Category Archives: Sleep

When you’re not getting proper sleep, the side-effects can be less than pleasant, with low energy, low mood and a lowered immune system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has gone so far as to call insufficient sleep a public health epidemic, taking a toll on our health care system. The agency has increased ...click here to read more

Have you ever found yourself on an energy slump in the afternoon and reaching for a quick fix? Maybe your mind has wandered to the idea of a triple espresso, a Red Bull or a seemingly innocent “energy boosting” health drink. You wouldn’t be the first one in desperate need of a jump start as ...click here to read more

It’s easy to fall into a habit. Every day, doing the same thing can be a comfort. It could be anything from tying your left shoe before your right to having a boiled egg and toast for breakfast. These are the things that we feel safe doing and that make us who we are. Seniors, ...click here to read more

Did you know that how you cope with life stress and the general hubbub of modern society may increase your risk for insomnia? I’ve found myself snacking at night more often than usual, and not on the right foods. Even when you know better, you can slip up and compromise your sleep in the process. ...click here to read more

As it turns out, sleeping with too much light in the room can significantly increase the risk of obesity, especially in women. Recently, a British study, funded by the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer and published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, looked at 113,000 women over a 40-year period. Researchers wanted to identify the root ...click here to read more

A full moon might have a link to some strange behaviors and bad luck, but according to a new study, sleep quality isn’t one of them. Beliefs that the phases of the moon can influence our sleep cycles – and in particular that a full moon makes sleep difficult or causes insomnia has been a ...click here to read more

They say a happy wife makes for a happy life, but what if the happiness of your partner could have an impact on your sleep quality, too? One new study found that when the wife is happier with her marriage, the spouse’s sleep-wake schedule was more in sync. The Institute of Medicine estimates that over ...click here to read more

Americans just keep getting fatter, it’s true, but did you know that sleep deprivation could play a role in tipping the scales? Studies have connected sleep, eating and weight in adults and older children. Now new research published in the International Journal of Obesity has found that the same may hold true for younger children ...click here to read more

Tired, so tired, of waking up and moving to the couch to get a decent night’s rest? Your partner’s snoring may not just be disturbing your sleep – it may be a sign of an underlying sleep condition known as sleep apnea. People who suffer from the disorder may be at an increased risk of developing ...click here to read more

There’s at least one more reason to incorporate omega-3 into your everyday diet. A new study by the University of Oxford’s Learning and Behaviour lab revealed that higher levels of omega-3 DHA – the group of fatty acids commonly found in algae and seafood – are linked to better sleep. In their pilot, randomized trial, researchers looked ...click here to read more

If you have trouble falling asleep at night, now you’ll know exactly which part of your brain is to blame. British researchers discovered a molecular switch in the brain of fruit flies tells them when it’s time for some shut-eye – and they believe that humans have a similar brain function. Considering how essential good sleep ...click here to read more

What makes up a person? We all have bones, muscles, ligaments, organs, veins and arteries (and so on!) that are connected to create a functioning body. We move our fingers and toes without thinking about it, we speak to tell stories and offer advice, and our inner workings help transport blood, oxygen and other signals so ...click here to read more

Waking up to a fresh pot of coffee is routine for many of us. We can’t get out of bed without it! Having an additional two or three cups to get through the day seems normal, but could your daily coffee intake be taking its toll on your health? Your dependency on coffee could mean ...click here to read more

If you suffer from insomnia, you know how torturous the sleepless nights can be with the constant tossing and turning and nervous glances at the alarm clock.  And when you finally do manage to fall asleep, your alarm clock goes off, leaving you exhausted, cranky and unmotivated to start your day. The good news is ...click here to read more