According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), hypersomnia is recurring and severe episodes of daytime sleepiness or prolonged sleeping at night. Daytime sleepiness may cause an irresistible lapse into daytime napping, sometimes without warning, called sleep attacks. After waking up from a nap or sleep attack, … Read More
It's not a promising trend: Between 34 and 51 percent of young adults are regularly using energy drinks, as reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Although this topic rarely gets mentioned when medical researchers report on the dangers of energy drinks, consuming them daily—or using energy "shots" … Read More
Jet lag is a sleep phase disorder that occurs when traveling across time zones. In the days of leisurely ocean liner crossings and cross-country rail travel, the body had time to adjust to different time zones, but the advent of air travel changed that. When you cross into a new … Read More
Do you often feel tired and fatigued during the day without a nap? Do you think daily naps are a necessity to function properly? If your answer to both questions is “yes,” you may be on to something. People—unlike other mammals—are monophasic sleepers, which means that our day is divided … Read More
Studies published in 2015 shed new light on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and, thus, chronic fatigue syndrome treatment. The condition, known medically as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), appears to be a biological disorder, not a psychological issue, as determined in multiple studies, including recent work by scientists at Columbia University and … Read More
What kind of medical condition could possibly be triggered by something like anxiety, fear, depression, joy, or even laughter? The answer is cataplexy—a sudden loss of muscle strength, tone, and control. Muscle tone is what keeps our bodies upright and moving, as the Narcolepsy Network puts it. And why is … Read More
You toss. You turn. You stare at the ceiling, waiting for sleep to come. Still, it evades you. Why can’t you just get to sleep? Routine shut-eye has been proven to boost our energy, improve our mood, and increase our life span. Problem is, many of us can’t seem to … Read More
Whether you’re working nights or binge-watching Game of Thrones, skimping on sleep is bad for your health. The consequences of sleep deprivation extend far beyond midday yawns and drooping eyelids (think diabetes and stroke). No wonder so many people are asking, “How can I catch up on sleep?” Should you … 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
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious challenge that requires professional treatment (see "What You Can Do" sidebar). It often takes time and patience to overcome. And while there are no simple cures for this mood disorder, a Massachusetts General Hospital expert points out that there are common-sense steps that … Read More
