Friday, July 3, 2009

Women With Stable Marriages And New Partners Enjoy Better Sleep

Women With Stable Marriages And New Partners Enjoy Better Sleep
Women who have stable marriages or who have recently gained a partner reported better sleep than women who are unmarried or who have lost a partner, according to a new University of Pittsburgh study. To assess the effects of marital stability and relationship changes on sleep, the study's lead author, Wendy Troxel, Ph.D.

A Link Between The Circadian Rhythm And Salt Balance
New research, conducted by Charles Wingo and his colleagues, at the University of Florida, Gainsville, suggests a link between the circadian rhythm and control of sodium (salt) levels in mice. The hormone aldosterone regulates levels of sodium in the blood and thereby helps control blood pressure.

CPAP Treatment Linked To Lower Mortality In Stroke Patients With OSA
Stroke patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who undergo treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) following their stroke may substantially reduce their risk of death, according to Spanish research to be published in the July 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Morning People And Night Owls Show Different Brain Function: University Of Alberta Study
Scientists at the University of Alberta have found that there are significant differences in the way our brains function depending on whether we're early risers or night owls. Neuroscientists in the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation looked at two groups of people: those who wake up early and feel most productive in the morning, and those who were identified as evening people, those who typically felt livelier at night.

Study Investigates DNA Of Sleep
A new study at the University of Leicester aims to investigate the DNA of sleep. The research in the renowned Department of Genetics at the University of Leicester is being carried out by Ms Mobina Khericha and Dr Eran Tauber. It represents a new approach to study the genetics of sleep. Using fruitflies as models the researchers aim at understanding the genetics of sleep and identifying genes involved in this process.

Frontal Cerebral Hypothermia Found To Be Possible New Treatment For Insomnia
Insomnia is associated with increased frontal cerebral metabolism during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. Cerebral hypothermia, or cooling of the brain, has been found to reduce cerebral metabolism in other medical conditions, but its effects in insomnia are unknown. In a University of Pittsburgh study by Eric Nofzinger, M.D.

In Postpartum Women, Poor Sleep Is Independently Associated With Depression
A study in the July 1 issue of the journal SLEEP suggests that postpartum depression may aggravate an already impaired sleep quality, as experiencing difficulties with sleep is a symptom of depression.

Relieving Those Restless Legs
Let’s continue talking about restless legs syndrome (RLS).   We reviewed some of the symptoms, causes, and adverse effects of restless legs syndrome in the past two blogs, now let’s talk about how RLS is diagnosed.  Due to the unusual sensations that patients with RLS complain of, it is sometimes difficult for a healthcare provider to determine if these complaints are actually related to RLS.  Contrary to popular...