#sleep-health

#sleep-health

No specific studies have evaluated showering in the dark as a formal sleep intervention, and it is not included in clinical insomnia guidelines. What we do know is that two factors on their own—reducing light exposure at night and taking a warm shower before bed—can support rest. But the combination, as such, is more a social media reinterpretation than an intervention with solid scientific backing.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) causes repeated pauses or reductions in breathing throughout the night, triggering drops in blood oxygen and frequent mini-arousals that sabotage quality sleep. The condition affects an estimated 80 million Americans, yet roughly 80 percent of cases go undiagnosed. Left untreated, OSA has been linked to serious long-term consequences, including heart disease, cognitive decline, diabetes, and an increased risk of car and workplace accidents driven by chronic fatigue.

Welcome to "Harvard Thinking," a podcast where the life of the mind meets everyday life. Today, I'm joined by: Tony Cunningham: Tony Cunningham and I'm the director of the Center for Sleep and Cognition, and the Director of Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinic in the psychiatry department at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School. Laine Perfas: His primary research focus is understanding the role of sleep and sleep loss, and emotion and memory processing.

I've had intense issues with insomnia and respiratory problems for 40 years and yet, I only learned about cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) this year. Fellow insomniacs told me about it when I was reporting a story on the link I discovered between orthodontics and sleep health during my exhaustive search for sleep solutions. Two rounds of nasal surgery in the past year revolutionized my air flow but didn't improve the anxious mind that still kept me awake.

Long-term back pain is unlikely to be cured by upgrading your mattress, and a doctor or physiotherapist should be your first port of call if pain is affecting your quality of life. But studies suggest that switching to the best mattress for your body type and sleeping position can genuinely help. I'm lucky to not experience chronic pain, but in years of testing mattresses, I've often suffered temporary backache after sleeping on a surface that doesn't suit me.

Series promoting healthy sleeping habits will be available in 250 million homes Irish-made animated series ­BeddyByes will be available in millions of homes worldwide, after the Dublin-based animation studio behind the show signed a deal with Disney. The Irish animation company JAM Media and distributor Thunderbird Distribution confirmed they have signed a deal with Disney Branded Television to bring the series, which supports healthy sleeping habits in preschoolers, to audiences worldwide.

"You want your neck mostly in neutral, not bending too far to the right or left when lying on your side,"

Experts claim most healthy adults need seven to nine hours per night - but this is hardly exact, and it also depends on age and individual needs. Thankfully, a free online tool now tells if you're getting enough slumber. The sleep calculator, from non-profit organisation the Sleep Foundation, works out your optimum bedtime based on your details. It asks just two questions to ensure a decent amount of shut-eye each time - and it doesn't want your name or email address.

Morning People is a bold call to transform mornings, encouraging better sleep habits and energetic starts through actionable advice and engaging visuals.

Melissa Milanak, a professor at the Medical University of South Carolina, noted that while pets can be comforting, many pet owners report sleep disturbances caused by their animals, revealing a complex relationship between pet companionship and sleep quality.

My soft palate closes over my windpipe, and I stop breathing. Given the mayhem that happens to your body when your oxygen level drops, I am grateful I didn't stroke out.

Sleepagotchi combines gameplay with sleep habits, motivating players to improve their sleep quality by caring for a virtual pet that grows only when they rest well.