Sleep News and Research

Latest Sleep News and Research

Anxiety and sleep problems

People who suffer from anxiety from stressful life situations may be more likely to experience sleep disturbances for at least the first six months after the event, according to a study published in the November 1 issue of the journal SLEEP.

2 Nov 2007

Fibromyalgia pain caused by neuron mismatch

The unexplained pain experienced by patients with fibromyalgia is the result of a mismatch between sensory and motor systems, new research suggests.

31 Oct 2007

Ethnic differences in sleep quality and blood pressure

In the United States, African Americans have higher blood pressure and are at greater risk of hypertension than whites.

29 Oct 2007

One-third of Americans under extreme stress

According to the latest survey as many as one-third of American adults is under extreme stress.

29 Oct 2007

Preventing seasickness

Seasickness is a common, dreaded, and virtually universal ailment. But with the right information and cautionary steps, it is avoidable - or at least it can be reckoned with.

28 Oct 2007

Advancement in radiation oncology treatment called IMRT improves care, avoids healthy tissue

New advancements in a radiation oncology treatment called IMRT (intensity modulated radiation therapy) are proving far superior to standard radiation procedures used today in safeguarding the healthy tissues surrounding cancerous tumors, and thus improving patient care.

28 Oct 2007

FDA warns about 'stay awake drug' Provigil

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning in connection with the drug Provigil because of dangerous side effects.

28 Oct 2007

Obesity risks increase after menopause

Postmenopausal women are at an age when the incidence and exacerbation of the chronic health conditions associated with obesity become more prevalent.

25 Oct 2007

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty may help those with obstructive sleep apnea

A procedure known as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) may help some patients improve or even eliminate their obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a new study.

24 Oct 2007

Can a lack of sleep drive you crazy?

Scientists in the U.S. have linked a lack of sleep to mental illness; they say brain scans can show how the brain gets tired and over-emotional when someone is deprived of sleep.

24 Oct 2007

Sleep-deprivation causes brain to overreact to negative experiences

Without sleep, the emotional centers of the brain dramatically overreact to negative experiences, reveals a new brain imaging study in the October 23rd issue of Current Biology, a publication of Cell Press.

22 Oct 2007

The biomedical and sociological effects of sleep restriction

In spring 2005 a large European research and training network was established to investigate the causes and implications of poor sleep from a medical as well as from a social point of view. This EU-financed sleep research project, “The biomedical and sociological effects of sleep restriction”, is coordinated by Dr. Tarja Porkka-Heiskanen (Stenberg) MD, PhD, at the University of Helsinki, Institute of Biomedicine.

22 Oct 2007

The truth about your immune system

Vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements can help complement a healthy diet and lifestyle, but consumers shouldn't count on them to boost their immune response, says the new edition of a Harvard Medical School report, The Truth About Your Immune System: What you need to know.

22 Oct 2007

Study looks at inhaled corticosteroid use post 9/11 in NYC firefighters

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), anti-inflammatory treatments often prescribed for asthma, may be beneficial in preventing respiratory illness, according to a new study.

18 Oct 2007

Infrared imaging for sleep apnea diagnosis shows promise

Sleep apnea is commonly diagnosed by way of measuring airflow by nasal pressure, temperature, and/or carbon dioxide, through sensors placed in the nose.

18 Oct 2007

Connection between expression of clock genes and sleep

Genes responsible for our 24 hour body clock influence not only the timing of sleep, but also appear to be central to the actual restorative process of sleep, according to research published in the online open access journal BMC Neuroscience.

18 Oct 2007

Tonsillectomy sorts out children's sleep apnea and improves their behaviour

Doctors in the U.S. say children diagnosed with sleep-related breathing disorders sleep better after their tonsils and adenoids are removed.

17 Oct 2007

Nanna naps prevent heart attacks

British researchers have discovered that a "nanna nap" or siesta in the afternoon can help lower the blood pressure and possibly ward off heart attacks.

17 Oct 2007

Weight loss before bariatric surgery linked to shorter hospital stay

High-risk morbidly obese patients who lose 5 to 10 percent of their excess body weight before undergoing gastric bypass surgery appear to have shorter hospital stays and more rapid postoperative weight loss, according to a report in the October issue of Archives of Surgery, a theme issue on bariatric surgery.

16 Oct 2007

Usage of complementary and alternative medicine therapies high among those with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome

A high proportion of patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) report previous or current use, and interest in future use, of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, according to a study published in the October 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (JCSM).

16 Oct 2007