Civilian Life is Interrupted by PTSD and Sleep Disorders for Many Soldiers Returning from Iraq

A new study finds high rates of disturbed sleep among current and former military personnel who served in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom or Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sleep problems were considerably more common and severe among those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), reports Military.com. PTSD is an anxiety syndrome that occurs after a traumatic event, such as combat or military exposure. Symptoms typically improve after three months of treatment, but for some people the problem continues for the rest of their lives.

Data from the Pentagon suggests that up to 20 percent of returning Iraq war veterans suffer from PTSD. Records from the Department of Veterans Affairs show that nearly 76,000 veterans of the current wars were diagnosed with PTSD between 2002 and mid-2008.

According to the AASM, most people with PTSD report having disturbed sleep, and suffer from severe nightmares in which they relive the traumatic event. Severe cases of PTSD may be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy and medications to improve sleep.

Learn more about PTSD on SleepEducation.com.

Image courtesy of the U.S. Army.

Chemotherapy Causes Sleep Problems in Breast Cancer Patients

A study published this week in the journal Sleep shows that chemotherapy for Breast Cancer, a disease with which approximately 210,000 women are diagnosed each year, impairs sleep-wake cycles in patients. Sleep disturbances can negatively affect treatment and increase risks for other health and mental problems.

Results indicate that chemotherapy patients switched from low to high activity about 30 minutes later in the day and decreased their level of activity about 50 minutes earlier at night during their first round of chemotherapy, suggesting that their days were shorter.

The study involved 95 women with an average age of 51 years, who were scheduled to receive chemotherapy for stage I-III Breast Cancer. Of the participants, 75 percent were Caucasian, 69 percent were married, 77 percent had at least some college education, and 73 percent reported an annual income of more than $30,000.

“Our biological clock, or (24-hour cycles) help keep our bodies in sync with the environment. During chemotherapy, our biological clock, or circadian rhythm gets out of sync, especially after the first cycle of treatment. The clock seems to regulate itself after only one cycle, but with repeated administration of chemotherapy, it becomes more difficult for the biological clock to readjust,” study author Dr. Sonia Ancoli-Israel told the AASM.

Sleep disturbances are common in cancer patients, with 30 percent to 50 percent reporting symptoms of insomnia. The authors state that it is important to screen more routinely for sleep disruptions in Breast Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and to offer treatment, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or bright light therapy, to prevent sleep disturbances from becoming chronic.

According to the AASM, studies show that cognitive behavioral therapy helps both women with breast cancer and breast-cancer survivors. It helps patients develop habits that promote healthy sleep patterns by changing actions and thoughts that hurt their ability to sleep well.

Unexpected Workplace Hazard: Bullying is Associated with Sleep Disturbances

A study published today in the journal Sleep shows that workplace bullying, one of the leading job stressors and major causes of suicide, is also related to sleep disturbances. Findings of the study are important, as people who do not get enough sleep are at a higher risk for developing health and psychological problems.

The study, performed in 2004 in southeast France, included a random sample of 3,132 men and 4,562 women with an average age of 40 years. Participants reported whether or not they believed they had been exposed to bullying over the past 12 months.

Results showed a high prevalence of workplace bullying, with 11 percent of women and nine percent of men experiencing “hostile behavior” at their jobs at least weekly and for at least six months during the past 12 months.

Sleep disturbances - defined as either trouble falling asleep or waking up in the middle of the night – were reported by 22 percent of women and 17 percent of men, who had “some or a great deal of trouble” sleeping.

“Our study underlines the need to better understand and prevent occupational risk factors, such as bullying, for sleep disorders,” study author Dr. Isabelle Niedhammer told the AASM.

According to the AASM, a sleep disturbance that is caused by a specific stressor is known as adjustment insomnia. People with adjustment insomnia may feel anxious and depressed; they also may suffer from muscle tension and headaches.

Student Athletes Sleep Better than their Inactive Peers

A new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that teenagers who routinely exercise vigorously have higher quality sleep than their peers.

Overall, athletes scored higher in sleep quality and mood and woke fewer times after falling asleep. They also had better daytime concentration and less fatigue. Athletes also scored lower for anxiety and depressive symptoms.

The study, conducted in Switzerland, included 434 adolescents with an average age of 17. Of the total participants, 258 took part in Swiss Olympic classes, which provide intense levels of training for high school students. They averaged about 18 hours of exercise per week. The other participants, recruited from Swiss high schools, averaged about five hours of exercise per week.

Students kept a log for seven days, tracking how much they exercised, how much sleep they got, the quality of that sleep, how tired they felt during the day, how well they were able to concentrate, and how tired they were at bedtime.

Findings suggest that consistent exercising is positively related to adolescents' sleep and psychological functioning. Results also indicate that males with low exercise levels are at risk for increased sleep complaints and poorer psychological functioning.

In July the Sleep Education Blog reported on a smaller study; it also found that regular exercise can lead to multiple improvements in the sleep of teens.

Working Women Sleep Less than Men

A new study found that women who work full time sleep less than men, reports a University of Cincinnati statement. The study suggests that women often are responsible for most household chores and child care, which can affect their sleep.

The study’s researchers conducted a phone survey in which respondents were questioned about work, family and health status in addition to sleep-related questions.

Results of the study show that in addition to physical differences that cause women to sleep less, gender inequality during the daytime also causes women to lose sleep.

Women were more likely than men to report sleep disruption when they had unstable marriages, worked nonstandard hours or when family and job time overlapped.

Gender differences in health status accounted for 27 percent of the gender gap in sleep disruption, with women more likely to report health effects of sleep disruption. Struggles to balance work and family time accounted for 17 percent of the gender gap in sleep disruption, and parental status was responsible for an additional five percent of the gender gap.

Learn more about how sleep affects women at SleepEducation.com.