Why Do We Talk in Our Sleep?

Are you a chatty Cathy when you’re sound asleep? Find out about the mystery of sleep talking, and what those sweet nothings you utter really mean.

Has your partner ever referred to a conversation that occurred the night before — and you can’t remember a thing you said? Unless it’s after a wild night out, the cause may be somniloquy, better known as sleep talking.

Sleep talking falls under the category of parasomnias, which are disruptive sleep disorders. Other parasomnias include sleepwalking, ...

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15
FEB
0

World of Dreams

Could Low Melatonin Mean Higher Diabetes Risk?

Diabetes is one of the most serious health problems in the United States and around the world. According to Centers for Disease Control estimates, 1 in 10 American adults currently has diabetes. And, if the CDC projections are correct, those numbers will double or even triple over the next 40 years.

There are well-established links between disrupted sleep and risk of type 2 diabetes. But the exact relationship between the two is not fully understood. In the ongoing effort to better ...

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1
FEB
0

Doctors Orders

ADHD or Sleep Disorder?

Millions of children and adults struggle with symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a condition marked by problems with concentration, impulse control, organization, and memory. It can be a frustrating and difficult condition, stigmatizing and often isolating for those who suffer from it.

But what if some of those who’ve been diagnosed with ADHD are, in fact, suffering from another disorder altogether—a sleep disorder? That’s the provocative and important question posed in this commentary by a practicing psychiatrist with extensive ...

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15
JAN
0

Other Sleep Disorders

Rise in ER Visits Related to Sleep Medications

There’s more news about complications that can arise from prescription sleep medication: Side effects from a common prescription sleep aid are sending increasing numbers of people to emergency departments.

The number of people seeking emergency medical treatment for the adverse effects of sleep medications containing zolpidem has risen dramatically in recent years, according to a new federal report. Zolpidem is the active ingredient in several of the most commonly prescribed sleep medications, including Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar, and Zolpimist.

The report was ...

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1
JAN
0

Doctors Orders

Insomnia Could Increase Risk of Heart Failure

There is an abundant—and ever-growing—body of evidence that indicates sleep plays an important role in cardiovascular health. Poor sleep is associated with a range of heart problems, including high blood pressure and increased risk of heart attack. Now, new research shows a link between insomnia and heart failure. Nearly 6 million adults in the United States suffer from heart failure, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Heart failure is directly responsible for more than 55,000 deaths every year, and ...

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15
DEC
0

Insomnia

New Insights on Sleepwalking

New research about sleepwalking has raised questions about several common beliefs regarding this frequently misunderstood sleep disorder. Researchers at the University of Montreal conducted a comprehensive review of more than 15 years of study on the topic of sleepwalking. Their analysis produced what may be a clearer picture of the sleep disorder, its possible mechanisms, and its risk factors. Their analysis also challenges some common beliefs about sleepwalking—beliefs that, if outdated, could interfere with diagnosis and treatment.

What are these views ...

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1
DEC
0

Other Sleep Disorders

Sleep Less, Weigh More

Calories in, calories out. We’ve all heard this basic, fundamental calculation regarding weight loss and weight gain. To lose weight, we must expend more calories than we take in. Consume more than you need, and the result? The pounds go on. Turns out, lack of sleep may increase daily calorie consumption, and contribute to weight gain.

There is a tremendous amount of evidence that sleep plays an important role in weight management. Insufficient sleep is strongly linked to obesity and metabolic ...

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15
NOV
0

Doctors Orders

Is Asthma a Risk Factor for Sleep Apnea?

There are several risk factors associated with obstructive sleep apnea that are long-standing and well known. They include lifestyle and health factors such as obesity or excess body weight, high-blood pressure, and alcohol and tobacco use, as well as genetic and demographic factors such as family history of the disease, being older, and being male. Now, thanks to new research, we may have a new OSA risk factor to add to this list: asthma.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin investigated ...

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1
NOV
0

Sleep Apnea

New Insights Into Restless Legs Syndrome

For the millions who suffer from Restless Legs Syndrome, sleep can be exceedingly difficult and disrupted. RLS is a neurological disorder and a sleep disorder, a condition that causes tingling, twitching, “creepy-crawly” feelings in the legs. These uncomfortable sensations bring about an often-urgent need to move the legs. The symptoms of RLS are most often felt when a person is lying still for a period of time, and are frequently experienced at bedtime. People with RLS commonly experience symptoms of ...

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15
OCT
0

Restless Legs Syndrome

The Link Between Abdominal Fat and Sleep Apnea

Obesity has long been considered one of the most important risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults. In particular, visceral fat—a type of fat that collects in the abdomen—is increasingly regarded as a particularly significant risk factor for sleep apnea. Visceral fat in the abdomen is located within the abdominal cavity, around the body’s organs. Visceral fat itself is considered an important risk factor for a number of serious medical conditions, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Although both ...

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1
OCT
0

Sleep Apnea

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