Dreams that come to life are the stuff of fantasy novels and horror movies. But it’s also a reality for people who suffer from REM sleep behavior disorder.
People who have RBD act out vivid dreams as they sleep. The dreams tend to be action-packed. The dreamer may punch, kick, jump or get out of bed and run. All of this occurs while he or she is still asleep.
The disorder may sound funny. But injuries are common. Cuts, bruises or broken bones may occur to the dreamer or to a bedpartner.
Why does RBD occur? Normally your brain paralyzes most muscles during the stage of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. This is the stage of sleep when you have most dreams and nightmares. RBD occurs when the brain fails to tell the muscles to remain still.
RBD is similar to sleepwalking. But a sleepwalker tends to be confused upon waking up. Once awake, a person with RBD usually has clear recall of a vivid dream.
Sleepwalkers also are more likely to get up calmly, have their eyes open and walk out of the room. RBD actions tend to be more intense and dramatic.
RBD was identified and reported in the journal Sleep in 1986. Sixteen years later a follow-up report was published by the same research team. People with RBD are at risk for developing Parkinson’s disease.
RBD appears to be rare, affecting less than one percent of people. It is more common in older men. A new study followed 93 people with RBD. Participants had an average age of 65.4 years; 80 percent were men.
But stand-up comedian Mike Birbiglia is evidence that RBD can strike when you are younger. During his routines he often shares true stories of his RBD episodes. He is even starring in an off-Broadway show called Sleepwalk with Me.
Laughter is good medicine; but people with RBD should seek medical help. Contact an AASM-accredited sleep disorders center if you act out your dreams while you sleep.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
“Footballers” Getting Premier Sleep in England
U.S. athletes aren’t the only ones talking to sleep experts. Sleep is catching on across the pond too. The Telegraph reports that soccer players – “footballers” - in England’s Premier League are getting help from a “sleep coach.”
The focus isn’t on jet lag. Instead it’s on helping players overcome everyday problems that affect their sleep. Common struggles involve insomnia, injuries and frequent trips on buses and planes.
Mattresses and pillows are designed for a player’s specific needs. This includes his height and weight. Even his injury history is taken into account.
Before an important game the sleep coach helped one team replace the mattresses in their hotel. He also made sure that players who snore weren’t too close to other teammates.
Players are using pillows with imbedded iPod docks and speakers. They’re lulled to sleep by soothing sounds or “white noise.” But instead of an iPod, one player keeps a vacuum turned on for background noise while sleeping.
The sleep coach even gets the players’ wives involved. He counsels them on colors that can make the bedroom more relaxing. (He prefers an all-white room.)
It’s unclear if all this attention is affecting players’ performance on the field - or as they say, “on the pitch.”
But Manchester United has won the last two titles and has an unmatched 10 titles overall. They’re in first place again this year. They also have two of the world’s best players in Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. So United just might be the best-sleeping team in the league.
The focus isn’t on jet lag. Instead it’s on helping players overcome everyday problems that affect their sleep. Common struggles involve insomnia, injuries and frequent trips on buses and planes.
Mattresses and pillows are designed for a player’s specific needs. This includes his height and weight. Even his injury history is taken into account.
Before an important game the sleep coach helped one team replace the mattresses in their hotel. He also made sure that players who snore weren’t too close to other teammates.
Players are using pillows with imbedded iPod docks and speakers. They’re lulled to sleep by soothing sounds or “white noise.” But instead of an iPod, one player keeps a vacuum turned on for background noise while sleeping.
The sleep coach even gets the players’ wives involved. He counsels them on colors that can make the bedroom more relaxing. (He prefers an all-white room.)
It’s unclear if all this attention is affecting players’ performance on the field - or as they say, “on the pitch.”
But Manchester United has won the last two titles and has an unmatched 10 titles overall. They’re in first place again this year. They also have two of the world’s best players in Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. So United just might be the best-sleeping team in the league.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Happier Marriage, Better Sleep
A new study shows that marriage can affect your sleep – for better or worse. Results show that happily married women sleep better than women who are less satisfied with their marriage.
Women rated their “degree of happiness” with their marriage. They also provided information about any struggles they have with insomnia.
“We found that happily married women report fewer sleep disturbances,” lead author Wendy Troxel, PhD, told Reuters. This included difficulty falling asleep, nighttime awakenings, early morning awakenings and restless sleep.
The study involved a racially diverse sample of women. A Pitt news release reports that there were differences in sleep quality based on race.
Caucasian and African-American women had more sleep complaints. Japanese, Hispanic and Chinese women had fewer sleep complaints. Caucasian and Japanese women reported the highest marital happiness.
The study had controls for other factors that may affect sleep. These included depression, finances and employment. Marital happiness still emerged as an independent risk factor for sleep problems.
An earlier study of older couples also linked sleep problems and marital happiness. It found that having a spouse with sleep problems was related to having an “unhappy marriage.”
A Japanese study also linked being unmarried with poorer sleep quality.
Click here for more about women and sleep.
Women rated their “degree of happiness” with their marriage. They also provided information about any struggles they have with insomnia.
“We found that happily married women report fewer sleep disturbances,” lead author Wendy Troxel, PhD, told Reuters. This included difficulty falling asleep, nighttime awakenings, early morning awakenings and restless sleep.
The study involved a racially diverse sample of women. A Pitt news release reports that there were differences in sleep quality based on race.
Caucasian and African-American women had more sleep complaints. Japanese, Hispanic and Chinese women had fewer sleep complaints. Caucasian and Japanese women reported the highest marital happiness.
The study had controls for other factors that may affect sleep. These included depression, finances and employment. Marital happiness still emerged as an independent risk factor for sleep problems.
An earlier study of older couples also linked sleep problems and marital happiness. It found that having a spouse with sleep problems was related to having an “unhappy marriage.”
A Japanese study also linked being unmarried with poorer sleep quality.
Click here for more about women and sleep.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sleep, Caffeine & the Starbucks Effect
Bloomberg.com reports that Starbucks stores are going to stop the continuous brewing of decaf coffee after 12 p.m. The move is part of an effort to save $400 million by September.
You’ll still be able to request a decaf coffee in the afternoon. But you’ll have to wait about four minutes for brewing time. The company reports that demand for decaf coffee in some of its stores tends to drop after noon.
This is likely due to the timing of the body’s sleep-wake pattern. A natural “dip” in alertness tends to occur in the afternoon. So it is tempting to rely on caffeine in the afternoon to fight off sleepiness.
Caffeine is a drug that is a quick-acting stimulant. It reaches a peak level in your blood in 30 to 60 minutes. But it also can stay in your system for hours. This may cause problems when you try to go to sleep at night.
A new review looked at studies of how caffeine affects your sleep. One study shows that people who don’t consume caffeine may sleep longer and have a better quality of sleep. Another study found that people may have less trouble falling asleep on days when they drink decaf coffee.
Choosing decaf is still likely to give you a small dose of caffeine. A study found that a Starbucks decaf espresso may have 3 mg to 15.8 mg of caffeine. A 16-ounce serving of a Starbucks decaf brewed coffee may have 12 mg to 13.4 mg of caffeine.
In contrast, Starbucks reports that a regular espresso may have about 75 mg of caffeine. But it’s the 16-ounce, “grande”-size Starbucks coffee that really tips the scales. It may have 330 mg of caffeine. Another study shows that this is the same caffeine content as six, 12-ounce cans of Mountain Dew. It’s also the same as two cans of an energy drink like No Fear.
Starbucks also reports that actual caffeine content can vary greatly. That’s exactly what another study found. Researchers bought a 16-oz cup of the same type of coffee from one coffee shop for six straight days. They found that the caffeine levels ranged widely from 259 mg to 564 mg.
You’ll still be able to request a decaf coffee in the afternoon. But you’ll have to wait about four minutes for brewing time. The company reports that demand for decaf coffee in some of its stores tends to drop after noon.
This is likely due to the timing of the body’s sleep-wake pattern. A natural “dip” in alertness tends to occur in the afternoon. So it is tempting to rely on caffeine in the afternoon to fight off sleepiness.
Caffeine is a drug that is a quick-acting stimulant. It reaches a peak level in your blood in 30 to 60 minutes. But it also can stay in your system for hours. This may cause problems when you try to go to sleep at night.
A new review looked at studies of how caffeine affects your sleep. One study shows that people who don’t consume caffeine may sleep longer and have a better quality of sleep. Another study found that people may have less trouble falling asleep on days when they drink decaf coffee.
Choosing decaf is still likely to give you a small dose of caffeine. A study found that a Starbucks decaf espresso may have 3 mg to 15.8 mg of caffeine. A 16-ounce serving of a Starbucks decaf brewed coffee may have 12 mg to 13.4 mg of caffeine.
In contrast, Starbucks reports that a regular espresso may have about 75 mg of caffeine. But it’s the 16-ounce, “grande”-size Starbucks coffee that really tips the scales. It may have 330 mg of caffeine. Another study shows that this is the same caffeine content as six, 12-ounce cans of Mountain Dew. It’s also the same as two cans of an energy drink like No Fear.
Starbucks also reports that actual caffeine content can vary greatly. That’s exactly what another study found. Researchers bought a 16-oz cup of the same type of coffee from one coffee shop for six straight days. They found that the caffeine levels ranged widely from 259 mg to 564 mg.
So in the afternoon you may want to skip the coffee and choose a drink with a lower caffeine level instead. Try a soda or a cup of brewed tea. Better yet, avoid caffeine and take a quick 20-minute nap; a study shows this may be your best option for an afternoon boost.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sleep Apnea: The Leg Link
A new study finds an intriguing link between obstructive sleep apnea and your legs. That’s right, your legs.
The study reports that sitting for long periods of the day causes fluid to accumulate in your legs. When you lie down in bed at night, the fluid then shifts from the legs to the neck. The excess fluid in the neck reduces the size of the upper airway. This makes it easier for soft tissue in the neck to collapse and block the airway.
The study involved 23 healthy men who were suspected of having sleep apnea. None of the men were obese. Researchers measured the changes in their leg fluid volume and neck size from the beginning to the end of the night. They also recorded how much time the participants spent sitting during the previous day.
Results show that overnight changes in leg fluid volume and neck size are independently linked to the severity of sleep apnea. The study provides one explanation for why some people may have sleep apnea even though they are not obese.
The results also provide extra motivation for people with sleep apnea to get more exercise. Get up from your desk and get your legs moving to prevent fluid buildup.
The study reports that sitting for long periods of the day causes fluid to accumulate in your legs. When you lie down in bed at night, the fluid then shifts from the legs to the neck. The excess fluid in the neck reduces the size of the upper airway. This makes it easier for soft tissue in the neck to collapse and block the airway.
The study involved 23 healthy men who were suspected of having sleep apnea. None of the men were obese. Researchers measured the changes in their leg fluid volume and neck size from the beginning to the end of the night. They also recorded how much time the participants spent sitting during the previous day.
Results show that overnight changes in leg fluid volume and neck size are independently linked to the severity of sleep apnea. The study provides one explanation for why some people may have sleep apnea even though they are not obese.
The results also provide extra motivation for people with sleep apnea to get more exercise. Get up from your desk and get your legs moving to prevent fluid buildup.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
