A global effort to streamline how we talk about the 24-hour cycle of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. By Ryan Falck, Karen Spruyt, Sjaan Gomersali, Kirk Erickson, Ester Cerin, Liye Zou, Antonio Palmeira, Teresa Liu-Ambrose Have you ever thought
World Sleep Society has published recommendations on the use of consumer health trackers (CHTs) for sleep measurement by professionals. With so many health trackers on the market assessing sleep in different ways, it can be difficult to know exactly what
Cognition and Sleep Quality Connection Mental health and cognition are two key benefits of quality sleep. Researchers continue to learn about the importance of sleep for cognition and mental health. Quality sleep can improve thought processes, mood, and efficiency. Poor
Have you ever travelled somewhere and couldn’t sleep well the first night? If so, you are not alone. This common experience is known as the First Night Effect (FNE). What is the First Night Effect? Healthier Sleep spoke with Dr.
New findings in circadian regulators Scientists from Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Medical School and the University of California, Santa Cruz, may have discovered the secret to regulating our internal clock. They identified a regulator at the tail end of
Whether you’re flying across the ocean or coast to coast, there’s one part of air travel that many people dread: trying to sleep on a plane. Engine noise, crying babies, cabin temperature, and in-flight announcements can keep you awake, while
Quality sleep has many benefits including improved health, increased productivity, and better overall mood. As awareness of quality sleep increases, so does the number of people chasing the perfect sleep. While it is helpful to be mindful of your sleep
Sleep is a game-changer for the health and happiness of both babies and parents. The way babies sleep affects how well parents rest, and vice versa. Let’s untangle this important relationship and explore some practical tips for getting through those
Have you ever felt a pleasant tingling sensation when someone whispers or taps their fingernails? This feeling might be ASMR, which stands for “autonomous sensory meridian response.” While not everyone experiences ASMR, many people do, and some say it helps
The word Circadian comes from the Latin phrase circa diem, meaning about a day. Circadian rhythm is a function that repeats the same time every 24 hours, for example, night follows day each 24-hour cycle. In the body, the function
There’s sleep, there’s good sleep, and then there’s sleeping like a professional athlete. When it comes to professional athletes, even good sleep isn’t good enough. If you have poor sleep habits, fixing your routine can feel insurmountable. But at the
There are as many opinions on napping as there are hours in the day. Is napping good or bad? How long should you nap? When should you nap? Do kids need naps? These are some of the questions that Dr.
Don’t Skip This Part of Your Workout! You go to the gym every day. The day isn’t complete without a workout or practice, and your cupboard is stocked with everything you need to rebuild and recover – or so you
Many bodily functions can be impacted by high-altitude and low-oxygen environments, especially sleep. High-quality sleep is crucial for mood, memory, and overall health and well-being. When sleep is consistently disrupted, troubles with focus, stress, problem-solving, and energy can arise. High-altitude
Waking up rested and ready for the day is a wonderful feeling. Stress, noise, or snacking on spicy chicken wings too close to bedtime can lead to a terrible night of sleep. Reducing stress or noise can be hard, but
Sleep is a normal and reversible activity that is essential for recovery. Studies show that sleep is important for health and performance, especially for athletes. Getting enough sleep not only helps athletes perform better but also impacts overall physical and
For travelers on the go, creating an environment conducive to healthy sleep can be complicated, especially if the sleep setting is unfamiliar. Fortunately, healthy sleep can be achieved in every corner of the planet. Global Variations on Sleep Time When
One healthy sleep habit is having a consistent and soothing bedtime routine. Ideally a bedtime routine begins 30 to 60 minutes prior to bed and is consistent. This signals to your mind and body that it is time to prepare
When you think about getting a good night’s sleep, you probably imagine a completely quiet room. When that isn’t possible, a little noise might actually help you sleep better. Different types of noise can mask disruptive sounds and help you
How the World Sleep Congress Advances Patient Care Doctors in all specialties often travel to scientific conferences with their peers to share the new results of scientific studies, learn the latest clinical practices, and plan future projects. The process of
In today’s busy world, where hustle and bustle are often prioritized, sleep is usually overlooked. However, people are beginning to realize that getting quality sleep is one of the most essential components of living a healthy life. As a result,
Circadian Sleep Disorders Network (CSDN) is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with chronic circadian sleep rhythm disorders. Circadian sleep disorders are neurological disorders in which the sleep-wake cycle is out of sync with the
What Causes it and How to Remedy It While sleep deprivation – or not getting enough sleep is common, there is a remarkable increase as we age. Sleep deprivation affects about 10 to 20 percent of individuals in the general
The American Heart Association (AHA) has added sleep to their cardiovascular health checklist! In 2022, AHA’s previous checklist, known as “Life’s Simple 7” was updated to “Life’s Essential 8”. Cardiovascular disease is the top cause of death worldwide. Since the
Over the past 16 years, World Sleep Day has become a global celebration of sleep health, a day that educates the public, inspires sleep professionals, and trends internationally on social media platforms. Currently, a project is underway in the World
You may be familiar with the practice of daylight saving time (DST), which moves the clock time one hour forward in spring and returns one hour backwards to standard time in the fall. The saying “spring forward and fall backwards”
Sleep is one facet of our health that is impacted by climate change. Sleep is vital for restoring physical and mental health. Sleep deprivation speeds up the aging process and can lead to various cardiometabolic disorders. Not getting enough good
Sleep is a crucial biological process. Humans need an average of 7-8 hours of sleep each night to operate at our best. However, studies suggest that up to 1/3rd of the population does not achieve this amount. Lack of proper
Each night as you drift off to sleep, your brain begins going through a series of sleep stages. These stages combine to form a sleep cycle, but it doesn’t end there. You go through several sleep cycles each night. What
Each year, World Sleep Day is celebrated with a unique and focused theme. Participants around the world incorporate the theme into their activities and educational offerings. As we continue to raise awareness through the 2023 World Sleep Day theme, “Sleep
World Sleep Day is an annual celebration that brings together sleep medicine specialists and the public throughout the world to highlight the importance of sleep. Since the first World Sleep Day in 2008, thousands of events and activities have taken
On an intuitive level, we all know that good sleep is vital for our health. However, if we scratch the surface of this understanding a little bit, problems can start to emerge. Do we know what good sleep truly is?
Modern technology has already changed the way we sleep, and unfortunately most of these changes have been detrimental to our sleep health. International travel and early-morning / late-night conference calls confuse our body’s circadian clock. And phones and social media
Is This the Master Key? Sleep might be one of those rare occasions when science needs to listen to poetry. In Macbeth sleep is extolled because it “knits up the raveled sleeve of care,” perhaps the most famous Shakespeare comment
Whether you love to travel or have to hit the road for work, traveling can interfere with getting quality sleep. Traveling may have an adverse effect on your sleep for a few different reasons, including the following: Change in circadian
If you take any type of medication, it is important to understand how traveling may affect your medication schedule and the effects of the drugs. It is also helpful to take steps to ensure you stay on track the best
Many people struggle with not only falling asleep at night but also staying asleep all night. Typically, this restlessness is blamed on work and home stress. It could also result from too much screen time that can leave your nerves
Everyone’s body has an internal clock that regulates your sleep-wake cycles. This is referred to as your circadian rhythm (patterns your body follows based on a 24-hour day). Unfortunately, when you travel over multiple time zones, your internal clock does
The measurement of sleep produces a large amount of data. Imagine – hours and hours of measurements from different parts of the sleeping brain and body. While complicated enough in health, there are so many changes at different ages, and
In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the purchase of devices that monitor sleep quality and quantity. This is driven by increased marketing efforts and a heightened understanding by consumers of the importance of sleep for overall
These days you can use technology to track almost anything in your life – including your sleep! You may have noticed that a watch or device that you already own records sleep data, or maybe you’ve purchased a specific tracker
Sleep stage scoring is a fundamental task when objectively evaluating sleep with polysomnography (PSG), the gold standard method for sleep assessment. The current rules for sleep stage scoring are defined in the Manual for Scoring Sleep and Related Events, which
Researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine are using an innovative approach to address sleep health issues in underserved communities. The project, called the Media and Innovation Lab (MIL) Box, delivers wearable and nearable technology devices to
When most people think about artificial intelligence (AI) and its applications, they tend not to think about its link to sleep and sleep health. The truth is, though, that AI is at the forefront of providing insights into what is
We have heard it all before, the numerous reasons that are made as to why we are not prioritizing sleep. When people break a bone, they go to their doctor to have it assessed. Why is it any different for
Over the past several years, two hot topics have emerged, with an impact on health and safety, from issues associated with daytime sleepiness. The first calls for the elimination of Daylight-Saving Time. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine put out
Have you ever felt grouchy or irritable and blamed it on a bad night of sleep? Well, you were not wrong. Daytime sleepiness can affect a person’s mood as well as their physical health. It is important that you
While sleep seems “quiet and restful”, it is, in reality, an active process and involves complex neurophysiology, engaging a number of brain systems. This multi-component physiology leads to restful sleep night after night but also presents multiple vulnerabilities that can
How AI is changing the field Artificial Intelligence (AI) consists of computer programs that perform decision-making and pattern-recognition tasks previously done by humans. Classical automatic algorithms are programmed to recognize events and patterns. By learning from data, AI algorithms can reproduce what
At 5:00 am sharp, my daughter’s eyes fly open. After just six hours of sleep, she’s bouncing with energy, eager to start her day. Meanwhile, her non-identical twin brother burrows deeper into his blankets – he won’t emerge happily
There are many indicators of poor sleep quality. While many warning signs are sleep sensitive—such as irritability, poor mood, worse performance, difficulties concentrating—most could also be explained by other factors. The main test I use is to ask: How do you
What happens if you regularly sleep less than seven hours per night and/or usually live with disrupted sleep to the point of sleep deprivation? Sleep professionals are often asked, “Why should I care about my sleeping habits?” The reason you
A majority of adults begin the day with caffeine. Drinking caffeine 4-6 hours before bed has been shown to impact the ability to fall asleep & sleep quality. Research shows consuming caffeine before bedtime can suppress the production of melatonin, a
Can we adapt to a new night and day? NASA is planning a mission to the Moon in 2024. After several lunar missions, NASA plans to send astronauts to Mars. This series of missions for exploration is called Artemis 1.
From night owls to morning larks. Circadian rhythms are our body’s time keeper, differentiating day and night, telling us when it is time to eat and releasing sleep hormones like melatonin when it is time to sleep. Psychologist and PhD
I was always fascinated by the conventional wisdom and personal experience that sleep helps fight infections. And isn’t it interesting that, on the other hand, not sleeping enough makes us more susceptible to get infected? There is something happening during
A college student watching his father deal with nightmares due to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) created a smartwatch app that was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Using his father as the test subject, Tyler Skluzacek
What is a sleep disorder? Simply put, a sleep disorder is a problem or condition that results in lack of quality sleep. Lacking quality sleep impacts daytime function and a myriad of physical and mental elements. Sleep is a basic
Understanding the definition and why it’s important for our health. Regular sleep can be explained as being “not irregular” and vice versa. Sleep is naturally prone to be irregular, as it occurs in “chunks” that are loosely linked together, and
Why starting school later is healthier for our teens. By helping the next generation maximize their potential, decrease risk-taking behaviors, improve driver safety and improve quality of life, adjusting school start times can have a positive effect on an entire
Can our bodies keep track of time? Have you ever wondered why it’s so hard to sleep after the clocks change, or why you feel so sluggish on dark winter days? Or why after working an overnight shift or traveling
For decades, researchers have reported and recorded differences in sleep for women and men, with more recent studies including transgender and nonbinary individuals. Dr. Michael Grandner of the University of Arizona has been working in the field of sleep medicine
A Q&A with Dr. Catherine McCall Catherine McCall, MD is a sleep medicine physician and psychiatrist working at the Seattle VA. She is also the Acting Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavior Sciences at the University of
March offers global opportunities to celebrate sleep. With the realization that sleep improves almost every facet of life, you may want to share this important message with family and friends. How can you? The best way is by joining in
Smart apps and devices can track your sleep, but accuracy matters. Two things motivated me to become interested in wearables. First, I wanted to find a more economical and flexible alternative to research-grade actigraphs (the current standard for assessing sleep
I have been in the field of sleep research since 1981. It has been a wonderful journey. In the early years, there was limited acceptance of the importance of sleep and the relevance of sleep disorders. Over the years, this
There are many things that affect sleep, including physical health, mental health, sleep habits and the physical environment. The physical environment is generally defined as all the things in a person’s sleeping space that are either conducive to sleep or
The topic of stress and sleep is of the outmost importance as we head into 2021. The unprecedent times we have been living in since March 2020 have had a devastating effect on sleep, especially because of the stress caused
Watch out for drowsy driving. High speed. No skid marks. A serious accident. These hallmarks often indicate to crash scene investigators that a driver nodded off at the wheel. MICROSLEEPWe’ve all seen someone do it: in a meeting, in a
When there are so many people and activities competing for your attention, prioritizing sleep can feel impossible. Here are 5 tips that can help. Even if you’re busy, you can… 1.) Start each new day brightly.Even if you didn’t get
When international sleep experts collaborate, the public benefits Pop quiz, hotshot. If someone asked you to name the three pillars of health, could you? Sure, there’s healthy food (please stop talking about kale) and then there’s exercise (can I get
Missing one night of sleep is a normal occurrence for individuals around the globe. But what if you lack sleep on a regular basis? Or if you’re unable to obtain quality sleep due to a sleep disorder? Then, the consequences
…And Why You Should Too Sleep is one of the three pillars of good health, along with a balanced diet and regular exercise. The world’s leading sleep experts have hectic daily agendas, often directing a sleep center or university department
The 94 classified sleep disorders are not always to blame In the world of medicine, Sleep Medicine is a relatively young subspecialty, but it’s evolving at a rapid pace. Sleep Medicine is a subspecialty of practice and research devoted to
Healthy sleep is sleep which restores and energizes you so you feel wide awake, dynamic and energetic all day long, yet 1 in 3 Americans is not achieving healthy sleep. Many people assume getting a good night’s sleep is judged