Sleep Archive

Articles

Gadgets to help you sleep better: Do they work?

Many gadgets claim to promote better sleep. For example, white noise machines or noise-canceling earbuds may help someone fall asleep by masking unwanted sounds in the sleep environment. As another example, a sunrise alarm, which simulates the sun’s morning light, can be helpful for people with disorders of the sleep-wake cycle. Proven methods to improve sleep include cognitive behavioral therapy and good sleep hygiene, such as keeping the room dark and cool and avoiding electronic screens within two hours of bedtime.

8 reasons why you're not sleeping

Many conditions, including sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, pain, and stress, can disrupt your rest. Managing these factors and practicing good sleep habits can help you get a better night's rest.

Will getting more sleep help protect me from dementia?

A study published online April 20, 2021, by the journal Nature Communications suggests thatgetting too little sleep in midlife increases the risk for dementia later in life. Researchers analyzed the sleep data of 8,000 middle-aged adults who were followed for 25 years. People who slept six hours per night at age 50 were 22% more likely to develop dementia, compared with people who slept seven hours. People who slept six hours per night at age 60 were 37% more likely to develop dementia, compared with people who slept seven hours. The study was observational and can't prove causation.

7 strategies to prevent cancer

Making healthy lifestyle changes can prevent an estimated 40% of cancers. These include eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, getting adequate sleep, and maintaining a healthy body weight. People can also help prevent cancers by seeking recommended cancer screenings. Some screenings merely identify cancers early, but others, such as colonoscopies and Pap tests, can find precancerous conditions and are actually able to prevent cancer.

Does exercise really boost energy levels?

Exercise can create physical changes that help increase energy levels inside the body. In addition, it can induce better sleep at night, which helps people feel more energetic in the morning.

Are toxins flushed out of the brain during sleep?

The glymphatic system is the brain's "waste management" system. It carries fresh fluid into the brain, mixes the fresh fluid with waste-filled fluid surrounding brain cells, and flushes the mix out of the brain and into the blood.

Sleeping five hours or less may raise dementia risk

Adults ages 65 and older who sleep less than five hours per night have almost double the risk of being diagnosed with dementia compared with those who sleep the recommended seven to nine hours.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia by telemedicine: Is it as good as in-person treatment?

Chronic insomnia affects between 10% and 15% of adults in the US. A specific form of cognitive behavioral therapy for treatment of insomnia is becoming more accessible because it can be delivered remotely. A recent study investigated how this therapy delivered via telemedicine compared to the same form of therapy delivered in person.

Coming out of COVID

As Americans begin to slowly move out of the COVID-19 pandemic, they may face old and new challenges. People should use this transition period to prepare mentally and emotionally for a post-COVID world. Steps include planning how to safely return to social gathering, restarting health habits that have fallen away, and addressing mental health issues.

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