The Sleep Deprived Brain

Most people are familiar with the after effects of a night or two without sleep. Without sleep, people are less efficient and more irritable. It's even difficult for them to think. A study by the University of California in San Diego reveals that brain activity is actually altered following sleep deprivation.   Parts of the brain, for instance the frontal lobe, did not function when the subject was severely sleep deprived. However, other... Read more ...

Title: Sleep Deprivation Linked to Prediabetes
Category: Health News
Created: 3/16/2009
Last Editorial Review: 3/16/2009 Read more ...

As the last of the sand trickles from the hourglass and the old year gives way to the new, it's a time to look to the future. What can we do to make life better in the months to come?   For the sleep deprived, whether that lack of sleep comes from a sleep disorder, work schedule or poor sleep hygiene, a plan to get more sleep will definitely improve the quality of life.   Sleep deprivation causes many problems, from excessive... Read more ...

 Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is the most common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Except for tracheotomy, it is also the most effective treatment for OSA. CPAP is basically a computerized air pump that delivers pressurized air through a hose and then through a nasal interface into the patient's throat. The pressurized air splints open the upper airways, preventing the airflow pauses (apneas) and airflow... Read more ...

It's common knowledge that snoring is both annoying and dangerous. Loud snoring is a sign of a much more serious sleep disorder - sleep apnea. A person suffering from sleep apnea stops breathing hundreds of times a night only to start again with a loud gasp. This puts a strain on the entire body, and especially on the heart. It also decreases the amount of oxygen in the blood stream and in the brain.   Anyone can become a victim of sleep... Read more ...

I'm not saying that the right bed and mattress bed will cure your insomnia or sleep apnea or sleep paralysis, but a bed or mattress that's uncomfortable or unsuited to your needs will add to sleep problems.   What's your bed like? Is it starting to look a bit the worse for wear? Does it sag in the middle? Can you feel the shape of the springs when you lie down? I've even heard of people who were trying to sleep on a mattress so old that... Read more ...

When I was a teenager, there were rumors going around about combining aspirin and Coca-Cola. For instance, you should never combine the two when out with a guy because the combination produced an aphrodisiac. But the most popular rumor said that if you dropped an aspirin or two in a bottle of Coke and drank it, it gave you a real "high." Just like a shot of booze. But other hearsay warned of caution. That same combination could kill... Read more ...

Title: Daily Naps May Raise Older Women's Death Risk
Category: Health News
Created: 4/3/2009 2:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/3/2009 Read more ...