Sleep Info

Technology like televisions, video game systems, computers and cell phones in a child’s bedroom can reduce the amount of sleep that child gets and increase the chance she will be overweight.  That’s the finding of a new study from Canada published recently in  the journal Pediatric Obesity. For the study, conducted with fifth graders in Alberta, nearly…
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It’s not news that there’s a higher chance of obesity among those who don’t sleep enough, but scientists now are working toward finding out why. In a small study published recently in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers found that not getting enough sleep hurts the ability of fat cells to respond to insulin efficiently….
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Children who are better rested will generally behave better in school.  That’s not a surprising bit of information, but a new study shows that small changes in the amount of sleep can make a big difference. Researchers from McGill University found that elementary-schoolers who got less sleep were more likely to lose emotional control in…
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Imagine you’re laying in bed.  Your mind is active and aware, but you can’t move your body for seconds, or minutes, or even hours.  It sounds like a nightmare, but that exact scenario happens to people who are haunted by sleep paralysis. Sleep Paralysis is one of the least understood of all sleep disorders, but…
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As we move further into fall, we’re all seeing more signs offering flu shots.  While these shots are a great idea and can protect you from the misery of influenza, there’s something simpler (and free) that can add to their effectiveness: sleep. With cold and flu season around the corner, making sure you get plenty…
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The most recent research on memories and sleep indicate that while you slumber your brain is categorizing what it’s learned recently.  New research, however, goes one step further. UCLA researchers have, for the first time, measured the the sleep-time activity of a brain region known to be involved in learning, memory and Alzheimer’s disease. They discovered that…
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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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Scientists at the Washington University School of Medicine say their new study indicates that sleep problems and Alzheimer’s may be connected. The study used mice genetically altered to develop Alzheimer’s plaques in their brains as they aged. The researchers found that those mice that developed brain plaques also exhibited disrupted sleep-wake cycles.  The scientists observed…
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Individuals who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) tend to sleep poorer than individuals without it.  That’s the result of a new study conducted in Ireland. COPD is a condition of the lungs in which the airways become narrowed.  It’s linked to chronic bronchitis and emphysema.  The study, published in Respirology, included 106 COPD patients who were all former…
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A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study that took place in Atlanta found that up to 10-percent of the U.S. population are at risk of being affected by noise pollution, and that these noise levels were high enough to disturb the sleep of two percent of the population.  While two percent doesn’t…
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