy: Reducing Nasal Congestion

A new study from Ireland evaluated methods to improve nasal symptoms in people using CPAP therapy for obstructive sleep apnea. The results were published yesterday in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.The study involved 112 people; most of the participants were men. On average they were obese and had severe sleep apnea.They were randomly assigned to one of three CPAP therapy groups: dry CPAP

Sleep Apnea in Women: Diet, Exercise & Weight Loss

A new study from Australia tested the effectiveness of a 16-week exercise and diet program for people with obstructive sleep apnea. The results were published today in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.The study involved 12 people with an average age of 42 years; nine of the participants were women. They had an average body mass index of 36.1; a BMI of 30 or higher is considered “obese.”They

Sleep Apnea Surgery: Is UPPP for You?

Are some people with obstructive sleep apnea more likely to benefit from surgery than others?A new study involved 63 people with OSA. They had an average age of 42 years, and 81 percent were men. Their average body mass index was 35; a BMI of 30 or higher is considered “obese.”Each person underwent “uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.” UPPP involves the removal of soft tissue from the throat; this tissue

Into the Deep: Exploring the Science of Sleep

The Oct. 24 issue of the magazine ScienceNews features four articles that focus on the science of sleep.“The Why of Sleep” takes a look at current theories that attempt to explain the purpose of sleep. Saving energy. Promoting learning and memory. Regulating emotions. Boosting the immune system.Sleep must provide some benefits that are preferable to waking activities. But the primary function of

Having an Afternoon Energy Slump? Take a Nap!

Do you find yourself feeling sleepy after lunch? If the answer is yes, you are not alone.A recent article in the News and Sentinel reports that humans’ natural circadian rhythm includes a decrease in energy in the afternoon. Dr. Barry Louden, a board-certified sleep medicine physician, told the News and Sentinel that in addition to our natural energy decrease, many of us are tired in the

Obesity & Sleep Apnea Severity

Obesity can increase the frequency of breathing pauses that occur in people with obstructive sleep apnea. Does it also increase the severity of these breathing pauses?A new study involved 750 adults. Their sleep was evaluated during overnight sleep studies; 37,473 breathing events were recorded.Forty percent of participants were obese; they contributed 62 percent of the breathing events, reports

Always Tired: Chronic Fatigue & Hypersomnia

A new study identified DNA from a virus in 67 percent of people with chronic fatigue syndrome.The “XMRV” virus was found in the blood of 68 out of 101 CFS patients; it was found in only eight of 218 healthy controls. The same virus has been linked to prostate cancer, Reuters reports.“I think this establishes what had always been considered a psychiatric disease as an infectious disease,” study

Sleep Apnea & Children: Hurting Heart Health

A new study in the Oct. 1 issue of the journal Sleep examined how obstructive sleep apnea affects heart rate and blood pressure in children.The study involved 15 boys and 15 girls in Australia; they were between the ages of 7 and 12 years.Ten children had primary snoring; 10 had mild sleep apnea with an average of 2.5 breathing pauses per hour of sleep; and 10 had moderate to severe OSA with a

Drowsy Driving: OSA, Sleep Loss & Alcohol

Sleep loss and alcohol both have negative effects on driving performance. Are people with obstructive sleep apnea more vulnerable to these effects?A new study from Australia involved 38 people with untreated OSA. They were compared with 20 healthy controls.Participants were tested three times in a driving simulator. They drove after a normal night of sleep and after only four hours of sleep.They

Sleep & Dyslexia: Reading Between the Lines

A new study from Italy analyzed the sleep of 16 children with developmental dyslexia. The results were published in the Oct. 1 issue of the journal Sleep.The children had an average age of 11 years. Their sleep was evaluated during an overnight sleep study in a sleep lab. Results were compared with 11 children who read normally.The study found that dyslexic children had a higher percentage of

Sleep & Teens: New High School Writing Contest

It’s time for teens to do some sleep writing. The 2009 – 2010 AASM High School Topical Review in Sleep Science Contest is a new writing contest for juniors and seniors.It offers a first-place prize of a $1,000 U.S. savings bond. The winning student also will receive a trip for two to San Antonio, Texas.To enter, students must write an original topical review paper related to sleep and sleep

Sleep for your Health this Cold and Flu Season

The cold and flu season is quickly approaching. This year it is more important than ever to protect yourself not only from the seasonal flu, but also from the contagious H1N1 virus or “swine flu”.So what are the easiest ways to avoid contracting the flu?It may be as easy as practicing good hygiene. Wash your hands, keep your hands away from your face and avoid contact with people who are sick.

Sleep & Memory: Can a Nasal Spray Help You Remember?

German researchers have tested how a unique nasal spray affects sleep and memory.The study involved a nasal spray containing “interleukin-6.” IL-6 is a cytokine; it is a signaling molecule that transmits information between cells. Seventeen young men spent two nights in a lab, reports a FASEB Journal statement. Each time they read either an emotional or neutral short story. Then they were

Who Sleeps Better – Older Men or Women?

A study published yesterday in the journal Sleep compared the sleep of older men and women.The study involved 956 men and women in the Netherlands; they ranged in age from 59 years to 79 years. The participants reported their sleep quality and kept a sleep diary.They also used an actigraph for an average of six nights. The device can be worn like a watch; it tracks body movements to provide an

Alcoholism Has Long-Term Effects on Sleep

A study published today in the journal Sleep shows that alcoholics may continue to have sleep problems long after they quit drinking.The study involved 42 alcoholics with a mean age of 49 years. They had been sober for varying periods of time. Some had abstained from drinking for a few weeks; others had not had a drink in almost two years. Their sleep was compared with 42 controls.Results show