Search Results for: alcohol

Alcohol and Sleep During Social Distancing

One of the running jokes about our extended “time out” from society during social distancing is that all of us are drinking a lot of alcohol.  Despite bars and restaurants being closed, it’s true that many people are drinking more than usual.  It’s also true that overdoing it can lead to sleep problems. While it’s…
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Nicotine Worse than Alcohol or Caffeine for Sleep

A new study that reviewed the sleep habits of African-Americans found that using nicotine nightly is worse than having a nightcap or drink with dinner, or even having a caffeinated beverage at night. A study led by a researcher at Florida Atlantic University with collaborators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard T. H Chan School…
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Cutting Alcohol in the New Year Can Lead to Better Sleep and Weight Loss

With the new year right in front of us, it’s time to think about what resolutions you could make to improve your life.  Sleeping better is, of course, one of our favorites.  But, that’s rather broad because there are a lot of different reasons why you might not be sleeping the proper amount (seven to…
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How Just One Night of Too Much Alcohol Can Impact Your Sleep

One of the biggest causes of sleep disruption is alcohol, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in six U.S. adults binge drinks at least four times a month.  Now, new findings from the University of Missouri School of Medicine explain how a single episode of binge drinking can affect the…
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Insomnia Linked to Alcohol Use in Adolescents

New research indicates that young people with insomnia are more likely to use alcohol, and vice-versa. “Parents, educators, and therapists should consider insomnia to be a risk marker for alcohol use, and alcohol use a risk marker for insomnia, among early adolescents,” writes Rutgers University-Camden researcher Naomi Marmorstein in the study. Marmorstein, a professor of…
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Study Links Sleep to Teen Drug and Alcohol Use

A study led by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh has identified a possible link between adolescent sleep habits and early substance abuse. The study found that both sleep duration and sleep quality during late childhood predict alcohol and marijuana use later in adolescence. “Treating problems with drugs and alcohol once they exist and preventing them…
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12 Holiday Sleep Tips #9: Don’t Overdo the Alcohol

If we were gifting you the presents from the 12 Days of Christmas song, right about now you’d be wondering where to put the nine ladies dancing.  Instead, we thought it would be a lot more practical to offer you 12 Holiday Sleep Tips, particularly since sleep is our specialty! Find all of the tips published…
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Sleep Myth Monday: Alcohol for Sleep

This is the latest installment of a regular feature here at SleepBetter.org: Sleep Myth Monday, where we bust sleep myths wide open, or verify that they’re true. Myth or Truth: Alcohol helps you sleep. TRUTH Alcohol DOES make you sleepy. However, don’t take that as meaning that it’s a good sleep aid. Once the alcohol wears…
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Alcohol Abuse Leads to Severe Sleep Disturbances

While we’ve warned here at SleepBetter about how drinking alcohol can lead to disrupted sleep, new research is looking at how abuse of the drink can lead to significant sleep issues even after the individual isn’t drinking anymore. The research, conducted at Boston University School of Medicine, led to a hypothesis that chronic alcohol use leads to…
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New Research: Why Alcohol and Sleep Don’t Mix

It shouldn’t be news for regular SleepBetter visitors, but for good sleep it’s best to avoid alcohol for a few hours before bedtime.  We’ve written on the subject of sleep and alcohol many, many times, but a new study is confirming why you don’t feel as rested when you fall asleep after a few drinks….
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Even a Little Alcohol Can Disrupt Your Sleep

It is common knowledge that getting inebriated before bed can seriously disrupt your sleep, but a new study shows that even moderate drinking can disrupt your sleep habits. This study, conducted at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, used college students as participants.  The students were instructed to wear wristbands as they slept in their own…
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Alcohol Inhibits Restorative Sleep

After a stressful day on the job some may indulge in a late night drink in an attempt to take the edge off or even in order to get to sleep faster. Although this method may seem beneficial at the time, a new study confirms that this is not be the best idea. The study,…
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Sleep & Alcohol Impacts Women More Than Men

It’s well known that alcohol can reduce the effectiveness of a full night’s sleep, but a new study indicates that the impact is worse on women than men. the analysis involved monitoring the sleep of 93 healthy adults in their twenties, including 59 women and 34 men, after their consumption of either alcohol to the…
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Sleep & Alcohol Impacts Women More Than Men

It’s well known that alcohol can reduce the effectiveness of a full night’s sleep, but a new study indicates that the impact is worse on women than men. the analysis involved monitoring the sleep of 93 healthy adults in their twenties, including 59 women and 34 men, after their consumption of either alcohol to the…
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One Possible Cause of Sleep Disorders & Young Alcoholism: Puberty

A new study conducted in India claims it has one cause of sleep disorders among youngsters: Puberty. And, it says, those sleep disorders may be leading many of these soon-to-be-adults to use alcohol as a way to get to sleep at night. The study, conducted at University Nijmegen, indicates that during puberty, teens may suffer…
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Study Confirms Alcohol's Sleep-Depriving Effects

From the UK’s NHS Choices comes news of a new study on the effects of alcohol on sleep, and secondarily which alcohols produce the worst hangovers.  Since we’re all about better sleep, we’ll focus on the details given about how alcohol will keep you from getting a good night’s rest: Those that had drunk alcohol…
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Sleep and Alcohol

An old home remedy for not being able to fall asleep is a “Hot Toddy” – a mixture of hot liquor with various additives (water, lemon, honey). It’s a wonder that any of the people using this old remedy ever got to sleep. What we now know about how to get better sleep shows us…
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Sleep Better in These Stressful Times

It’s not news to say that many people around the U.S. and elsewhere in the world are stressed out right now.  With COVID-19 spreading across the globe, if you don’t have the virus you’re likely concerned that you or a family member might get it.  All of that stress is definitely not good for sleep. …
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Apparently Some People do Hibernate in the Winter

For many, the dark, cold winter months are a time to catch up on sleep. According to a recent American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) survey, 34% percent of U.S. adults report sleeping more in winter, compared to 10% who sleep less than usual. This is a near reversal from the brighter, more activity-filled months…
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5 New Year’s Sleep Resolutions for 2020

We’re at that the time of year when a lot of people take stock of themselves and try to figure out what they can improve.  One thing that most people could work on is the amount of sleep they get each night.  Research has shown that getting the right amount of shut-eye can improve your…
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Sleep Better, Despite Holiday Stress

Holiday time is upon us, and with it comes family trips, household visitors, home decorating chores, party planning, gift-shopping and — of course — all those extra bills to pay. All of this added stress can lead to sleepless nights. In fact, the 2010 SleepBetter.org Holiday Slumber Index showed one in six Americans were expecting to lose…
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Sleep Disturbance at Night Can Lead to Migraines Later

Doctors say the relationship between sleep and migraines is not well understood, but new research says nearly half of all patients who suffer migraines report sleep disturbance as a trigger for their headaches down the road. Investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center conducted the largest prospective study using objective…
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Thank Goodness Black Friday Isn’t as Important Anymore

Years ago, we wrote articles on SleepBetter.org urging people to not get up before the crack of dawn to shop, because it completely ruined their sleep schedule.  People didn’t really listen then, but these days technology has taken care of the problem for us. Black Friday deals were enticing before online shopping became too prevalent…
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Tips to Ensure Your Thanksgiving Feast Doesn’t Ruin Your Sleep

The traditional American Thanksgiving feast is a major highlight of the holiday season for families across the country, but all of the food and revelry can keep you from sleeping properly afterward. The wonderful thing about Thanksgiving is seeing family and friends, and of course being thankful for the things and people we have in…
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Could Sleep Help Prevent Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s?

A new partnership between two leading medical research charities has launched today to explore how improving the brain’s waste disposal system could be the key to preventing Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. The glymphatic system, a recently discovered brain-wide pathway, works to remove waste products from the brain. Parkinson’s UK and Alzheimer’s Research UK have teamed…
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Fall Back Gracefully As Daylight Saving Time Ends

Daylight Saving Time ends in the United States and some other countries on November 3, 2019.  We all know the mantra to help us remember what to do with our clocks for the time change: Spring Forward, Fall Back. Springing forward is the hard one, as you’re losing an hour of sleep and most of us…
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What To Do About Occasional Sleeplessness

Every now and then, nearly everyone goes through through periods when sleeping is difficult.  The list of reasons this could happen is very long.  But, what do you do about it?  Check out these SleepBetter tips: Review your bedding and sleep environment.  Many times, the place in which you sleep can be blamed for your…
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Caregivers Lose a Lot of Sleep

Caregivers of people with dementia lose between 2.5 to 3.5 hours of sleep weekly due to difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep — a negative for themselves and potentially for those who receive their care. Informal caregiving for a person with dementia is akin to adding a part-time but unpaid job to one’s life, with…
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Lack of Sleep Equals More Risky Behavior in Teens

Teenagers who don’t get enough sleep may be at an increased risk of engaging in unsafe sexual behaviors, such as not using condoms or having sex under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to new research. “Teens by and large are not getting the recommended eight to 10 hours of sleep a night, due…
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Common Sleep Myths Debunked

We’re gaining new information every day about how and why we sleep, but even with all of the information available, there are still a lot of myths that people cling to. A research team from NYU School of Medicine reviewed more than 8,000 websites to identify the 20 most common assumptions about sleep.  Here are…
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Daily Naps Help Lower Blood Pressure

It seems that napping may do more than just reboot our energy level and improve our mood. New research found that people who took advantage of a midday snooze were more likely to have a noticeable drop in blood pressure compared with those who didn’t nap. Overall, taking a nap during the day was associated…
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Sleep Better While Celebrating

This time of year is simply crawling with parties.  First, you have the office holiday parties, then neighborhood holiday parties, and then after that you have family get-togethers.  Even after all of those are done, you still have New Year’s Eve to deal with.  One might think the only sleep problem related to all of…
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5 Sleep Tips for the Last Minute Holiday Rush

While Hanukkah has already come to a close, Christmas is next Tuesday.  What this means is that if you’re buying Christmas gifts or planning for visiting family, these next few days are likely to be chaotic and rushed.  One of the worst things you can do leading up to a big event (Christmas, exams, weddings,…
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5 Tips to Enjoy Thanksgiving While Sleeping Better

Thanksgiving brings to the mind images of family get-togethers, football, and … of course … gorging on turkey.  It’s the latter of those three images, however, that can lead to sleep issues. Below are five SleepBetter tips that will help you stay well rested during the Thanksgiving weekend as well as the year-end holidays: 1)…
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Confirmed by Science: The Smell of Lavender Does Relax Us

People have been using the smell of lavender for hundreds of years because they find it relaxing.  You can find it everywhere — from garden borders to bath bombs to fabric softener.  Now, science has confirmed what people have thought for so long — the smell of lavender actually does work. “In folk medicine, it…
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Poor Sleep Linked With Risky Teenager Behavior

It’s an unfortunate fact that most Americans don’t get enough sleep, and it’s an even more unfortunate fact that teenagers are included in those numbers.  New research indicates that this lack of sleep is having an impact on developing minds. Adolescents require 8-10 hours of sleep, but more than 70 percent of high school students…
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The Dangers of Sleeping in the Cold

A large portion of the country is living in a deep freeze right now, with temperatures staying well below freezing for days on end.  Between heavy snow and wind, power outages are assured.  How can you sleep at night in a cold house, and what are the dangers?  Here are some tips from SleepBetter: Be…
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Five Ways to Survive the Holiday Season Well-Rested

The period between the Thanksgiving and the end of December completely terrifies a lot of people.  Office parties, visiting relatives and holiday shopping can all create a huge amount of stress, and if that stress isn’t checked, it can keep you from getting the good night’s sleep you’ll need to keep rushing from here to there….
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Debunking the Myth of the Sleep-Inducing Turkey

Every year people say after their Thanksgiving feast that the tryptophan in turkey is making them need a nap.  There’s no doubt that many people end up groggy and sleepy after devouring loads of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and everything else that goes with Thanksgiving, but is it really the turkey that leads to the…
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Six Tips for Your Autumn Sleep Check-up

Labor Day has come and gone and it’s time to get back into the fall routine.  The kids are back in school, the days are getting shorter, and it won’t be long before the leaves start changing colors.  Autumn has always been an ideal time to step back and look at your family’s needs. Getting…
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Sleep Deprivation is Like Binge Drinking

If you’re the type who regularly gets less than six hours of sleep, you may as well be drunk most of the time. According to new research from a Canada-based health firm, being awake for 18 hours results in the same cognitive impairment people get from being drunk.  This is so severe that driving while sleep…
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Sleep Apnea and Your Overall Health

The number of people with obstructive sleep apnea has steadily increased over the past two decades, and while it can be fatal if untreated, scientists are also concerned about the impact on its victim’s overall health. The disorder, which causes a person to briefly stop breathing when asleep, affects over 100 million people globally and…
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Study: Much Room for Improvement Among Sleep Apps

An analysis of 35 popular smartphone-based sleep apps finds that while most help users set sleep-related goals and track and manage their sleep, few make use of other methods known to help the chronically sleep-deprived. Many of the apps soothe users with nature sounds, calming music, colors and images. Some also offer white noise, guided…
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Sleep Gets Worse With Age

As people get older, they sleep less and wake up more frequently, and the elderly are paying a price for that lack of good rest.  A recent review of scientific literature found that aging adults may lose their ability to produce deep, restorative sleep, which leads to both mental and physical problems. “Sleep changes with aging,…
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Scientists Are Studying an Indian Herb That Induces Sleep

Can’t sleep? Your sleep problems may be improved if you try an Indian herb, Ashwagandha. Researchers in the sleep institute in Japan found that an active component of Ashwagandha leaves significantly induces sleep. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a central herb in Ayurveda, the traditional home medicine native to India. As signified by its Latin name…
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Avoid March Madness Sleep Deprivation

It’s March, and the madness is about to begin.   March Madness, otherwise known as the NCAA Basketball Tournament, starts today.  Over the two-and-a-half weeks, 68 teams from around the country will play in “win or go home” basketball games, with up to 16 games played in ONE DAY in the early rounds.  That’s JUST in…
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Sleep Advice for Super Bowl Monday

The hype for the big game is rolling at full speed now, as we barrel toward a match-up between Atlanta and New England. We hope the involved NFL players are getting their sleep this week, but the problem for the rest of us will be making sure our Super Bowl Monday isn’t a complete loss…
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40+ Sleep Tips for Those Who are 50+

Sleeping definitely gets more difficult as you get older.  With that in mind, a new report has loads of sleep tips designed specifically for those who are older than 50. The report is authored by the Global Council on Brain Health, a group convened by the AARP, and looks at the link between brain health and…
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Could Santa’s All-Nighter Be Dangerous?

Every year Santa Claus and his team of elves and reindeers stay awake for days and nights so he can deliver presents to children all over the world for Christmas – but he could be putting his and their health at risk. Sleep experts Professor Franco Cappuccio and Dr Michelle Miller, from University of Warwick’s…
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Study: Driving After Missing Just a Little Sleep is Like Driving Drunk

Drivers who miss between one to two hours of the recommended seven hours of sleep in a 24-hour period nearly double their risk for a crash, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that 35 percent of U.S. drivers sleep less than the…
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New Anti-SIDS Infant Sleep Guidelines Announced

According to new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics, infants should sleep in the same bedroom as their parents – but on a separate surface, such as a crib or bassinet, and never on a couch, armchair or soft surface.  The new guidelines are designed to reduce the risk of sleep-related deaths. Recommendations call…
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Study: Tuesday is the Best Night for Sleep

While you may think that you get your best sleep on the weekends, a new study in the UK says that’s not so. The study, which looked at the heart rate data of almost 5,000 men and women, showed that while a mid-week sleep isn’t the longest, it is the most restorative.  Of those mid-week days,…
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Less Sleep = More Colds

A new study supports what parents have been saying for centuries: to avoid getting sick, be sure to get enough sleep. The team, which was led by a University of California San Francisco sleep researcher and included researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, found that people who sleep six hours…
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UK Group Calls for Better Sleep Guidelines

New research by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) says residents of the UK are losing a full night of sleep every week, and the group hopes to do something about it. The new report, titled “Waking up to the health benefits of sleep” says people in the UK are under-sleeping by about an…
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Sleep and the Super Bowl

The cries (or are they moans?) are ringing out today, as they do every year on the Monday after the Super Bowl. The cries/moans are from people who had a little too much fun with the food and drink while they were celebrating the biggest game of the NFL season last night. These people are…
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12 Holiday Sleep Tips #11: Turn the Heat Down

It’s hard to believe that we only have two of our 12 Holiday Sleep Tips remaining!  Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve talked about ways to reduce stress, make sure food and alcohol don’t ruin your sleep, and even how to get through your holiday travel well rested.  Each of these tips have been…
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Drowsy Driving: A Major Public Health Problem

A new position statement from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine warns that drowsy driving is a serious public health concern requiring greater public awareness and increased efforts to improve preventive education. The AASM reports that drowsy driving, which is defined as the operation of a motor vehicle while impaired by a lack of adequate…
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In the Workplace, Lack of Sleep Worse Than Smoking or Drinking

Keeping healthy and being a productive worker is a tricky thing, but it turns out the best thing you can do is get a good night’s sleep.  In fact, according to researchers at Cambridge University and Rand Europe, sleeping is more important than how much drink or smoke when it comes to workplace productivity. The researchers studied…
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Teen Sleep Patterns Tied to Drug Use

New research shows that teens who stay up late or sleep less are more likely to have used alcohol and drugs recently than those who haven’t. Researchers at the RAND Corporation surveyed more than 2,500 teenagers from Southern California.  The teens self-reported their total sleep time and bedtime, as well as alcohol or marijuana use….
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Even One Drink Can Harm Your Sleep

It’s fairly common knowledge that when you drink a lot of alcohol, the quality of your sleep is diminished.  But, according to a new study, even a single nightcap can negatively impact your slumber. The research, conducted at the University of Melbourne in Australia, looked into the idea that even a little nip is a bad…
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Ask SleepBetter: Waking Up Early

Have you wondered about something related to sleep, but just can’t find the answer? Lots of people do, and that’s why we created Ask SleepBetter. You can ask your own question on the SleepBetter Facebook Page, or by using our Ask SleepBetter contact form. We will try to answer as many questions as possible, but…
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Focusing on Business and Sleep

When the calendar turns to December, most of us start spending a lot of time talking about the year-end holidays and even New Year’s resolutions.  The business media, however, has picked the last few days to talk about sleep … specifically how the lack thereof can harm your career. On December 1, Forbes published an…
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Use Sunlight to Reset Your Body Clock After the Time Change

Most people agree that the spring time change, when clocks move forward and we lose an hour, is easier than the fall time change when we gain an hour.  But, for many, any tinkering with the clock on the wall can cause them to have problems with their body clock.  At minimum, they have an…
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Ask SleepBetter: Can’t Go Back to Sleep

Have you wondered about something related to sleep, but just can’t find the answer? Lots of people do, and that’s why we created Ask SleepBetter. You can ask your own question on the SleepBetter Facebook Page, or by using our Ask SleepBetter contact form. We will try to answer as many questions as possible, but…
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Ask SleepBetter: Food Before Bed?

Have you wondered about something related to sleep, but just can’t find the answer? Lots of people do, and that’s why we created Ask SleepBetter. You can ask your own question on the SleepBetter Facebook Page, or by using our Ask SleepBetter contact form. We will try to answer as many questions as possible, but…
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Ask SleepBetter: Why Do I Wake Up At Night?

Have you wondered about something related to sleep, but just can’t find the answer?  Lots of people do, and that’s why we created Ask SleepBetter.  You can ask your own question on the SleepBetter Facebook Page, or by using our Ask SleepBetter contact form.  We will try to answer as many questions as possible, but we are not…
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Sleep Deprivation Increases Chance of Depression for Teens

The warning signs of depression among teens may be fairly easy to recite.  Among them are withdrawing from friends and favorite activities, tumbling grades, and lack of motivation.  But the reasons for teen depression are many and varied.  Researchers on two continents conducted two different studies, and both found one of those reasons is lack…
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Ask SleepBetter: Why do I grunt in my sleep?

Have you wondered about something related to sleep, but just can’t find the answer?  Lots of people do, and that’s why we created Ask SleepBetter.  You can ask your own question on the SleepBetter Facebook Page, or by using our Ask SleepBetter contact form.  We will try to answer as many questions as possible, but we are not…
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5 Tips to Make the Monday After The Big Game Less Painful

Many have tried, but thus far all have failed to make the day after the Super Bowl a national holiday.  Because of that, most of us have to get up at our normal time and go to work or school on Monday.  Follow these tips to make it as painless as possible: Don’t stay up…
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Study: Americans Don’t Prioritize Sleep Enough

A new survey indicates that Americans are still trying to do it all, and sleep is one thing that falls by the wayside. The study, commissioned by a pharmaceutical firm, compiled data from 1,000 people across the United States via a telephone survey.  According to the findings, 71 percent of survey participants do not get appropriate…
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Managing the End of Daylight Saving Time

We spring forward for Daylight Saving Time, and then we fall back to Standard Time when it ends.  This year we fall back on Sunday, November 3 at 2 a.m.  While the time change in the spring is generally regarded as the more problematic one because you’re actually losing an hour, “falling back” and gaining…
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Tips to Alleviate the Monday Blues

We all know the feeling: Mondays stink.  Not only is the weekend over, but you’re tired and maybe even a little depressed at having to head back to work.  Part of the way to alleviate these feelings is to make sure you don’t allow the weekend to throw off your biological clock.  Here are some…
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Daylight Saving Time and The Lost Hour

Daylight Saving Time and The Lost Hour Daylight Saving Time begins in the U.S and many other countries in the spring, when we set our clocks forward one hour. In 2013, SleepBetter is focusing on that “Lost Hour”. We’ve got answers for how much it costs, where it costs the most, and how we can…
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Report: Drowsy Driving Continues to be a Problem

A new U.S. government report indicates that drowsy driving continues to be a significant and ongoing problem. The report, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says one in 24 adults in the U.S. admitted to recently falling asleep while driving.  However, health officials believe that number could in reality be even higher because…
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Ask Dr. Lisa: Why Do I Wake at 4am?

In each edition of Ask Dr. Lisa, our medical sleep expert, Dr. Lisa Shives, answers your questions about why you can’t get the sleep you need. In this installment, Dr. Lisa answers a question from a woman who can’t seem to sleep all night. Marta Fernandez asks: If you wake up at 4am what should…
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Sleepy Surgeons Make Simple Errors

You may not think about it when going in for a surgical procedure, but chances are your doctor is extremely fatigued. Although there are restrictions on how many hours surgeons may work, a new study suggests that these doctors are tired enough to raise the risk of making mistakes while conducting surgeries. This small study…
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Ask Dr. Lisa: Problem Adjusting to Normal Sleep Schedule?

You’ve got questions, and Dr. Lisa Shives, our sleep expert, will answer them!  We gather sleep questions from our Facebook page, and Dr. Shives answers them right here.  In this installment, Dr. Lisa answers a question from someone having trouble switching back from an overnight work schedule… Gary Stewart asks: I believe that part of my sleeping problem…
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Sleepwalking: A Common Problem

Recent research shows that in America, sleepwalking is more common than you may think. Specifically, this research shows that about a third of Americans have sleepwalked at least once in their life. This research, conducted at Stanford University, shows a much higher number of sleepwalkers than any other previous research done in this area. Researchers note…
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Five Simple Sleep Tips for Better Sleep Month

May is Better Sleep Month, and if you visit SleepBetter.org frequently, you’ve likely seen a myriad of articles that tell you the consequences of sleeping poorly or not enough.  Among other things, lack of sleep may make you gain weight, contract diseases or conditions, and reduce your ability to learn new facts. So, what do…
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Foods to Avoid Before Bed Time

Everyone has their vices, and for some that vice may be a midnight snack. Although a late snack may seem tasty and fulfilling at the time, there are actually foods that you should stay away from right before bed. While there are some soothing foods that can promote sleep, these 10 foods are ones to be…
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Dr. Lisa Shives Gives Tips to End Daylight Savings Time (Fall Back) Successfully

By Dr. Lisa Shives (The Sleep M.D.) Daylight Savings Time ends in most of the United States, Canada and portions of Mexico at 2 a.m. on November 6, 2011, when clocks “fall back” one hour. This time change is essentially a massive experiment in jet lag, as your body clocks must reset to a time…
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Quitting Smoking May Improve Sleep Quality

A recent study out of Japan shows that those who quit smoking and decrease their alcohol intake could improve their sleep quality. A University in Japan found that smokers who smoke a pack per day get 10 less minutes of sleep than those who do not smoke. Although the study only included men, the results…
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Troublesome Teens May Actually Be Tired

It can be difficult parenting a teenager.  But, if you’re struggling with troublesome teen behavior, you might want to take a close look at why the teen is acting the way he is. A new study released from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that teens who get less than 8 hours of…
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Soldiers Suffer From Sleep Deprivation

Obviously soldiers returning home from a war face a number of problems, but one that they’re facing may not be the first that comes to mind.  According to the U.S. Army Medical Department more than seven out of ten soldiers suffer from a sleep disorder called short sleep duration, or SSD. SSD is defined as…
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Jet Lag is a Drag: Travelling Without Exhaustion

By Dr. Lisa Shives The summer is nearly upon us, and even with the economy still on shaky ground, millions will take to the sky in June, July and August to fly to destinations  far away.  Unfortunately one of the side-effects of flying across the country or across the world is dealing with time zones…
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Ask Dr. Lisa: Why Do I Wake Up at Night?

Everyone has questions, and now SleepBetter has a way for you to get answers to your sleep questions!  Each week we pick out a few questions submitted on our Facebook Page, and send them to our medical sleep expert, Dr. Lisa Shives.  If you have questions for Dr. Lisa (The Sleep M.D.) just post them for…
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Ask Dr. Lisa: How Many Pillows Should I Use?

You have questions … and Dr. Lisa, The Sleep M.D., is answering them!  This is the first installment of a new feature on SleepBetter.org that we call Ask Dr. Lisa.  Each week we ask you to submit questions on our Facebook page, and we pick several of them to submit to our medical sleep expert,…
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News Events Can Steal Your Sleep

By Dr. Lisa Shives (The Sleep M.D.) There are countless things that can steal your good night’s sleep.  Among them are food, alcohol, caffeine, and even a nap in the afternoon.  One thing that we don’t think about until the situation arises, however, is news and world events. Early this month, the United States announced…
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Sleepy Air Traffic Controllers: Worrisome But Not Surprising

Recently we’ve been hit by a barrage of news stories about American air traffic controllers falling asleep.  As these are the people who ensure that planes carrying hundreds of other people land safely, this is truly worrisome.  Unfortunately, however, it’s not surprising. The sole reason for SleepBetter’s existence is that individuals in the U.S. and…
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Your Genes May Determine How Long and How Well You Sleep

By Dr. Lisa Shives A new study published in the journal Neurology found that individual differences in the way people fall asleep, stay asleep, and deal with insomnia can be predicted by looking for an allele called DBQ1*0602, according to CBS News. Results of the study led authors to believe that up to 25 percent…
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Study: Stress Takes More College Student Sleep Than Partying

As you college students are heading back to school after a great winter break (or, if you’re a parent, you’re sending your kids back to campus,) here’s something to consider: college is stressful, and it can seriously impact college student sleep patterns. According to a 2009 study published online in the Journal of Adolescent Health,…
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Should Your Doctor Be Required to Tell You if He/She is Sleep Deprived?

While regulations have been put in place to restrict the work hours of doctors in training, no such regulations exist for fully trained physicians. An editorial in this week’s New England Journal of Medicine argues that sleep-deprived physicians should not be permitted to proceed with an elective surgery without a patient’s informed, written consent. According…
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Study: Diet During Pregnancy Can Cause Obese, Poorly-Sleeping Kids

A new study published online in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) claims that what a mother-to-be eats during her pregnancy can cause both obesity and sleep problems for her child. According to a release from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, where the research was conducted, what the…
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Foods To Avoid if You Want to Sleep

For a completely natural act, it sure does seem like a lot of things can get in the way of sleeping.  What you do before bedtime can have a HUGE impact on how well you sleep.  One of the big things is to watch what you eat and drink.  Shine, a Yahoo blog, this week…
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A Good Night's Sleep Can Help Reduce June Wedding Planning Stress

Wedding bells and sleepless nights can go hand-in-hand this time of year.  June remains the most popular month for weddings in the U.S. and getting married not only is one of the most important events in a person’s life, it’s also one of the most stressful.  We have some tips, however, to help brides and…
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A Good Night’s Sleep Can Help Reduce June Wedding Planning Stress

Wedding bells and sleepless nights can go hand-in-hand this time of year.  June remains the most popular month for weddings in the U.S. and getting married not only is one of the most important events in a person’s life, it’s also one of the most stressful.  We have some tips, however, to help brides and…
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Which Bedtime Foods Work and Which Don't?

What foods help you sleep at night?  Let us know in comments! There’s a great article on Yahoo’s Shine that talks about which foods can help you sleep better and which are .. at best .. part of an old wive’s tale.  Out of the five listed, including warm milk, herbal tea, alcohol, and sleep…
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Which Bedtime Foods Work and Which Don’t?

What foods help you sleep at night?  Let us know in comments! There’s a great article on Yahoo’s Shine that talks about which foods can help you sleep better and which are .. at best .. part of an old wive’s tale.  Out of the five listed, including warm milk, herbal tea, alcohol, and sleep…
Read more »

Sleep Tips for World Sleep Day

Today is World Sleep Day, as proclaimed by the World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM).  They proclaim this day every year to create “a platform for medical professionals to deliver the message of the importance of healthy sleep to the public.”  In a news release out this week, they also gave 10 commonsense tips to…
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Sleep and Medicine

Having trouble sleeping? There are many medicines that help with sleep out there for you to choose from. There are over-the-counter medicines and medications for sleep that are prescription only. There are home remedies, but are all these sleep aids really helping you get better sleep, or are they just covering up what really needs…
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Sleep and Hygiene

There are a number of recommended pillows and other sleep products on the market that are much more advanced now than they’ve ever been. Years ago, your only choices in pillows were various feather pillows, unyielding cheap foam, etc. Now, you can buy the kinds of sleep products that gently mold to your shape, respond…
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5 Tips to Sleep Better While Traveling for the Holidays

For a lot of people, the holiday season means traveling long distances to visit friends or relatives.  While we may look forward to this time of year, the travel itself can be exhausting.  Sleeping in a car or (even worse) an airplane can be difficult or even seemingly impossible, and if you’re traveling long distances…
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Why that "night cap" could be a bad idea

Even though alcohol is a depressant, it doesn’t have the positive effect on sleep like most people think.

Why that “night cap” could be a bad idea

Even though alcohol is a depressant, it doesn’t have the positive effect on sleep like most people think.

Sleeping pills might not be the answer

Sometimes insomnia can get so frustrating that people seek out medication to help them fall and stay asleep. However, while sleep medicines might provide a quick-fix, it’s possible that they are just covering up other issues.

Maintaining Good Sleep Hygiene

When most people hear the word “hygiene” they think about bathing or washing their hands. But “hygiene” actually has a more broad definition than that.