Dr. Inna

Title: Lack of Sleep During Pregnancy Ups Risk of High Blood Pressure
Category: Health News
Created: 10/1/2010 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 10/1/2010

By Serena Gordon
HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) — A good night’s sleep when you’re pregnant may help keep your blood pressure levels normal, new research suggests.

Pregnant women who got less than six hours of nightly sleep during early pregnancy had systolic blood pressure readings in their last trimester that were nearly 4 mm/Hg higher than women who slept nine hours nightly, the study found. And women who got less than five hours of sleep increased their odds of developing preeclampsia — a serious pregnancy complication related to high blood pressure — more than ninefold.

On the other hand, getting too much sleep could also be a problem: women who reported sleeping more than 10 hours a night in their first trimester had more than a twofold increase in the risk of developing preeclampsia, according to the study published in the October issue of the journal Sleep.

“Women, in general, need about seven to nine hours of sleep during pregnancy, preferably nine hours. Getting less than that amount can have health affects,” said study author Michelle Williams, a professor of epidemiology and global health at the University of Washington, and co-director of the Center for Perinatal Studies at the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle.

“Women generally already know that they’re eating well and getting enough exercise for two during pregnancy. Our study suggests that women should also aspire to sleep well for two,” said Williams.

Read more… >>

Source: MedicineNet Sleep Apnea Specialty

Title: As Clocks Fall Back on Sunday, Think About Better Sleep
Category: Health News
Created: 11/5/2010 4:05:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/8/2010

FRIDAY, Nov. 5 (HealthDay News) — When you turn your clocks back an hour this weekend, it might be a good opportunity to think about whether you’re getting enough sleep.

The switch from Daylight Saving Time to Standard Time officially occurs at 2 a.m. Sunday morning, and it moves one hour of daylight from the evening to the morning.

You’ll likely appreciate the extra hour of sleep you’ll gain with the return to Standard Time, but it won’t be enough to eliminate any major sleep debt you may have accumulated due to a hectic lifestyle, experts say.

Chronic sleep deprivation can affect attention levels, reaction time and mood, leading to decreased productivity at work, increased family stress, and potential health problems, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

“People tend to ignore the need for sleep in order to get other things done, but sleep is as important as what you eat, how much you exercise, and other healthy lifestyle practices,” Dr. Nancy A. Collop, director of the Emory Sleep Center and president-elect of the AASM, said in an academy news release. “It’s important to acknowledge the role that sleep plays in our daily lives, and recognize that how we feel, think and perform is all dictated by the amount of sleep we get.”

The amount of sleep needed for good health and optimum daytime performance varies by age: preschoolers need 11 to 13 hours a night; school-age children should get 10 to 11 hours; teens must have at least nine hours; and adults should get seven to eight hours each night.

The AASM offers these tips for a good night’s sleep:

• Don’t exercise or have caffeine, alcohol, nicotine or heavy meals close to bedtime.
• It’s fine to eat a small snack before bedtime to avoid going to sleep hungry.
• Follow a consistent bedtime routine.
• Keep your bedroom quiet, dark and cool.
• Don’t sleep in on the weekends. That just makes it harder to wake up on Monday.

– Robert Preidt

Copyright © 2010 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

SOURCES: American Academy of Sleep Medicine, news release, Nov. 3, 2010; U.S. National Institute of Standards and Measurements

Source: MedicineNet Sleep Apnea Specialty

For help with your snoring or sleep apnea symptoms without invasive surgery or noisy CPAP machines, try our oral appliance therapy!