Topic: Sleep in the News

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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According to new research, it doesn’t matter whether you use traditional cigarettes or e-cigarettes, smoking isn’t good for your sleep.   The study included 1,664 college students, 41% of whom reported ever trying or currently using e-cigarettes and 29% of whom reported ever trying or currently using traditional cigarettes. Across all groups, average sleep scores indicated…
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New research suggests that children who do not sleep enough and use devices like computers and smartphones more than recommended are more likely to act impulsively and make poorer decisions.  “Impulsive behavior is associated with numerous mental health and addiction problems, including eating disorders, behavioral addictions and substance abuse,” said Dr. Michelle Guerrero, lead author…
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About 10 years ago, researchers at UC San Francisco proved that “natural short sleep” — lifelong, nightly sleep that lasts just four to six hours yet leaves individuals feeling fully rested — was controlled by a gene in our body.  But, they realized that one mutation doesn’t account for all short sleepers.  Now, they’ve found…
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People who are the most optimistic tend to be better sleepers, according to a new a study of young and middle-aged adults. More than 3,500 people ages 32-51 were included in the study sample. The participants included people in Birmingham, Alabama; Oakland, California; Chicago; and Minneapolis.  The research was led by Rosalba Hernandez, a professor of social…
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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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A new study concludes that women with diabetes are at greater risk for sleep disturbances.  Hormone changes are known to alter insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, as well as interfere with women’s sleep patterns. But little was known about the association between diabetes and sleep disturbances during menopause until now. Estrogen and progesterone are known…
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Are you tired? A new study of young and middle-aged adults shows it could be because of the way society functions in your part of the world. Researchers from Flinders University and the University of Helsinki collaborated with Finnish company, Polar, to compare the sleeping habits of 17,335 people wearing fitness trackers to measure their…
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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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Frequent use of social media compromises teenagers’ mental health or well-being by increasing their exposure to bullying and reducing sleep and physical exercise, according to new British research. The study, which is the first with enough participants to make it representative of the whole of England and to follow teenagers’ social media use and mental…
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