Response to Sleep Deprivation – Some of It Is In Your Genes

There are long and short variations of a clock gene, PERIOD3. Those with the short variant are more resilient to sleep loss.

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  • Combining Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Short Term Medication is Best for Treating InsomniaA Canadian study, reported in the May 20 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that the short-term addition of the sleep medication, zolpidem (Ambien), coupled with cognitive behavioral therapy, helped more people overcome persistent insomnia. But, the researchers found that in the long-term, CBT-alone is the most effective strategy. After six months,
  • What Works in Treating Insomnia?Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) appears to be the treatment of choice for insomnia, but is not very often prescribed and is not as easily available as soporific and antidepressant drugs with their frequent side effects. The author would like to hear from those woth experience in insomnia treatments.
  • Living with NarcolepsyA person with narcolepsy may fall asleep unexpectedly. Cataplexy often accompanies narcolepsy. In this disorder, the person may suddenly collapse in a heap due to loss of muscle tension. Recent discoveries show that narcolepsy is an autoimmune disease in which there is a lack of hypocretin, a hormone that promotes wakefulness.

How Much Sleep do Children and Adolescents Need?

There really is not a fixed amount of sleep that is correct for any child.  This table shows some average, or typical values.  Of course, for babies and toddlers, their sleep time contains one or several naps.  A baby is not born with adult circadian rhythm – they distribute their sleeping over the whole day [...]

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  • How Do I Put My Baby To Sleep?A newborn baby’s biological clock is not established for several months. Newborns sleep up to 20 hours in 6 or 7 episodes spread through day and night. Once the biological clock is established, there are different ideas about how the parents should go about putting the baby to sleep.
  • Consumption of Highly Caffeinated Beverages and Late-Night Technology Use Results in Poor Sleep for AdolescentsAdolescents often struggle to obtain a sufficient amount of sleep during the school week due to a biological change that occurs during puberty, which makes falling asleep in time to obtain the required 8-10 hours of sleep for full restoration difficult. Students who use multiple forms of technology late into the night and consume caffeinated
  • Adolescent Hormones and SleepAt the onset of puberty, the level of the hormone melatonin in the pubescent drops. Sex hormones increase. These hormones are also linked to the sleep cycle as they are mostly released during sleep. Adequate sleep is very important during this period of development.

Living with Narcolepsy

A person with narcolepsy may fall asleep unexpectedly. Cataplexy often accompanies narcolepsy. In this disorder, the person may suddenly collapse in a heap due to loss of muscle tension. Recent discoveries show that narcolepsy is an autoimmune disease in which there is a lack of hypocretin, a hormone that promotes wakefulness.

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  • Study Shows that Melatonin is an Effective Treatment for Sleep Problems in Children with AutismA study in the April 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine determined that over-the-counter melatonin medication can shorten the length of time it takes for children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), or both to fall asleep at the beginning of the night. Results indicate that children who received over-the-counter
  • Do Infections Trigger Narcolepsy?A study looked for evidence of bacterial infection as a possible environmental trigger for narcolepsy. The study concludes that streptococcal infections are probably a significant environmental trigger for narcolepsy. By contrast, the helicobacter pylori does not seem to be implicated.
  • Sleep ApneaObstructed sleep apnea (OAS) is often undiagnosed. If untreated, it may cause high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated.

Sticking to CPAP therapy reduces sleepiness

Many people who are on CPAP (continuous postivie airway pressure) equipment find it cumbersome and uncomfortable. The treatment does appear to work, though, if you can stick with it. There was a study reported in the June 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. Five or more hours of CPAP [...]

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  • Alternative Treatments for Sleep ApneaIn sleep apnea, the upper airway becomes blocked, and people stop breathing during sleep, usually in 10- to 20-second bouts that can occur 30 or more times an hour. The problem is usually treated with a device that increases air pressure in the throat, keeping the airway open. Called continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP,
  • Sleep ApneaObstructed sleep apnea (OAS) is often undiagnosed. If untreated, it may cause high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated.
  • Pilots Sleeping at WorkEven nervous fliers don’t expect both pilots to fall asleep on a short flight, but that happened on a flight from Honolulu to Hilo, Hawaii.  Bloomberg reports that  the plane went 30 miles past its destination before reversing course and landing safely in Hilo with 43 passengers and crew.   Pretty remarkable when you know

Sleep Apnea

Obstructed sleep apnea (OAS) is often undiagnosed. If untreated, it may cause high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated.

Related Articles

  • Alternative Treatments for Sleep ApneaIn sleep apnea, the upper airway becomes blocked, and people stop breathing during sleep, usually in 10- to 20-second bouts that can occur 30 or more times an hour. The problem is usually treated with a device that increases air pressure in the throat, keeping the airway open. Called continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP,
  • Sticking to CPAP therapy reduces sleepinessMany people who are on CPAP (continuous postivie airway pressure) equipment find it cumbersome and uncomfortable. The treatment does appear to work, though, if you can stick with it. There was a study reported in the June 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. Five or more hours of CPAP
  • Pilots Sleeping at WorkEven nervous fliers don’t expect both pilots to fall asleep on a short flight, but that happened on a flight from Honolulu to Hilo, Hawaii.  Bloomberg reports that  the plane went 30 miles past its destination before reversing course and landing safely in Hilo with 43 passengers and crew.   Pretty remarkable when you know

Good Sleep

Some new research suggests the purpose of sleep is to restore the synapses. If we have a sleep deficit we don’t function as well and may fall asleep at the wrong moment, endangering our self and others. There are simple things we can do to improve sleep.

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  • Consumption of Highly Caffeinated Beverages and Late-Night Technology Use Results in Poor Sleep for AdolescentsAdolescents often struggle to obtain a sufficient amount of sleep during the school week due to a biological change that occurs during puberty, which makes falling asleep in time to obtain the required 8-10 hours of sleep for full restoration difficult. Students who use multiple forms of technology late into the night and consume caffeinated
  • Meditation improves sleep quality, reduces insomnia Patients saw improvements in subjective sleep quality and sleep diary parameters while practicing meditation. Sleep latency, total sleep time, total wake time, wake after sleep onset, sleep efficiency, sleep quality and depression improved in patients who used meditation. According to principal investigator Ramadevi Gourineni, MD, director of the insomnia program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Evanston,
  • Can Multiple Naps Replace Regular Sleep?Pioneers have been experimenting with reduced sleep schedules based on taking multiple short naps, or a core longer sleep with one or more naps. The so-called Uberman schedule, consisting of 6 naps of 20-30 minutes each, seems to be tough to keep up.

Blue Light Stimulates Circadian System, Improves Sleep

Researchers at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., tested whether a device used to deliver blue light directly to the eyes would affect circadian rhythms — the body’s internal clock that regulates when and how much people sleep and other biological cycles.
“Light and dark patterns are the major synchronizer of circadian rhythms to the [...]

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  • Consumption of Highly Caffeinated Beverages and Late-Night Technology Use Results in Poor Sleep for AdolescentsAdolescents often struggle to obtain a sufficient amount of sleep during the school week due to a biological change that occurs during puberty, which makes falling asleep in time to obtain the required 8-10 hours of sleep for full restoration difficult. Students who use multiple forms of technology late into the night and consume caffeinated
  • Good SleepSome new research suggests the purpose of sleep is to restore the synapses. If we have a sleep deficit we don’t function as well and may fall asleep at the wrong moment, endangering our self and others. There are simple things we can do to improve sleep.
  • Can Multiple Naps Replace Regular Sleep?Pioneers have been experimenting with reduced sleep schedules based on taking multiple short naps, or a core longer sleep with one or more naps. The so-called Uberman schedule, consisting of 6 naps of 20-30 minutes each, seems to be tough to keep up.

Better Sleep for Shift Workers

According to a study in the Dec 2008 issue of the journal Sleep, the use of light exposure therapy, dark sunglasses and a strict sleep schedule can help night-shift workers create a “compromise circadian phase position,” with better increased performance and alertness during night shifts. It also allows adequate nighttime sleep on days off.
“The [...]

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Consumption of Highly Caffeinated Beverages and Late-Night Technology Use Results in Poor Sleep for Adolescents

Adolescents often struggle to obtain a sufficient amount of sleep during the school week due to a biological change that occurs during puberty, which makes falling asleep in time to obtain the required 8-10 hours of sleep for full restoration difficult. Students who use multiple forms of technology late into the night and consume caffeinated [...]

Related Articles

  • Meditation improves sleep quality, reduces insomnia Patients saw improvements in subjective sleep quality and sleep diary parameters while practicing meditation. Sleep latency, total sleep time, total wake time, wake after sleep onset, sleep efficiency, sleep quality and depression improved in patients who used meditation. According to principal investigator Ramadevi Gourineni, MD, director of the insomnia program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Evanston,
  • Sticking to CPAP therapy reduces sleepinessMany people who are on CPAP (continuous postivie airway pressure) equipment find it cumbersome and uncomfortable. The treatment does appear to work, though, if you can stick with it. There was a study reported in the June 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. Five or more hours of CPAP
  • Better Sleep for Shift WorkersAccording to a study in the Dec 2008 issue of the journal Sleep, the use of light exposure therapy, dark sunglasses and a strict sleep schedule can help night-shift workers create a “compromise circadian phase position,” with better increased performance and alertness during night shifts. It also allows adequate nighttime sleep on days off. “The

Study Shows that Melatonin is an Effective Treatment for Sleep Problems in Children with Autism

A study in the April 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine determined that over-the-counter melatonin medication can shorten the length of time it takes for children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), or both to fall asleep at the beginning of the night.

Results indicate that children who received over-the-counter [...]

Related Articles

  • Meditation improves sleep quality, reduces insomnia Patients saw improvements in subjective sleep quality and sleep diary parameters while practicing meditation. Sleep latency, total sleep time, total wake time, wake after sleep onset, sleep efficiency, sleep quality and depression improved in patients who used meditation. According to principal investigator Ramadevi Gourineni, MD, director of the insomnia program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Evanston,
  • More Active Chldren Fall Asleep FasterA new study shows that more active kids fall asleep faster, and time spent in sedentary activities increases the time required to fall asleep.
  • Adolescent Hormones and SleepAt the onset of puberty, the level of the hormone melatonin in the pubescent drops. Sex hormones increase. These hormones are also linked to the sleep cycle as they are mostly released during sleep. Adequate sleep is very important during this period of development.