In an interesting study released last month, June 2014, it was found that insomniacs that suffer from the variation of insomnia characterized by a sharply shortened duration of sleep are at an increased cancer risk. The study was conducted by Dr. Julio Fernandez-Mendoza from the Penn State College of Medicine. In addition, the study considered the existence of depression in the patients studied.
Read MoreIf you are tired, it is important to listen to your body’s signals about sleep. The signals your body sends you for sleeping and waking are dictated by circadian rhythms. These rhythms most often follow the 24-hour period of one day. In a recent study conducted by the University of Michigan, researchers found that the neurons running your circadian rhythms are more complex than previously thought.
Read MoreChronic pain sufferers are always seeking long-term solutions that will relieve their pain. While there are some medications and diets that can help manage the pain, there is new evidence that good quality sleep helps treat chronic pain.
Read MoreGetting years of poor sleep can actually age your brain and slow its functioning. As always, more and more studies are revealing just how important it is to maintain a regular sleep pattern throughout your entire life. According to a recent study, poor quality sleep increases the risk of having impaired mental facilities by up to 50 percent, which is equivalent to a five-year increase in age.
Read MoreHave you recently experienced a health setback? A traumatic event like a heart attack can interfere with your body’s natural rhythms and requires recovery time to get back on track. In a recent study conducted at the University of Guelph, it was found that patients recovering from a heart attack recovered faster if they maintained a proper sleep schedule. The study was conducted on mice and found definitively that the sleep schedule sped up healing.
Read MoreThere has been debate among medical professionals concerning why we actually need to sleep. It has been accepted that sleep rejuvenates the brain but the true purpose is not fully known. Scientists have studied sleep patterns in all types of animals, from flies to humans. Sleep is essential to consolidating memories and its major purpose may be to activate the brain’s cleaning crew.
Read MoreIt is easy to let work and family get in the way of your regular sleep. Those that are trying to get stuff done may end up losing sleep in the favor of getting more tasks done. Recently, three studies have revealed it is critical for adults to seek help if they believe they have a sleep illness. In addition, these studies found that adults should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep every night for the healthiest lifestyle.
Read MoreOverriding the natural rhythm of your brain and staying up for extended periods of time can lead to irreversible brain damage. Students studying for exams, workers that handle the late shift and even those that stay up at the expense an entire night of sleep are at risk for brain damage. The University of Pennsylvania conducted a study that found extended periods of wakefulness can kill or damage certain neurons.
Read MoreAccording to a recent survey conducted by the road safety charity Brake, one in fourteen drivers admits to actually falling asleep while driving. Falling asleep at the wheel is very dangerous and is the cause of accidents and even deaths. The survey found that men are twice as likely as women to fall asleep while driving. There are many ways to prevent accidents caused by drowsy driving.
Read MoreWith all of the breakthroughs in sleep research, people are looking into their sleep habits and their effects on health. In a recent study, sleep loss was linked to signs of brain tissue loss. Many people consider themselves to be ‘night owls’ and this designation may be connected to a genetic disposition.
Read MoreNaps on the weekends don’t make up for pulling all-nighters or having extended periods of wakefulness. For years now, it has been accepted wisdom that people with “sleep-debt” during the week can make up the sleep debt on the weekends. Although this was not an ideal situation, sleep experts have accepted the “sleep-debt” viewpoint for their patients.
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