One-third of all American adults are not getting enough sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But why does it matter so much? Well, simply put: Inadequate sleep is bad for your health. It's linked to chronic conditions and illnesses like diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and depression. … Read More
"What causes depression?" is a question many of us have asked. Responses are all over the map, but it’s fair to say that depression is a disease. Research supports this by demonstrating key differences in the brains of those who are depressed and those who are not. The Effects of … Read More
There may be a scientific reason why some people are night owls: delayed sleep phase syndrome. It’s a sleep disorder in which your body’s clock tells you to fall asleep a few hours later than most people hit the sack. The problem is that this delayed bedtime makes it difficult … Read More
If you become ill, usually you can pinpoint a reason. A stiff, swollen joint, for example, might be due to injury or to a chronic disease like arthritis, while an upset stomach might be due to food poisoning. The causes of depression are harder to pin down. And unfortunately, they … Read More
Moderate drinking (one or two glasses a day) shouldn’t affect your cognitive function and may even provide some mild benefits. But chronic alcohol abuse can lead to alcohol-induced dementia due to the combined toxic effects of alcohol and the nutritional deficiencies often associated with alcoholism. In fact, heavy drinking (more … Read More
Ahh, brain fog. Why do you toy with me so? The other day I looked everywhere for my car keys. I was rushing so I could drop off my kids at school (finally!) when I realized they were missing (the keys, not the kids). I searched frantically: the kitchen, the … Read More
Paramount to protecting yourself from the toxic effects of aluminum poisoning is taking care to avoid ingesting it or exposing yourself to it through medications, skin care products, and other sources of aluminum contamination. But even with careful avoidance, aluminum is so abundant in the environment and so widely used … Read More
As someone who has had frequent migraines for over eight years, I am all too familiar with pain that seems out of my control – pain that can keep me in bed all day, holding me back from being able to live my daily life. If you suffer from a … Read More
Over-the-counter and prescription sleeping pills might seem like an easy fix for your insomnia. After all, who wouldn’t want to get a better night’s sleep just by taking a pill? Trouble is, many sleep medications may cause unwanted side effects, especially in older adults. So, many sleep experts encourage judicious … Read More
You slept for seven hours last night, but today you still feel tired. Sometime overnight, your bed partner retreated to the couch, unable to tolerate your snoring and recurrent awakenings. Trouble is, you don’t remember a thing. All signs point to obstructive sleep apnea, characterized by brief halts in breathing … Read More
