We all know that getting enough sleep promotes healthy brain function and optimal cognitive performance. Most sources recommend getting approximately 8 hours of sleep per night, but the amount of sleep it takes for you to feel refreshed should be individualized. Someone who is training for a marathon will generally need more sleep (over 8 …
We’ve all heard the media-driven dogma that everyone needs at least 8 hours of sleep per night for optimal neurophysiological performance. Striving for 8 hours of sleep is generally a healthy rule of thumb [for most people], but shouldn’t be considered a utopian amount for everyone. Many individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) sleep …
Most people are unaware of the fact that bright light after sunset probably isn’t healthy, especially if you are suffering from insomnia, dealing with poor sleep quality, or a circadian rhythm disorder. For millions of years, humans functioned without artificial lights, TVs, and other electronics (e.g. cell phone screens). They relied solely on the sunlight …
Belsomra (Suvorexant) is a drug that was approved by the FDA in 2014 for the treatment of insomnia. It didn’t hit the market until 2015 and is regarded as the first of a new generation of sleeping pills called “orexin receptor antagonists.” Belsomra functions by binding to orexin (hypocretin) receptors OX1 and OX2 to inhibit …
Some sources estimate that nearly 60 million Americans have difficulties falling asleep a.k.a. a condition known as insomnia. There are many causes of insomnia, including circadian rhythm disturbances, poor diet, inadequate or excessive exercise, high stress, drugs, overworking, and mental illness. In many cases, insomnia can lead to deficiencies in both sleep quality and quantity. …
We’ve all had nights that we’ve gone to bed, closed our eyes, but no matter how much we relaxed or how many sheep we counted, we weren’t able to fall asleep. An inability to fall asleep is medically referred to as “insomnia.” Although an inability to fall asleep is a common manifestation of insomnia, sometimes …
Insomnia is considered a sleep disorder characterized by an inability to fall asleep or stay asleep throughout the night. There are many different types of insomnia, some of which are short-term days or weeks), and others which are long-term (e.g. months or years). If you suffer from insomnia, it is important to realize that it …