by Rachael Herman The SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus) makes the body run properly and on time. It acts as the control center for our genetic clock and the circadian rhythm, which regulates multiple functions including insulin sensitivity, hunger, sleep, body temperature, hormonal levels, cell cycles, etc. The suprachiasmatic nucleus has been extensively studied, but its neural…
Mobile App Helps Scientists Determine Sleep Patterns
By: Rachael Herman A new study combining mobile apps, big data, and math modeling of sleep patterns around the world has analyzed the roles of biology and society in the setting of sleep schedules. Led by mathematicians out of the University of Michigan, this study utilized a smartphone application at no charge that would reduce…
To Sleep Train or Not To Sleep Train, That is the (Ongoing) Question
Whitney Roban PhD As a Pediatric Sleep Specialist, I am often confronted by parents with the question of whether they should sleep train their children. These parents express a strong desire and need for sleep for themselves and their children, but they are confused and overwhelmed as to how to proceed (if, at all). Sleep…
How Lack of Sleep Affects Cholesterol
by Rachael Herman In previous studies, it has been found that sleep deprivation can negatively affect the immune system, metabolism, inflammatory process, and regulation of the hormone that controls appetite. In a recent study out of the University of Helsinki, scientists have discovered that lack of sleep can also lead to problems with cholesterol metabolism.…
Men Who Eat a High-Fat Diet Have Poorer Sleep
by Rachael Herman A new study out of the University of Adelaide has found that men who take in high-fat diets are more likely to report having problems sleeping at night, feeling excessive daytime sleepiness, and are more likely to be diagnosed with sleep apnea. This study, titled the Men Androgen Inflammation Lifestyle Environment and…
Risk of Metabolic Syndrome due to Daytime Sleepiness and Long Naps
by Rachael Herman A study scheduled to be reviewed at the 65th Annual Scientific Session for the American College of Cardiology reports that long naps and daytime sleepiness put an individual at higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is characterized by a collection of conditions that put an individual at risk for developing…
Childhood Sleep and School Success
by Rachael Herman New research out of Australia’s Queensland University of Technology suggests that 1 in 3 children between newborn and five years of age have trouble sleeping, leading to behavioral and emotional problems in the school setting. It was found that children who can ease themselves back to sleep in their earliest years have…
New Study Links Obstructive Sleep Apnea to the Tongue
by Amabelle Equio A new study has linked obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to the size of tonsils and the physical attributes of the tongue. Thikriat Al-Jewair, an orthodontic researcher from the University at Buffalo, discovered that oversized tonsils and tongue indentations along with obesity where the prevalent attributes among people who were diagnosed with OSA.…
Hope For Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Diabetes
by Amabelle Equio A new study brings hope for patients battling with obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes type 2 and poorly controlled blood sugar. The senior author, Francisco Garcia – Rio, MD, professor of medicine at the Autonoma University of Madrid, discovered that the use of continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, improves blood sugar…
Intense Nighttime Light Exposure is Bad for Your Sleep Health
by Amabelle Equio A recent study confirms that intense nighttime light exposure is not good for your sleep health. Maurice Ohayon, MD, DSC, Ph.D., a Stanford University scientist, said that exposure to intense nighttime light affects sleep duration, which is also linked to sleep disturbance. According to the results, approximately 500,000 urban dwellers were more…