Sleep

Rising temperatures are quietly cutting into Americans' sleep

Pranjal Malewar — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:03:00 GMT

When nights stay warm, the body struggles to cool down, a key signal for drifting into deep sleep. Heat doesn't just shorten sleep; it disrupts its rhythm, sparks dehydration, and keeps the nervous system on alert.

Category: Sleep, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind

Tags: Sleep, Climate Crisis, Heating

Why your brain can't focus when you haven't slept

Pranjal Malewar — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 15:03:00 GMT

Sleep isn't just rest, it's a crucial biological process. It keeps your mind sharp, your thoughts clear, and your reactions quick. But in today's fast-paced world, skipping sleep has become common, even though our bodies crave it as much as oxygen.

Category: Sleep, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind

Tags: Sleep, Brain, focus

Bright light at night is hell on your heart, says new large study

Michael Franco — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 19:03:00 GMT

After examining 13 million hours of light exposure data, researchers found that experiencing bright light during the dark hours can significantly increase the risk of heart failure and heart attack. The effect was most notable in younger adults.

Category: Sleep, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind

Tags: Circadian Rhythms, Light, light-pollution, Flinders University, Sleep, Cardiovascular disease, Heart Disease, Heart attack

The muscle-building power of sleep is finally understood

Bronwyn Thompson — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:08:09 GMT

Sleep is often treated as downtime, a passive break between the real business of being awake. But a new study has revealed that sleep is active, essential biology, showing how the brain uses the night to flood the body with growth hormone to repair muscles, strengthen bones and balance metabolism. Researchers have uncovered the neural circuitry that explains why growth hormone surges during shut-eye, and why cutting corners on sleep undermines our physical health.

Category: Sleep, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind

Tags: University of California Berkeley, Muscle, Age-Related, anti-aging, Hormones, Sleep deprivation, Neuroscience

Daytime sleepiness is in your blood – but diet can help fight the fatigue

Bronwyn Thompson — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 01:03:00 GMT

If you deal with waves of drowsiness during the day, you might be among the estimated 33% of the population who suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), a common but often unrecognized condition that's linked to a host of increased health risks including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Now, researchers have identified the biological markers of it, bringing targeted treatment within reach.

Category: Sleep, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind

Tags: Mass General Brigham, Sleep, Sleep deprivation, Hormones, Cortisol, metabolism, Circadian Rhythms, Genetics, Diet

'Social apnea': Common sleep disorder up to 47% more severe on these days

Bronwyn Thompson — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 06:03:00 GMT

A huge new international study has uncovered, for the first time, a weekly rhythm disturbance in one of the world’s most common but under-diagnosed sleep disorders – and it’s not good news for your Saturday night. Researchers have coined the term “social apnea” to describe the consistent and significant rise in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity that occurs during the weekend, likely driven by late nights, alcohol, smoking, sleeping in and other shifts in routine.

Category: Sleep, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind

Tags: Flinders University, OSA, Sleep, Heart Disease, Age-Related, Obesity, Apnea

The gut bacteria that fuel insomnia – and the ones that protect you from it

Bronwyn Thompson — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 04:08:04 GMT

A massive study of nearly 400,000 people has for the first time established a causal link between gut bacteria and insomnia, confirming previous observational research that found some bugs help you sleep while others disrupt it. Fourteen bacterial taxa were found to increase the risk of insomnia, while eight appeared to be protective.

Category: Sleep, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind

Tags: Nanjing University, Microbiome, Gut Bacteria, Gut-brain axis, Insomnia, Gut Bacteria, Microbes

Sleep apnea relief comes by blowing through this iconic shell

Bronwyn Thompson — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 02:32:24 GMT

An intriguing new study has found that symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) could be significantly reduced by regular sessions of blowing through a conch shell. And it's not the first time scientists have explored this.

Category: Sleep, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind

Tags: Sleep, Apnea, Cardiovascular, Breathing, Health

Four simple ways to fix any sleep problems long term

Bronwyn Thompson — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 04:53:09 GMT

Not all physical activities are created equal when it comes to a good night's sleep. Now, a new study has found that there are four practices that can significantly help different aspects of sleep disorders, without medical or therapy-based intervention. And they're all cost-free.

Category: Sleep, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind

Tags: Sleep, Insomnia, Exercise, Age-Related, Health, Yoga, Walk, Running

Sleep apnea cases to rise 45% and one global factor is to blame

Bronwyn Thompson — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 10:20:25 GMT

In 2025, around 24 million Americans are estimated to suffer from sleep apnea, and around 90% of these cases are undiagnosed. Now, a groundbreaking new study warns that this is going to rapidly increase as the planet warms.

Category: Sleep, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind

Tags: Flinders University, Sleep, Sleep deprivation, Heart attack, Stroke, Climate Crisis, Global Warming