March 7-13, 2011 is the National Sleep Awareness Week.

Sleep impairment is linked as a contributing factor to motor vehicle crashes, industrial disasters, and medical and other occupational errors.

People experiencing sleep insufficiency are more likely to have chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, or obesity.

In 2008, approximately 28 percent of surveyed adults in the U.S. reported frequent insufficient sleep, which as been associated with fair/poor general health, frequent mental distress, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and pain.

Sleep insufficiency and poor sleep quality also can result from sleep disorders such as chronic insomnia, restless legs syndrome, and sleep apnea.

The National Sleep Foundation suggests that healthy adults need 7-9 hours of sleep per day, and school-age children might require 10-11 hours of sleep.

‘Tis the season for holiday stress.  From last minute shopping, to getting less sleep, to making ends meet financially, to consuming more sweets and drinks at holiday get-togethers.  Americans are faced with many more physical and emotional pressures during the holidays. Recent research studies and surveys in the areas of sleep, eating, and finances are shedding some light on actions one can take to lessen the stress load.

The market research firm Harris Interactive recently conducted a “Holiday Stress Index” study. The poll was based on a nationwide sample of 2,173 adults in the U.S. eighteen years and over.  Ninety percent of the respondents said they experience some level of stress and/or anxiety about the holiday season. However this year, more than a third (38 percent) said they expect to feel more stress and anxiety in this holiday season due to the current economy.  Read the rest of this entry

Poor sleep quality, insomnia,sleep apnea, and daytime somnolence are common among recently deployed Soldiers and those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. We sought to determine the prevalence of sleep complaints and sleep disorders among recently deployed Soldiers with PTSD.

The researchers analyzed the records of 80 consecutive Soldiers returning from combat and diagnosed with PTSD. We determined the rate of sleep complaints and prevalence of insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea. We compared demographic data, psychoactive medication use, psychiatric disorders and concomitant traumatic brain injury (TBI) to determine if any variables correlated with increased sleep complaints or disorders. Read the rest of this entry

A recently concluded Canadian research study has revealed that there could be a possible link between medications used to treat anxiety or insomnia and an increased risk of death.

Findings of this research study have been The study, published in the September issue of the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, analyzed Statistics Canada’s National Population Health Survey and tracked the use of sedatives and insomnia medications in more than 14,000 Canadians between the ages of 18 and 102. Read the rest of this entry

Wives of soldiers deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan are more likely to be diagnosed with depression, anxiety, sleep apnea and other sleep disorders along with complex mental health conditions than women whose husbands are not deployed, according to a new study by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Read the rest of this entry

Buteyko Breathing is a comprehensive approach to living with a core set of breathing exercises that reverses hyperventilation or over-breathing. The idea is to return the breathing volume back to normal at around 5 liters of air/minute. According to their instructor, Greg Baker, CBE (Certified Buteyko Educator) of Buteyko Learning Company says the impacts on the body of over-breathing is quite similar to over-eating. When we eat more calories than our body needs it causes us to gain weight. The impact to the body is extensive with heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. It is the same with over-breathing or hyperventilation. Read the rest of this entry