Lack of sleep costing US economy up to $411 billion per year

Lower productivity levels and the higher risk of mortality resulting from sleep deprivation have a significant effect on a nation's economy. Sleep deprivation increases the risk of mortality by 13 per cent and leads to the U.S. losing around 1.2 million working days a year. Increasing nightly sleep from under six hours to between six and seven hours could add $226.4 billion to the U.S. economy.

Originally published at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161130130826.htm

How did web-based cognitive therapy work for insomnia?

How well did a web-based cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia intervention work in a randomized clinical trial? A new article reports that adults assigned to receive the fully automated and interactive web-based Sleep Healthy Using the Internet (SHUTi) intervention had improved sleep compared with those adults just given access to a patient education website with information about insomnia.

Originally published at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161130130738.htm

Don't let yourself go in middle age: Health between 45 and 55 is the key to preventing heart failure

Men at age 45 without hypertension and diabetes lived an average of 10.6 years longer while women had 14.9 years extra, researchers from the American College of Cardiology found.

Read the rest at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3979344/Don-t-let-middle-age-Health-45-55-key-preventing-heart-failure.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

How kids' brains respond to a late night up

Any parent can tell you about the consequences of their child not getting enough sleep. But there is far less known about the details of how sleep deprivation affects children's brains and what this means for early brain development.

Originally published at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161128130826.htm

Sleep apnea may make lung cancer more deadly

New research shows that a lack of oxygen during sleep helps enable the spread of cancer cells.

Originally published at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161117204726.htm

From Amazon to Target this guide rates where to shop to avoid chemicals riddled with toxins

Safer Chemicals Healthy Families is urging shoppers to get clued up on the dangers of deadly toxins that can cause cancer, diabetes, ADHD and autism.

Read the rest at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3947254/Where-shop-avoid-chemicals-Amazon-Target-guide-rates-stores-sell-products-riddled-toxins-don-t.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Sleep disorders: 3D video monitoring with intelligent software as new analysis option

The usual method of recording periodic leg movements in sleep for people with sleep disorders is to use electromyography (EMG), an electrophysiological method used in neurological diagnosis that measures muscle activity. However, the cables that this method requires can interfere with the patient's sleep and electrodes can become detached, thereby compromising the quality of the data. In a new study, scientists have now demonstrated that superior data can be obtained using supplementary 3D scene analysis of movements, which is now being used for the first time.

Originally published at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161116094523.htm

'Princess Leia' brainwaves help sleeping brain store memories

Every night while you sleep, electrical waves of brain activity circle around each side of your brain, tracing a pattern that, were it on the surface of your head, might look like the twin hair buns of Star Wars' Princess Leia. The scientists who discovered these circular "Princess Leia" oscillations think the waves are responsible each night for forming associations between different aspects of a day's memories.

Originally published at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161115145823.htm

Study explores how immune system functions during sleep

Researchers have found new insights into sleep’s importance to overall health: it may give the immune system a chance to regroup at a time when the relative risk of infection is low. As the foundation of the human body’s immune system, large quantities of T cells—a type of white blood cell—are present in the bloodstream and are ready to attack viruses and other pathogens that invade the body.

Originally published at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161115132547.htm

Buying experiences makes you more grateful, generous

On Thanksgiving, many of us take a moment to reflect on what we’re grateful for -- and we get notable rewards for doing so. Feeling gratitude leads to important benefits, like increased happiness and social cohesion, better health outcomes, and even improved sleep quality.

Originally published at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161115085507.htm

New cases of diabetes have risen by a THIRD in just 10 years

Figures released by Diabetes UK also show that 65 people die each day a result of complications resulting from the condition - which can be prevented through lifestyle changes.

Read the rest at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3933862/It-s-fastest-growing-epidemic-lifetime-New-cases-diabetes-risen-just-10-years.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Fight Chronic Pain With These 5 Simple Yoga Poses

Yoga's restorative poses and breathing techniques offer relief by decreasing cortisol, which helps reduce stress. Learn 5 common yoga poses that can help you.

Source: http://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2016/yoga-chronic-pain-relief.html

Skipping breakfast and not enough sleep can make children overweight

Mothers smoking in pregnancy, children skipping breakfast and not having a regular bedtime or sufficient sleep all appear to be important factors in predicting whether a child will become overweight or obese, report investigators.

Originally published at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161111132905.htm

Increased smartphone screen-time associated with lower sleep quality

Exposure to smartphone screens is associated with lower sleep quality, according to a study that used a smartphone app to record the daily screen-time of over 650 adults.

Originally published at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161110155020.htm