Hear that bump — or bang — in the night? Getting your recommended seven to nine hours of shuteye can come with complications for many, from obstructive sleep apnea to restless leg syndrome and more. Add “exploding head syndrome” to the list, a terrifyingly named yet harmless disorder that can cause quite a stir. While … Read more
There really is an easy trick to curbing weight gain and reducing the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. All it requires is getting to bed on time. New research shows that losing even just a bit of sleep over time can mean putting on a pound of weight in six weeks. At … Read more
Feeling older than your actual age could be a sign that you’re not getting enough quality sleep, according to new research. A study led by researchers at the National Sleep Foundation and published in the journal Sleep found that adults who felt older than their chronological age were more likely to report insomnia symptoms, irregular sleep … Read more
A promising new drug could put an end to cumbersome CPAP machines and allow millions of Americans to breathe easy and sleep soundly. Researchers at the biopharm company Apnimed have been developing a sleep apnea drug called AD109. After various clinical trials, they are preparing to file for FDA approval. “A pill for sleep apnea has always been … Read more
Experts have long said the key to amazing sleep is a steady schedule, morning sunlight exposure and a calming wind-down routine. Then, there are the social media users pushing shortcuts to shuteye — tweaks here and there that could unlock our best rest yet. It can be difficult to know which sleep tips are worth … Read more
Don’t sleep on good sleep. Recent research suggests skipping shuteye can cause issues that are shockingly similar to those found in Alzheimer’s disease patients. A team of researchers from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria analyzed sleep-centric medical studies published over the last quarter century to better understand how a lack of sleep affects the … Read more
Spring in NYC is famously fickle — we have to prepare for everything from slushy snow and gloomy rain to gusty wind and even “pollen tsunamis.” Wait, pollen tsunamis? Before you consult your Farmers’ Almanac, a pollen tsunami is a significantly longer and more intense allergy season buoyed by warmer temperatures, rising carbon dioxide levels … Read more
It’s not just beauty rest — sleep duration and quality are some of the most powerful indicators of metabolic health. And a new study may have pinpointed exactly how much sleep it takes to keep Type 2 diabetes at bay. Research has long linked sleep duration and insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes. Now, experts … Read more
Modern science is just catching up to what folk and traditional healers have known since Homeric times. While lab-developed pharmaceuticals can help manage anxiety, you might also want to check your local botanical garden. Native to parts of Europe and Asia, valerian root has a long-established history as a sedative, with records of its use … Read more
Getting to sleep often takes longer than a beat. With 1 in 3 adults struggling to snooze, it’s no wonder many will try anything to get the recommended seven to nine hours or fall asleep fast. Binaural beats could be the solution to nabbing a full night’s rest — and they don’t rely on counting … Read more
Failure to get a proper night’s rest could send you to the big sleep faster. In a new study published this week, researchers from Oregon Health & Science University found that, far more than diet, exercise or loneliness, sleep quality stood out as a primary predictor of life expectancy, second only to smoking. “I didn’t … Read more
The way we lay down in bed could pose health risks beyond just a sore back, according to experts. Your go-to posture can cause pain, reflux, snoring and even nerve symptoms that show up the next morning. “What we care about is if someone is comfortable in their sleep position. Often times we sleep in … Read more
Exhausted trying to get better sleep? You’re not alone if you experience chronic insomnia — about 12% of adults have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or returning to sleep after waking up at night. While many try cutting down on caffeine or working out to fall asleep, new research has found that one specific activity … Read more
Parkinson’s disease — which causes poor balance and stiff movement — affects an estimated 1 million Americans. That number is expected to rise by 20% in the next few years. While there’s no sure-fire way to prevent the neurodegenerative disorder, new research has found that a condition that affects millions could increase the chances of … Read more
Talk about brain drain. We know that a bad night’s sleep can leave us groggy, grumpy and unable to focus, which can affect our judgment and productivity. It turns out that restlessness fueled by a few poor habits can also accelerate brain aging by several months, new research reports. A new study suggests that five … Read more
A new study reveals that the foundation of solid sleep may rest on four core habits. Over 31 days, roughly 39,000 healthy adults participated in what a team of international researchers dubbed the “Core Four Challenge.” The objective of the study was to determine the combined impact of four circadian-aligning behaviors on sleep quality and … Read more
Is melatonin making you murky in the morning? Our bodies naturally produce the hormone melatonin to help regulate our sleep-wake cycle. Melatonin is also a popular supplement meant to address sleep woes like insomnia and jet lag. Dr. Andrea Matsumura, aka Sleep Goddess MD, a board-certified sleep medicine physician and menopause expert, said timing, proper dosing and … Read more
The Sleep Sprinter, the 3 a.m. Doomscroller, the Human Snooze Button — we’re all familiar with these archetypes of sleep deprivation. You probably already know that inadequate sleep can raise your risk of chronic health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, but how can it affect your personality? A team of … Read more
Is late-night tossing and turning stealing your shut-eye? You’re not alone. Nearly one in five US adults struggle to stay asleep until sunrise — turning the dream of 8 hours of uninterrupted rest into a nightmare. “Waking up in the middle of the night can be annoying, but this is not necessarily abnormal,” Dr. Dennis … Read more
Don’t sleep on this troubling sign that may increase your risk of dementia. Age, genetics, high blood pressure, unmanaged Type 2 diabetes, smoking and untreated hearing loss are among the major risk factors for dementia, a progressive condition that affects memory, thinking and the ability to perform daily tasks. Researchers from the Mayo Clinic wanted … Read more