It’s a difficult time for some teenagers. Schools being closed across the country due to COVID-19 social isolation is a reason for some of them to celebrate. But, for some, not having the social time that comes with school and other activities can lead to depression. Now, a new study shows that bad sleep habits…
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Teens who experience cyberbullying are more likely to suffer from poor sleep, which causes a vicious circle because lack of sleep can raise levels of depression Although research has examined the relationship between online bullying and depression, the University of Buffalo study is one of few to explore the connection between cyber victimization and sleep…
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Many look at insomnia and think it’s a symptom of something else, such as stress, bad diet, lack of exercise, or even a disease. But, that may not be true at all. Researchers in Japan are looking at insomnia from a different angle — that insomnia is the cause of those problems. Using previous research…
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Poor sleep is both a risk factor and a common symptom of depression. But, not everyone who tosses and turns at night becomes depressed. Individuals whose brains are more attuned to rewards may be protected from the negative mental health effects of poor sleep, says a new study by Duke University neuroscientists. The researchers found…
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Medication is an important part of treatment for many patients with major depressive disorder, but the transition to antidepressants isn’t always smooth. It can take six weeks for a person to respond to depression medications, but researchers at the University of Michigan who specialize in both psychiatry and sleep medicine found a potential way to…
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A psychology professor who specializes in childhood development says the consequences for kids skipping sleep can be dire. George Mason University professor Adam Winsler, along with collaborators from Old Dominion University and Eastern Virginia Medical School, gathered data from the Fairfax County Youth Survey in Virginia. This assessment given to all county students in grades eight,…
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It has been established in the last few years, and we’ve reported at length, that lack of sleep can cause obesity as well as depression. New research indicates that obesity by itself can cause the reverse of sleeplessness — daytime drowsiness. Obesity and depression — not only lack of sleep — are underlying causes for regular…
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A new study of firefighters suggests that insomnia and nightmares may increase the risk of depression by impairing the ability to access and leverage emotion regulation strategies effectively. Results show that a high percentage of participants reported clinically significant insomnia symptoms (52.7 percent), depression symptoms (39.6 percent) and nightmare problems (19.2 percent). Further analyses revealed…
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Insomnia and depression are a predictor for nightmares, according to new research conducted in Finland. The study, published in the journal Sleep, had two goals. First, it wanted to find out if factors associated with frequent nightmares could be reproduced in a large population sample. It also wanted to examine whether there were previously unreported factors…
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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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Scientists are looking more and more at sleep deprivation being the possible cause of many cases of depression. Postpartum depression, for example, affects between 5 and 25 percent of new mothers with symptoms that include sadness, fatigue, anxiety and irritability. A 2001 study of women with postpartum depression at the University of San Diego found…
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A new study indicates teenagers who log on too frequently could be prone to depression, and the cause of that depression is most likely sleep deprivation. The study, mentioned in an article in the New York Daily News this week, was conducted in China. It looked at 1,041 teens between 13 and 18 in Guangzhou,…
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Sleep deprivation among high school students can cause depression and a variety of other issues. That’s the finding of a new study of teens in New Jersey. The research, conducted by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, looked at 300 high school students in Mercer County, NJ. The study found that during…
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Sleep deprivation among high school students can cause depression and a variety of other issues. That’s the finding of a new study of teens in New Jersey. The research, conducted by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, looked at 300 high school students in Mercer County, NJ. The study found that during…
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A new study shows teens who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to suffer from depression and even suicidal thoughts. The CBS Early Show discussed the story this morning. You can watch the video below. Read the article from CBS here. For more tips on adolescent sleep, read the article on Teens and Sleep…
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Sleep patterns around the world have been disrupted as screen time increases and sleep routines change with COVID-19 self-isolation requirements. Negative mood is not unusual in adolescence, but lack of sleep can affect mental health, causing anhedonia (or loss of pleasure), anxiety, anger and significantly increasing the risk of depression, a global study of more…
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There are so many good reasons to try to ensure that your child gets enough sleep that it’s not possible to list them all here. But, does your child get enough rest? “If we make sure our children get enough sleep, it can help protect them from mental health problems,” says Bror M. Ranum, a…
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Disrupted and poor quality sleep in the earliest months of a child’s life can be an indicator of depression, anxiety and behavioral problems among toddlers, according to a new study. Researchers at the Institute for Mental Health at the University of Birmingham, in collaboration with the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare in Helsinki, found…
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Lack of sleep can make adults cranky and irritable, but among children, the impacts are more severe. According to new research, depression, anxiety, impulsive behavior and poor cognitive performance in children are all effected by the amount of sleep they get. Sleep states are active processes that support reorganization of brain circuitry. This makes sleep…
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Poor sleep habits and sleep disorders are very common in early childhood, especially in children exposed to multiple family and environmental risks like parental depression and poverty, say researchers from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Focusing on otherwise healthy children ranging in age from two to five years old, researchers recruited 205 pairs of children…
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Esports has developed from relative obscurity into a billion dollar global industry, with an estimated 453 million viewers worldwide in 2019 – and it is set to get even bigger. Despite esports’ rapid rise in popularity, there has been a notable lack of research available to support the needs of its athletes, but this is…
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Teenagers in the US simply don’t get enough rest. The consequences of this epidemic of sleep deprivation are extensive and include increasing rates of anxiety and depression among adolescents as well as suicidal thoughts and actions. Sleep-deprived teens are also more likely to be involved in car crashes and run a higher risk of injury…
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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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Only 48% of school age children in the United States get 9 hours of sleep most weeknights, according to new research. Those who do, the study suggests, are significantly more likely to show a positive outlook toward school and other signs of “childhood flourishing,” a measure of behavioral and social well-being. “Chronic sleep loss is…
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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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The scientists who identified the two known human genes that promote “natural short sleep” — nightly sleep that lasts just four to six hours but leaves people feeling well-rested — have now discovered a third, and it has some side benefits. Researchers at University of California San Francisco say that third gene is the first…
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New research is examining strategies to help night-shift workers get more restful shuteye, critical to preventing ill health effects. “By next year, a quarter of the workforce will be over 55 years old,” said Yuan Zhang, an associate professor in UMass Lowell’s Solomont School of Nursing. “Inadequate sleep is one of the most difficult problems…
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A new study says that the best way to treat one debilitating sleep disorder is not sleep drugs. In fact, the ‘double whammy’ of co-occurring insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a complex problem best managed with non-drug targeted psychiatric interventions. By following simple new guidelines, people with the concurrent conditions reported great improvement…
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A quirk of the body clock that lures some people to sleep at 8 p.m., enabling them to greet the new day as early as 4 a.m., may be significantly more common than previously believed. But, it still only covers about 1 in 300 people. So-called advanced sleep phase means that the body’s clock, or…
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Sleep disturbances and mental health challenges are putting close to half of America’s firefighters at high risk of emotional fatigue and exhaustion, new research shows. The research was conducted by Monash University in Australia in collaboration with Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Of the 6,307 firefighters from 66 fire departments across the USA that…
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A number of states around the country are currently considering ending the twice-per-year time shift between Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time, instead keeping DST as the year-round time. The reasons for ending the time change include public health because shifting an hour two times a year is difficult for many, and also to allow…
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A simple tweak to the sleeping patterns of ‘night owls’ – people with extreme late sleeping and waking habits – could lead to significant improvements in sleep/wake timings, improved performance in the mornings, better eating habits and a decrease in depression and stress. New international research by the Universities of Birmingham and Surrey in the…
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In a study looking at the daily lives of new parents, a team led by Penn State researchers found that in general, getting more physical activity and more sleep from day to day was linked with more personal well-being, a better couple relationship and more closeness with their baby. But, it definitely effects new moms…
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A new study has identified 76 new gene regions associated with sleep duration. The study by a team that recently reported finding gene sites associated with insomnia risk and chronotype – the tendency to be an early riser or a ‘night owl.’ The study was conducted by investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the University of Exeter Medical…
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An international team of researchers has identified, for the first time, biological processes in the brain that can lead to a genetic risk of insomnia. The finding made possible by assessing DNA and sleep features in 1.3 million people. The findings are a major step towards getting grip on the biological mechanisms that cause insomnia. …
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Being President of the United States is one of the most stressful jobs in the world. So, it’s understandable if the individual holding that position has some sleepless nights. Today is President’s Day, so we decided it would be interesting to look at Presidential sleep habits and problems throughout the years. Here’s a rundown of…
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Only one out of twenty adolescents in the United States is meeting national recommendations for sleeping, physical activity, and screen time, according to new research released this week. The study, conducted by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), also revealed differences in the findings between females and males, with just 3 percent…
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People with sleep apnea struggle to remember details of memories from their own lives, potentially making them vulnerable to depression, according to new research conducted in Australia. Estimated to affect more than 936 million people worldwide, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious condition that occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. People with…
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Pre-teens who use a mobile phone or watch TV in the dark an hour before bed are at risk of not getting enough sleep, when compared to those who use these devices in a lit room or not at all. The study by British and Swiss researchers is the first to analyse the pre-sleep use…
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A new study has found a list of risk factors for a violent sleep disorder. REM sleep is the dream state of sleep. During normal REM sleep, your brain sends signals to prevent your muscles from moving. However, for people with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder, those signals are disrupted. Individuals with the…
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It can be difficult to sleep sometimes when bright artificial lights are shining outside your bedroom, and a new first-of-its-kind study shows there is a significant association between light pollution and insomnia in older adults. Results show that increasing nighttime levels of artificial, outdoor light exposure were associated with an increased prevalence of sleep drug…
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The debate about Daylight Saving Time is heating up, and some states in the U.S. are doing something about it. Last week, California passed a measure that clears the way for doing away with the twice-per-year time shift, leaving the state in Daylight Saving Time all year. Florida passed a similar measure that was signed…
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Sleep may not be a direct part of most workplaces, but how much or how little sleep you get can play a huge part in how well you perform while during the workday. Everyone experiences some loss of productivity from a range of sources, such as competing demands, stress, or interpersonal issues. A new study…
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Restless leg syndrome is a condition that can severely impact its victim’s ability to relax and sleep. Its causes have been a mystery, and in fact it was only fairly recently that it was recognized as being legitimate. A new study, however, may be zeroing in on its cause. Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers say new…
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Parents have known for years that keeping their kids on a regular schedule is best for everyone involved. A new study indicates that parents should be following their own advice. The study, conducted at Duke University, suggests that a regular bedtime and wake time are just as important for heart and metabolic health among older…
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What is your teenager doing when they’re supposed to be sleeping? The majority of parents say they’re staring at their screens. According to a new survey, 56-percent of parents of teens who have sleep troubles believe it’s because of electronic devices like smartphones. Not being able to stay off electronics – including social media and…
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We’ve all heard about how the early bird gets the worm. But, who wants a worm if you’re not a bird? New research does show another benefit of being the type that prefers to wake up early — less chance of depression. The study of more than 32,000 female nurses, published in the Journal of Psychiatric…
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Writing a “to-do” list at bedtime may aid in falling asleep, according to a Baylor University study. Research compared sleep patterns of participants who took five minutes to write down upcoming duties versus participants who chronicled completed activities. “We live in a 24/7 culture in which our to-do lists seem to be constantly growing and…
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According to new research, among the many benefits of sleeping at least eight hours per night is that it can reduce stress and anxiety. Binghamton University Professor of Psychology Meredith Coles and former graduate student Jacob Nota assessed the timing and duration of sleep in individuals with moderate to high levels of repetitive negative thoughts,…
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People who worry about poor sleep have more emotional and physical problems during the day than those who do not worry, regardless of how well either sleep, according to research conducted at The University of Alabama. In a review of more than a dozen sleep studies going back more than 20 years, Dr. Kenneth Lichstein,…
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We are officially in the time of year that a lot of people hate. For much of the country right now, sunset is around 5:00 p.m. or even earlier, and it’s not going to get any later until after December 21. With sunrise at around 7:00 a.m., many people are waking up in the dark…
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Ever sleep poorly and then walk out of the house without your keys? Or, even worse, space out on the highway and nearly hit a stalled car? A new study is the first to reveal how sleep deprivation disrupts our brain cells’ ability to communicate with each other, leading to temporary mental lapses that affect…
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A collaborative research project from two Australian universities indicates high rates of sleep problems continuing through teenage years and into early adulthood – but also suggests a natural remedy. Dr. Yaqoot Fatima from James Cook University was associated with a study that tracked more than 3600 people from the age of 14 until they were…
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A silent epidemic of dream loss is at the root of many of the health concerns attributed to sleep loss, according to Rubin Naiman, PhD, a sleep and dream specialist at the University of Arizona who recently published a comprehensive review of data. His study details the various factors that cause rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and dream…
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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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When you have rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, you dream. But, according to a new study, individuals who get less REM sleep may have a greater risk of developing dementia. There are five stages of sleep. Stage one is light sleep. Stage two is when the body begins to prepare for deeper sleep, including stages…
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With school back in session (or nearly back in session) across the country, sleep for students is a big issue around many households. Leading pediatrics and sleep associations agree that teens shouldn’t start school before 8:30 a.m. However, a lot of parents are not on board for changes to fix the problem. A new study…
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Neurons in the brain that produce the pleasure-signaling neurotransmitter dopamine also directly control the brain’s circadian center, or “body clock” – the area that regulates eating cycles, metabolism and waking/resting cycles – a key link that possibly affects the body’s ability to adapt to jet lag and rotating shift work, a new University of Virginia…
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There has been a lot of talk about early school start times for high schoolers, and how adolescence leads to the students’ bodies pushing them to stay up later. But, what about middle schoolers? A new study says the findings are very similar to their older counterparts. Researchers looked at nearly 33,000 middle school students…
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New research says it has found a link between sleep disturbances and biological markers for Alzheimer’s disease found in the spinal fluid. “Previous evidence has shown that sleep may influence the development or progression of Alzheimer’s disease in various ways,” said study author Barbara B. Bendlin, PhD, of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “For example, disrupted sleep…
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Researchers in California have identified a neural circuit in the brain that controls wakefulness. What does that mean? What it means is that the finding could lead to new treatments for insomnia, oversleeping, and sleep disturbances that accompany other neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression. The work was done in the laboratory of Viviana Gradinaru, assistant…
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Cognitive behavioral therapy, which traditionally includes regular, and often weekly, visits to a clinician, is recommended by the American College of Physicians and other organizations for treatment of chronic insomnia. However, when you’re in the military, that might be difficult. According to a new study, there is a viable alternative. For military personnel, internet-delivered cognitive…
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An international team of researchers has taken a first step toward unraveling of the biological mechanisms that cause insomnia. The team announced that it has found, for the first time, seven risk genes for insomnia. Insomnia is probably the most common health complaint, and many experts claim it is purely a psychological condition. This new…
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Men and women are biologically different, and we all know that. But, what’s new information is that according to a new study, men and women are affected differently by sleep disorders. Results show that women are more likely than men to have more severe symptoms of depression, trouble sleeping at night, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Women…
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Researchers in the UK have found a link between loneliness and poor sleep quality in a study of more than 2,000 British young adults. Lonelier people were 24-percent more likely to feel tired and have difficulty concentrating during the day, according to the study published today in Psychological Medicine. Loneliness is defined by researchers as a…
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If you’ve ever had insomnia, you know worrying about sleep makes it even harder to fall asleep. For the 30 percent of breast cancer survivors who have insomnia, sleepless nights can lead to depression, fatigue and a heightened risk of disease. Now, new UCLA research shows that tai chi, a form of slow-moving meditation, is…
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Skimping on sleep, followed by “catch-up” days with long snoozes, is tied to worse cognition — both in attention and creativity — in young adults, in particular those tackling major projects, Baylor University researchers have found. “The more variability they showed in their night-to-night sleep, the worse their cognition declined across the week,” said study…
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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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We’ve all known people who are night owls, or perhaps you’re even of them yourself. Night owls find it extremely hard to get up early in the morning, and are most awake at times when most people are asleep. Now science has an explanation for some of these individuals. Some people stay up late…
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Animals can pass the damaging effects of nighttime light exposure to their offspring, a new study has found, adding to a growing body of evidence that there’s a health cost to our increasingly illuminated nights. Hamster pups are born with weakened immune systems and impaired endocrine activity when their parents don’t receive a natural mix…
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New research says individuals experiencing insomnia symptoms have a higher risk of developing asthma. Asthma affects approximately 300 million people worldwide, with major risk factors including smoking, obesity and air pollution. More recently, symptoms of depression and anxiety have been associated with a risk of developing asthma in adulthood. Sleep researcher and last author of the…
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It’s an argument that many have been making for years, that U.S. high schools should start later. There’s new evidence that it would be helpful, this time coming from Canada. In a study published in the Journal of Sleep Research, the researchers found that students from schools that started earlier slept less, were less likely…
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College athletes are not getting enough sleep, but a simple intervention built around education and support could go a long way in improving sleep quality and athletic performance. The research was conducted by Michael Grandner, assistant professor of psychiatry and psychology and director of the Sleep Health Research Center at the University of Arizona College…
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A team of American and British scientists have for the first time discovered genetic connections between sleep disturbance and a range of medical disorders, including restless leg syndrome. Lead author Jacqueline Lane, PhD, postdoctoral fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and joint senior authors Richa Saxena, PhD, assistant professor of Anesthesia at MGH and Harvard…
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It’s well known that using a smartphone in the evening can make going to sleep more difficult, due to the light emitted by the screen. However, new research indicates that regular smartphone use in general is also associated with less sleep. Smartphones are increasingly becoming an indispensable part of everyday life. However, poor sleep is…
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There’s more evidence that sleep issues cause a variety of seemingly unrelated problems. According to new research from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), a sleep abnormality likely plays an important role in schizophrenia. “One of the most exciting advances in sleep research over the last decade has been the growing understanding of sleep’s causal relationship to psychiatric…
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It’s imperceptible at first, but before you know it, you’ll really start to notice that it’s getting dark earlier and earlier in the evening. Golden autumn afternoons, fall foliage and cooler temperatures are a welcome change for most people after a long hot summer, but the change in seasons could also lead to sleep problems…
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When you sleep, your brain is busy storing and consolidating things you learned that day — stuff you’ll need in your memory toolkit tomorrow, next week, or next year. For many people, especially those with neurological conditions, memory impairment can be a debilitating symptom that affects every-day life in profound ways. For the first time,…
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Children who experience inadequate or disrupted sleep are more likely to develop depression and anxiety disorders later in life. That’s according to new research conducted at the Sleep and Anxiety Center of Houston (SACH). Funded by a grant from the NIH’s National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the study sought to determine the precise ways…
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For the first time, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has released official consensus recommendations for the amount of sleep that children and teenagers need. According to an AASM release, these are the guidelines: Infants four to 12 months should sleep 12 to 16 hours per 24 hours (including naps) on a regular basis…
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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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For at least some groups of teens and young adults, sleep problems are a predictor of chronic pain and worsening pain severity over time, suggests a study conducted in the Netherlands. The study, published in the official publication of the International Association for the Study of Pain® (IASP), looked at relationships between sleep problems and pain in…
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The best time to identify signs of obstructive sleep apnea may not be at night while snoozing in bed but, instead, while sitting in the dentist’s chair. According to a new study led by University at Buffalo orthodontic researcher Thikriat Al-Jewair, dentists are in the unique position as health care professionals to pinpoint signs of…
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One of the largest tech companies in the world is launching a national sleep study, and they’re asking for your help. The American Sleep Apnea Association and IBM are introducing the SleepHealth app designed for iPhone and Apple Watch and the patient-driven SleepHealth Mobile Study. The crowd-sourced research hopes to help identify connections between sleep habits and health outcomes….
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If you pull an all-nighter or stay up late to binge watch on Netflix, you will probably be grumpy the next day. This is common sense. But, if you don’t get enough sleep for weeks or months on end, you may develop depression or other lasting mood problems, and researchers have now discovered a possible…
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One in 15 adults has moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder in which a person’s breathing is frequently interrupted during sleep — as many as 30 times per hour. People with sleep apnea also often report problems with thinking such as poor concentration, difficulty with memory and decision-making, depression, and stress. According to…
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Nearly everyone knows an older person who is always up at the crack of dawn. New research is shedding some light on why the people tend to become early birds as they get older. Examination of thousands of genes from nearly 150 human brains shows the circadian rhythm of gene activity changes with aging, according…
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Weight loss due to dietary changes can improve sleepiness at any weight, says a study published by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania this month in the journal Sleep. The findings offer new insights into how weight fluctuations impact numerous aspects of sleep independent of body weight. Previous studies…
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Cranky or grumpy after a long night? Your brain’s ability to regulate emotions is probably compromised by fatigue. A new study from Isreal’s Tel Aviv University has identified the neurological mechanism responsible for disturbed emotion regulation and increased anxiety due to only one night’s lack of sleep. The research reveals the changes sleep deprivation can…
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A new study published in the current issue of Biological Psychiatry reports that treatment for insomnia, either by cognitive behavioral therapy or the movement meditation tai chi, reduces inflammation levels in older adults over 55 years of age. “Behavioral interventions that target sleep reduce inflammation and represent a third pillar, along with diet and physical…
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Research conducted at the University of Warwick in England indicates that therapy can be an effective way to treat sleep problems among those with chronic pain. Researchers found that cognitive behavioural therapies (CBT) were either moderately or strongly effective in tackling insomnia in patients with long-term pain. They also discovered that chronic pain sufferers didn’t just benefit…
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It’s been said many times that modern humans don’t sleep nearly enough, and it’s also been said that technology is the reason. Modern conveniences from the television and smartphones to simple things like the light bulb have conspired to keep us up later and later at night, when our ancestors would have been asleep for…
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Whether you sleep too little or too much, it may lead to a higher incidence of inflammation. A new study conducted in Finland found that those who sleep less than 6 hours or more than 10 hours suffer from low-grade inflammation more often than persons sleeping 7-8 hours per night. “Earlier studies have found a…
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Today’s teens not only worry about the latest clothing or music trends, like many generations of teens before them, they also worry about being available on social media 24 hours each day, and that’s costing them sleep. In a study conducted in Scotland, researchers asked 467 teenagers ages 11 to 17 about their use of…
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New research indicates that exercise can help alleviate excessive daytime sleepiness among depressed individuals. Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center’s Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care looked into blood samples that identified two biological markers for hypersomnia, which is characterized by sleeping too much at night as well as excessive daytime sleepiness in…
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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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Twitter, once the place you went for things like breaking news and celebrity gossip, is now helping us to better understand the relationship between insomnia and social media. Researchers have built the beginnings of “digital phenotype” of insomnia and other sleep disorders based on data from Twitter. The study, published in the Journal of Medical Internet…
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New research conducted in Europe shows that poor sleepers run as big of a risk for a stroke or heart attack as those who smoke or those who fail to exercise. The study, conducted by the World Health Organization, looked into the causes of cardiovascular disease. The study involved 657 men aged 25 to 64…
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While pills are an acceptable solution for very occasional sleeplessness, those with chronic insomnia would be better off just talking. A new study looked at the difference between cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and sleep drugs, and found that CBT is more effective. CBT is a type of talk therapy where the goal is to help people change their…
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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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It’s no shock that a lot of us don’t get near the amount of sleep we need, but sometimes a study comes along that quantifies it in a way that reminds us that changes need to be made. Most experts recommend adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep. The wide span accounts for vast…
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It’s not uncommon for members of the military who are on deployment or even home after deployment to have a variety of sleep problems. New research shows us that treating those sleep problems can help alleviate symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Scientists at the RAND Corporation surveyed more than 2,000 married…
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For quite some time, SleepBetter articles have recommended that those who have sleep troubles, particularly issues with a racing mind, learn relaxation techniques to settle down for a better night’s sleep. New research is taking that one step further, at least for senior citizens, by suggesting a meditation program. The research, which was a joint…
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Scientists now say how well you sleep is in part determined by your genes. In a new study, researchers at Harvard Medical School examined the genes and sleep habits of more than 47,000 people of European descent and another nearly 4,800 African-Americans. They also reviewed previous studies for information about genetic variations. In the end, they…
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Fighting fires is a dangerous job, but it may include dangers that are beyond rushing into burning buildings to save lives. New research indicates that firefighters are also at high risk for sleep disorders. Using a sample of almost 7,000 firefighters, researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) examined the prevalence of common sleep disorders. They also…
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The debate about school start times is raging in school systems across the country. Studies have found that later start times for high school can lead to fewer teen car accidents on Monday through Friday. Additionally, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), adolescents who get enough sleep have a reduced risk of being overweight…
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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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With the vast majority of American schools back in session, it’s time to get back to what’s becoming an annual discussion — school start times. This year, pediatricians are throwing their weight behind the argument that school for teens needs to start later. In a new policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is recommending…
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The idea that cherry juice can fight insomnia is not a new one, but more research is out recently that points to its effectiveness. Researchers from Louisiana State University found that drinking Montmorency tart cherry juice twice a day for two weeks helped increase sleep time by nearly 90 minutes among older adults with insomnia….
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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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Here’s one more reason to keep your New Year’s resolution to quit smoking. Researchers at the University of Rochester have learned that quitting will help you sleep better. The study, published in the FASEB Journal, found that smoking can decrease levels of a molecule (SIRTUIN 1, an anti-aging molecule) which in turn alters the levels of a…
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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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Some people seem better off going to bed late and getting up late, while others go to bed early and hop out of bed ready to go at the break of day. Scientists in Germany say they’ve found out why that difference exists, and believe these differences can unlock why some night owls are more prone…
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We’ve talked before here at SleepBetter.org (here, here and here) about the benefits of couples sleeping apart, but for many it’s still a rather foreign idea. It turns out, though, that perhaps more couples have separate beds than previously thought. As reported by the CBC (among others) more and more people are realizing that sleeping…
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Individuals with insomnia are more inclined to consider suicide, but a new study shows just a little more sleep can dramatically lower the risk of those suicidal thoughts. The study, conducted at the University of Pennsylvania Behavioral Sleep Medicine Research Program and published in the journal SLEEP, looked at data from two studies of insomnia capturing 471…
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Does it seem like your spouse handles lack of sleep differently than you? If so, you’re probably not imagining things. Researchers from Duke University found that poor sleep is associated with greater psychological distress and higher levels of biomarkers associated with elevated risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. They also found that these associations…
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Sleeping less than six hours per night can skew the activity of hundreds of genes, according to a new study. The research, conducted at Surrey Sleep Research Centre at Surrey University in the UK, tested people who slept less than six hours a night for a week. It revealed substantial changes in the activity of genes…
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There’s a lot of work needed to plan and execute the first manned Mars mission, and scientists say they’ve found yet another hurdle — sleep. In an experiment published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, volunteers were confined in a cramped mock spaceship in Moscow to simulate a 17-month voyage….
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A new British study shows that half of those who have trouble sleeping are taking sleep aids without consulting a doctor. The research, which was conducted by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, was based on a survey of 2,077 people. In addition to finding that far too many people are medicating without talking to a physician…
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New research out of Germany reveals that young people who are avid users of computer, cell phones, and social media run a higher risk of serious sleep problems. Researchers evaluated the habits of about 4,000 people between the ages of 20 and 24 by asking them to fill out questionnaires. It was found that the…
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Even if you’re a first-time visitor to SleepBetter.org, it won’t take long before you realize just how important it is to your health to get the proper amount of sleep. Good Morning America recently put together a list of what they think are the five biggest health hazards that can come about from not sleeping…
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While being tired usually has to do with a lack of sleep, there are times that it doesn’t. A new article from LifeGoesStrong.com charts out some of the non-sleep related issues that could cause exhaustion. Among them: Allergies Anemia Thyroid Problems Diabetes Rheumatoid Athritis Depression You can read the full article here for more reasons….
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A new study reveals that moms who are suffering from depression may be negatively impacting their babies’ sleep. The results of this study show that mothers who are depressed are more likely to make poor choices about when it’s necessary to attend to a child at night. Researchers at Penn State analyzed babies and their parents over a…
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Most people assume that as you get older, your sleep quality goes down. A new study, however, is disputing that thought. Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania originally began their work trying to prove that there was some connection between aging and reoccurring sleep problems, but in the end they…
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Try to be nice to the next police officer who pulls you over for speeding. He or she is probably very tired. A new study indicates that police officers may be the sleepiest workers in our society. The research, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, suggests that 40-percent of police officers have…
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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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There are a number of “old wives tales” that people swear by when it comes to sleep. A new report from MSNBC Health points out some of these beliefs that actually turn out to be myths. The 5 myths about sleep include: 1) Napping only makes us more tired. In actuality a quick 10 to…
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The Mayo Clinic is talking sleep. In its most recent newsletter, the nonprofit organization gave some interesting and useful information about overcoming sleep troubles. Here at SleepBetter.org, we tend to avoid giving medical advice except when it’s written by our sleep expert, Dr. Lisa Shives. The Mayo Clinic, however, is quite qualified to distribute that…
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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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There’s a great article this week from Sign On San Diego that addresses the myth that seniors need less sleep than younger people. The article, written by gerontologist (doctors who study aging and the problems associated with it) Dr. Mario Garrett, points out that sleep disruption among anyone, let alone older individuals, can cause memory…
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The idea that members of the military who are deployed overseas would have sleep problems isn’t exactly a shocker, but the first large scale study on the subject shows that the problem is extremely widespread. A recent study conducted by the Department of Deployment Health Research at San Diego’s Naval Health Research Center looked at…
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We all know (or have been) teenagers who like to stay up late and sleep until noon. New research indicates, however, the number of hours a teen sleeps, and at what times, could help parents and doctors determine if they are at risk of developing depression, bipolar disorder or psychosis. From today’s Sydney Morning Herald…
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American families face a period of significant transition each year in August, as they transition from a summer sleep schedule to a school schedule. Not only are summer vacations coming to an end for elementary and high school students, millions of families are preparing to send students to college for the first time. The stresses…
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An interesting study on the consequences of sleeplessness is published this month in the journal Child Development. According to the research, conducted at Auburn University, poor children and african-american children suffer greater emotional consequences from lack of sleep than do white and middle-class kids. According to the blog al.com, published by the Birmingham News: [The…
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There’s a great Q&A on the Mayo Clinic web site, relating to how lack of sleep can make your immune system weaker. Dr. Timothy Morgenthaler gives this answer to a visitor question: During sleep, your immune system releases proteins called cytokines. These substances increase in the presence of an infection, inflammation and stress. Increased cytokines…
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There are a lot of sleep-related stories in the news this week. Here’s a rundown of several of them: United Press International (UPI) reports on a new study shows that obstructive sleep apnea may worsen diabetes… The study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, also confirmed the sleep disorder is…
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For sleeping questions and answers about school children and teens, go straight to the experts. Pediatricians and physicians can give you a wide variety of sleeping tips for teens, but it’s the people who actually see the effects of sleep deprivation in school students that can tell you more. Parents and teachers understand the connection…
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According to Examiner.com, Sleep deprivation can severely alter behavior. Lack of sleep can become fatal. In a study of rats that were not allowed to sleep, it took only three weeks for them all to die.