Health Risks of Long-Term Sleep Deprivation

Lost sleep causes more than just bags under your eyes.

Getting enough sleep is a basic human need that all too often gets overlooked in the rush to squeeze more hours into the day. Ignoring that need, however, can lead to serious health consequences: Sleep deprivation jeopardizes your safety, ability to concentrate, mental stability, and long-term well-being.

“The more people look into it, the more they find significant health problems associated with a lack of sleep,” said William Kohler, MD, medical director ...

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15
APR
0

Sleepless Dangers

H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine Tied to Sleep Disorder in British Children

Pandemrix also found to raise narcolepsy risk in previous European studies.

A British study finds that children and teens who were vaccinated during the 2009 swine flu outbreak are at increased risk for narcolepsy, a disorder that causes people to fall asleep during the day.

The particular flu vaccine involved has never been licensed for use in the United States, according a statement on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Researchers looked at data from children and teens aged 4 ...

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1
APR
0

Other Sleep Disorders

Going Camping Can Help You Get a Better Night’s Sleep

A week of residing in the outdoors may resync your internal clock and help you sleep better, say Colorado researchers.

Going camping is a great way to get some fresh air — and some fresh Zzzs, according to a new study in the journal Current Biology, as it can help resync your internal clock. Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder found that after a week of camping, the body’s circadian rhythm fell in line with the rising and setting of ...

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15
MAR
0

Tips and Tricks

Finding a Doctor to Diagnose Restless Legs Syndrome

When itchy, tingly legs keep you tossing and turning all night, which doctor do you call? Here’s the 411 on first steps when restless legs syndrome keeps you up all night.

When you’re sniffling and sneezing, you probably head to your primary care doctor for help. But when you’ve got what you suspect is restless legs syndrome — uncomfortable sensations that strike at night and won’t let you sleep — you might be wondering whether a specialist is in order.

Restless legs ...

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1
MAR
0

Restless Legs Syndrome

Fear of Dark May Morph into Insomnia

Fear may contribute to increased arousal once the lights are turned off at bedtime, study shows.

People with insomnia may not sleep well because they have an underlying fear of the dark, researchers suggested here at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.

About 46 percent of subjects with insomnia reported they had a fear of the dark compared with 26 percent of good sleepers, said Taryn Moss Atlin, MS, a PhD student at Ryerson University, Toronto.

Poor sleepers also experienced ...

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15
FEB
0

Insomnia

FDA: Lower Ambien’s Dose to Prevent Drowsy Driving

Blood levels from nighttime dose remain too high the next morning, agency says.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday that it is asking manufacturers of sleep medications containing zolpidem — including Ambien — to lower the recommended doses and to provide more safety information to patients.

These sleep medications include Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar and Zolpimist, as well as generic versions of Ambien and Ambien CR.

Officials are concerned that blood levels of zolpidem are high enough the morning after taking ...

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1
FEB
0

Doctors Orders

Falling Asleep with Anxiety

Worries keeping you up at night? Anxiety and sleep problems can feed off each other, but practicing relaxation and sound sleep habits can stop the cycle.

Does your mind race as soon your head hits the pillow? Does anxiety over work, money, or relationships keep you from going to sleep?

It’s normal to be anxious from time to time. But when anxiety and emotional problems routinely get in the way of a good night’s sleep, it’s time to take action before a ...

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15
JAN
0

Other Sleep Disorders

ER Visits Tied to Ambien on the Rise

Adverse reactions to popular sleep meds rose almost 220 percent between 2005 and 2010, study finds.

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of emergency-room visits related to sleep medications such as Ambien, according to a new U.S. study.

Adverse reactions to zolpidem — the active ingredient in the sleep aids Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar and Zolpimist — rose almost 220 percent between 2005 and 2010, researchers from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found.

The study ...

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1
JAN
0

Sleepless Dangers

Drugs May Help Relieve Restless Legs Syndrome

Review found two types of approved medications helped most patients with moderate to severe symptoms.

People suffering from restless legs syndrome may find some relief by taking one of several drugs approved to treat the condition, a new review confirms.

The medications, which include Requip (ropinirole), levodopa, Neurontin (gabapentin) and Lyrica (pregabalin), appear to reduce symptoms of the syndrome in more than 60 percent of patients, researchers report. The first two drugs raise dopamine levels in the body, and the last two ...

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15
DEC
0

Restless Legs Syndrome

Don’t Bother With Ultrasonic Bedbug Devices

Study of 4 products on market found emitted sounds don’t keep insects away.

Ultrasonic devices sold to repel bedbugs are ineffective, a new study finds.

Many such devices have been marketed in recent years as ways to control insects such as mosquitoes, cockroaches and ants. Few of those products, however, have been demonstrated as being effective. New versions that are supposed to target bedbugs are now available.

The study appears in the current issue of the Journal of Economic Entomology.

Researchers K.M. Yturralde and ...

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1
DEC
0

Tips and Tricks

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