Sleep Archives

Questions About Melatonin

Mar 28, 2016 · Diane Muhlfeld · Sleep

Q. What can you tell me about melatonin and its effects on the body? A. Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland, a small endocrine gland in the brain that has an essential role in regulating your body’s circadian rhythm and sleep cycles. Melatonin synthesis is activated by darkness and … Read More

6 Ways to Banish Bedtime Worrying That Interferes With Your Rest

Mar 28, 2016 · Susan Jimison Vitek · Sleep

If worry is robbing you of precious sleep, you’re not alone. Researchers have found that nearly 25 percent of adults say their worries keep them tossing and turning at night. In fact, a study published online Dec. 29, 2015 in Behavior Therapy suggests that there is a direct link between … Read More

Ask the Doctor: Some Red Wine to Help Fall Asleep?

Mar 28, 2016 · UHN Staff · Sleep

Q. I’ve been struggling with sleep issues, and I’ve heard that a glass of red wine can actually be good for you. I’m wondering if a little sip will help me fall asleep? A. While some studies show that red wine may have a heart-protective effective, alcohol is actually counterproductive … Read More

Treating Sleep Apnea Protects Both Mood and Cognition

Mar 28, 2016 · Susan Jimison Vitek · Sleep

A recent study on sleep apnea—a sleep disorder characterized by intermittent halts in breathing that deprive the brain of oxygen during sleep—suggests that the disorder may impair the way the brain functions. Researchers set out to investigate possible causes of apnea-associated mood symptoms, such as depression and feelings of stress, … Read More

Sleeping on Your Side Helps Your Brain Dispose of Waste

Mar 25, 2016 · Susan Jimison Vitek · Sleep

Sleeping while lying on your side rather than on your back or stomach may maximize your body’s ability to clear waste products from the brain. The accumulation of brain waste—including beta-amyloid and tau proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD)—is thought to contribute to the development of neurological disorders. The brain’s … Read More

Sleep Makes It Easier to Bring Back Memories

Mar 24, 2016 · Susan Jimison Vitek · Sleep

A good night’s sleep energizes your brain’s memory ability, making information more accessible, suggests research published July 27, 2015 in the journal Cortex. Researchers asked two groups of volunteers to learn a list of made-up words, testing them afterwards on their ability to recall them. One group of participants remained … Read More

Sleep Problems Can Lower Mood

Mar 24, 2016 · Susan Jimison Vitek · Sleep

Sleep interruptions can put you in a bad mood, according to a study published in the Nov. 1, 2015 issue of the journal Sleep. Researchers recruited 62 healthy men and women and measured their moods by asking them to rate how strongly they felt a variety of positive and negative … Read More

Getting Enough Sleep May Help Protect Kidney Health

Mar 23, 2016 · UHN Staff · Sleep

The amount women sleep appears to be linked to their kidney health. Women who slept five hours or less a night were 65 percent more likely to experience a rapid decline in kidney function compared to women who got seven or eight hours of sleep a night, according to research … Read More

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