Tag: sleep

One Tiny Life Adjustment Can Reduce Depression Risk

Depression takes a toll, so take back some control.In any given year, one in five Americans will have a diagnosable mental health condition, and 2020 and 2021 were anything but “any given years.” Research continues to pour in showing an increase in mental health problems from the COVID-19 pandemic (and government policies resulting from it)….


A Dozen Ways to Get a Better Night’s Sleep

You’ve had a long day and you’re exhausted. You finally call it a night and get into bed for a restful eight hours. You try to relax, but all of a sudden your mind is in overdrive. It’s rehashing the day and planning for tomorrow, next week, and next year. In short order, any thoughts…


Healing a Lifetime

Sometimes a patient needs to heal an entire lifetime. Take, for example, the all too typical patient that I see at the clinic: in their 60s, overweight, struggling with high blood pressure, and seeking acupuncture for joint pain. Upon consultation, I listen to the story of a lifetime of poor choices that include eating the…


Serene Sounds May Help Older Adults Slip Into Slumber

If you’re over 60 and having trouble sleeping, listening to music before going to bed may help improve your slumber. A new study suggests that incorporating soothing music into your bedtime routine could prove beneficial for older adults battling insomnia. It offers a low-cost, non-intrusive option if you’re looking to fall asleep faster and stay…


More Fruits and Veggies Can Improve Sleep for Young People

Eating more fruits and vegetables can help young adults, especially young women, sleep better, a new study shows. Young adults who reported eating less than five servings of fruits and vegetables per day reported a high prevalence of chronic insomnia symptoms, with over one-third reporting difficulties in falling asleep or maintaining sleep at least three…


Surprising Ways to Get a Better Night’s Sleep

A lot of us are suffering from lack of sleep these days. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 35 percent of adult Americans regularly get less than seven hours of sleep per night, with African Americans and other minority groups sleeping even less than that. With the pandemic still in full…


Napping Your Way to Success

If there are any upsides to the lockdown conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the chance to adopt a siesta culture has to be counted among them. North Americans take a grim pride in not getting enough sleep, but in our pursuit of productivity, we may be sacrificing our best selves. Research suggests staying awake to…


Do You Have Insomnia?

There used to be an old wives’ tale that suggested older people needed a lot less sleep than younger people. But according to The National Institutes of Health, older adults only need one hour less sleep—the recommended amount is 6 1/2 to 7 hours per night. Unfortunately, almost half of adults age 60 and older…