Tag

Insomnia

All articles tagged with #insomnia

health19 days ago•4 min saved

Eight hours isn’t the measure of rest: experts spotlight sleep quality

Even a full 7–9 hours can leave you groggy if sleep quality is poor. About one in three adults experience non-restorative sleep, with alcohol, late caffeine, stress, and bedtime phone use as major disruptors. Women face higher insomnia risk and poorer sleep quality, especially around menopause, and may need slightly more sleep. Sleep deprivation can impair judgment, so gradually add 15 minutes to nightly sleep, maintain a consistent schedule, eat light before bed, and plan exercise earlier in the day. Don’t shame others for following their internal clocks.

via New York Post|

#circadian-rhythm #health #insomnia

health25 days ago•260 min saved

Tart Cherries Could Be Your Natural Sleep Aid

Sleep doctors name tart cherries as the top food to help you fall asleep faster, noting they are a natural melatonin source with anti-inflammatory benefits; a 2025 review found tart cherries can improve sleep duration and efficiency, with options like tart cherry juice, frozen/dried cherries, or supplements; for best results, avoid eating for 3–4 hours before bed and consult healthcare providers about supplements, especially during pregnancy or for kids.

via AOL.com|

#health #insomnia #melatonin

health26 days ago•5 min saved

Choosing Sleep Aids: Magnesium or Melatonin Based on Your Sleep Problem

The piece compares magnesium and melatonin for sleep, noting melatonin mainly shifts the circadian clock and helps with timing issues (e.g., jet lag, shift work), while magnesium supports relaxation and may alleviate stress- or muscle-related sleep problems; evidence is mixed, with magnesium formulations like L-threonate and glycinate showing potential benefits in some studies, but neither is a universal cure. For chronic insomnia, CBT-I is often more effective. If you supplement, use short-term melatonin for circadian realignment and choose high-purity products with proper dosing, while also prioritizing good sleep hygiene and consulting a clinician if you take other medications.

via GQ|

#circadian-rhythm #health #insomnia

health26 days ago•3 min saved

Sleep Clues in Early Alzheimer's: Tau, Glutamate, and Wakeful Nights

A University of Kentucky study in mouse models links early Alzheimer’s sleep problems to tau-driven brain overactivity that shifts energy use to glutamate, causing insomnia and potentially preceding cognitive decline by years; the researchers say metabolic drugs used for epilepsy or type 2 diabetes could ease hyperactivity, improve sleep, and slow progression.

via New York Post|

#alzheimers-disease #glutamate #health

wellbeing28 days ago•18 min saved

Cognitive Shuffling: A Mental Deck to Fall Asleep Faster

Washington Post Well+Being reports cognitive shuffling, a sleep technique devised by Luc Beaudoin that mimics the brain’s natural drift into sleep by mentally shuffling a deck of images or thoughts. Beaudoin developed the method after trouble falling asleep in college, arguing that generating random, non-stressful images can distract worry and help you nod off more quickly.

via The Washington Post|

#health #insomnia #mental-health

health28 days ago•6 min saved

Three-Hour Meal Gap Promises Better Sleep and Health

A Northwestern clinical trial found that keeping a last meal about three hours before bedtime improved circadian rhythms, blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar, suggesting that when you eat may be as important as what you eat for sleep. Saturated fats near bedtime hinder melatonin production, and ultra-processed diets are linked to worse sleep. Tryptophan-rich foods help melatonin formation, especially when paired with complex carbs, magnesium, B vitamins, and zinc. Rather than chasing a single 'miracle' food, overall dietary patterns—such as Mediterranean or DASH diets—can reduce insomnia risk, and a comforting bedtime ritual may also aid sleep.

via Boing Boing|

#circadian-rhythms #diet-patterns #health

science29 days ago•27 min saved

Seven faces of hyperarousal: a new map of stress responses

A study of 467 adults by the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience identifies seven distinct dimensions of hyperarousal—anxious, somatic, sensitive, sleep-related, irritable, vigilant, and sudomotor—each with different symptoms. The findings suggest hyperarousal is multi-dimensional and linked to conditions like insomnia and ADHD, with potential implications for diagnosis and treatment.

via Daily Mail|

#hyperarousal #insomnia #neuroscience

health29 days ago•13 min saved

Cognitive Shuffling: A Simple Random-Word Sleep Trick

Cognitive shuffling is a sleep technique that uses a neutral random word and rapid mental imagery of items starting with its letters to divert the brain from rumination as you fall asleep. Developed by Luc Beaudoin and backed by studies showing it can be as effective as worry journaling and usable in bed, the method mirrors natural hypnagogic thoughts. It isn’t a universal fix and works better for some; ongoing research aims to compare it with other sleep strategies.

via BBC|

#cognitive-shuffling #health #hypnagogic-mentation

health1 month ago•7 min saved

Insomnia and Sleep Apnea Together Heighten Heart Disease Risk in Veterans

A Yale-led study analyzing nearly 1 million post-9/11 U.S. veterans finds that having both insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea (COMISA) markedly increases the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease compared with having either condition alone, underscoring the need to assess and treat sleep disorders early as part of cardiovascular risk reduction.

via SciTechDaily|

#cardiovascular-disease #comisa #health

health1 month ago•270 min saved

New COVID Symptom Emerges: Bone-Tired Fatigue Coupled With Insomnia

Doctors report March 2026 sees a mix of familiar COVID-19 upper-respiratory symptoms (sore throat, congestion, runny nose, cough, fatigue, fever) plus a newer sign: patients feel “bone tired” with insomnia. Experts say progression to severe illness is now less common thanks to immunity, and staying up to date with vaccines remains the best defense. If symptoms appear, get tested and seek care early, as treatments exist for those at higher risk. Protective steps include vaccination, masking in health care spaces, good ventilation, and testing to differentiate from allergies. Variants NB.1.8.1 (Nimbus) and XFG are circulating, with vaccines designed to target current strains; warmer weather doesn’t guarantee fewer cases.

via AOL.com|

#covid-19 #health #insomnia

health1 month ago•5 min saved

Melatonin's Long-Term Use May Elevate Heart-Failure Risk, New Analysis Warns

A large, not-yet-peer-reviewed analysis suggests adults with insomnia who used melatonin for more than a year had an 89% higher risk of heart failure over five years and about double the risk of death from any cause versus non-users, with a secondary look showing 3.5× higher hospitalization for heart failure. The study is observational and based on prescription records, so it cannot establish causation and has notable limitations; it does not change current guidance. Melatonin is typically safe for short-term use, but longer-term safety data are limited and warrant prospective trials.

via ScienceAlert|

#health #heartfailure #insomnia

science1 month ago•3 min saved

Insomnia Linked to Delayed Brain Clock That Hinders Nighttime Wind-Down

Australian researchers find chronic insomnia may stem from a delayed brain circadian clock that prevents the mind from winding down at night. In a 24-hour lab study with 32 older adults, insomniacs showed weaker nighttime disengagement and about a 6.5-hour delay in cognitive peaks, indicating circadian misalignment; the work suggests circadian-focused treatments such as timed light exposure, structured routines, and mindfulness could help restore night-time brain downshifting beyond standard behavioral therapies.

via SciTechDaily|

#circadian-disruption #circadian-rhythm #cognitive-arousal

wellness1 month ago•75 min saved

Ditch doomscrolling for podcasts: a sleep doctor’s trick to quiet 3 a.m. wake-ups

A board-certified sleep doctor recommends swapping nightly screen time (TV/doomscrolling) for audio-based wind-downs—podcasts, audiobooks, or music with a sleep timer—to reduce stimulation and light exposure, which can help with insomnia and waking up at 3 a.m. The piece also stresses a consistent pre-bed routine and a firm cutoff for screens to improve sleep quality.

via Tom's Guide|

#bedtime #insomnia #podcasts

health2 months ago•5 min saved

Insomnia Linked to About 450,000 US Dementia Cases Annually, Study Shows

An analysis of 5,899 adults aged 65+ finds insomnia linked to higher dementia risk; using population attributable fraction, about 12.5% of US dementia cases in 2022 (~449,000) could be prevented if insomnia were eliminated. However, PAF is a model, not proof of causation. Burden is higher in women and those 85+, underscoring the need to integrate sleep health into geriatric care and pursue targeted insomnia interventions.

via ScienceAlert|

#aging #dementia #epidemiology

lifestyle2 months ago•1 min saved

Mastering the night: HTSI's all-in-one guide to better sleep

HTSI's sleep special compiles expert guidance on beds, mattresses, sleepwear, insomnia remedies, and sleep-friendly foods and gadgets to help readers get better, more consistent rest.

via Financial Times|

#bedding #insomnia #lifestyle