All Stories Tagged With: "sleep"
Which Sleep Position is Healthiest?
Your preferred p.m. pose could be giving you back and neck pain, tummy troubles, even premature wrinkles. Here are the best positions for your body — plus the one you may want to avoid. The Best: Back position Good for: Preventing neck and back pain, reducing acid reflux, minimizing wrinkles, maintaining perky breasts. Bad for: Snoring The scoop: Sleeping on your back makes it easy for your head, neck, and spine to maintain a neutral position.
Why Women Wake Before Men
Differences between males and females abound, of course — but some are found in the oddest places. New research has found that women tend to have shorter, earlier sleep cycles then men. This makes women typically go to bed earlier and get up earlier in the morning. It could also cause women’s higher rates of insomnia and seasonal depression. “This has implications for how easily they can fall asleep and how well they can stay asleep,” said study researcher Jeanne Duffy of Harvard Medical School.
Lack of Sleep is a Risk Factor for Colon Cancer
An inadequate amount of sleep has been associated with many ailments, including obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Now colon cancer can also be added to the list. A study found that people who average less than six hours of sleep per night had an almost 50 percent increase in the risk of colorectal adenomas. Adenomas are precursors to cancer tumors that can turn malignant if left untreated.
Poor Sleep Might Worsen Diabetes
People with diabetes who sleep poorly have higher blood glucose levels and a more difficult time controlling their disease, a new study shows. Researchers compared 40 people with type 2 diabetes to 531 people without the blood sugar disease. The investigators looked at potential links between sleep quality, blood glucose levels and other measures of diabetes control. “We found that in those with diabetes, there was an association between poor sleep quality and worse glucose measures,” said study leader Kristen Knutson.
Too Much or too Little Sleep May Accelerate Cognitive Aging, Study Shows
A study in the May 1 issue of the journal Sleep describes how changes in sleep that occur over a five-year period in late middle age affect cognitive function in later life. The findings suggest that women and men who begin sleeping more or less than 6 to 8 hours per night are subject to an accelerated cognitive decline that is equivalent to four to seven years of aging. Results show that the sleep duration at follow-up of 7.4 percent of women and 8.6 percent of men had increased from “7 or 8 hours” per weeknight at baseline.
Less-Than-Optimal Sleep May ‘Age’ the Brain
For middle-aged adults, sleeping less than six or more than eight hours a night is associated with a decline in brain function, British researchers contend. The magnitude of that mental decline is equal to being four to seven years older, the researchers said. “There is an expectation in today’s 24-hour-a-day society that people should be able to fit more into their lives,” said study author Jane Ferrie, a senior research fellow in the department of epidemiology and public health at University College London Medical School.
Sleep Chemical Melatonin Linked to Weight Loss, Heart Disease Prevention
University of Granada researchers have proven that melatonin -a natural hormone produced by the body- helps in controlling weight gain -even without reducing the intake of food-, improves blood lipid profile -as it reduces triglicerids-, increases HDL cholesterol and reduces LDL cholesterol. Melatonin is found in small quantities in some fruits and vegetables as mustard, Goji berries, almonds, sunflower seeds, cardamom, fennel, coriander and cherries.
Irregular Sleep Tied to Increased Fat Around Organs
Sleep is one of the most fundamental principles of health. Without enough of it you may end up feeling groggy and stressed out on a daily basis. On the contrary, excess sleep may lead to an increase in body fat due to increased insulin production. Sleep is something that must be
New Study Shows this Common Mistake Leads to Fat Gain
Losing weight may be one of the most common goals for the United States population, with obesity rates as high as ever. With millions of people using fad diets to try and shed a few pounds, it is amazing how the essential needs of the body are often neglected.
Insufficient Sleep for Teens May Lead to Weight Gain
Teens who skimp on shut-eye eat more fatty foods, a new study suggests. In the study, adolescents who slept fewer than eight hours on a weeknight consumed more of their daily calories from fat and fewer calories from carbohydrates than teens who slept eight hours or more. The findings might explain why previous work has found a link between lack of sleep and obesity in teens. The results also underscore the importance of sleep for this age group.
The Importance of Sleep and How to Get Enough of It
Sleep is a fundamental need of the body. Since the body is often pushed to its limits on a daily basis, it needs adequate time to recover and rejuvenate. Many of us are guilty of trying to cram in a few extra hours of sleep on the weekends, in an attempt to make up for the loss of sleep
