Lynchburg Pulmonary Associates, Inc. Sleep Wellness Center

10/02/2019

Handling Stress May Affect Sleep
A new study finds that the way we handle stress could cause insomnia.
Results show that coping with a stressful event by giving up on dealing with the stress or by using alcohol or drugs each helps trigger the relationship between stress exposure and insomnia development. Surprisingly, the coping technique of self-distraction – such as going to the movies or watching TV – also helped trigger stress and incident insomnia. Furthermore, the study found that frequent thoughts about the stressor - was a significant and key trigger, accounting for 69 percent of the total effect of stress exposure on insomnia.

Results show that coping with a stressful event by giving up on dealing with the stress or by using alcohol or drugs each helps trigger the relationship between stress exposure and insomnia development. Surprisingly, the coping technique of self-distraction – such as going to the movies or watchin...

09/30/2019

Staying Active Avoids Sleep Problems
A new study suggests that staying fit may help middle-aged adults avoid sleep problems.
"Staying active won't cure sleep complaints, but it will reduce the odds of them," lead author Rodney Dishman said in a news release. "The more active you stay, the better off you'll be."

09/25/2019

Daylight Savings Time
The practice of abruptly setting clocks ahead by one hour from spring until fall, called daylight saving time (DST), was first instituted in Europe in 1916 to decrease use of energy-consuming incandescent lighting by extending the evening natural daylight hours.

09/16/2019

If you consistently find it difficult to fall or stay asleep, feel tired or feel not rested during the day, despite spending enough time in bed at night, you may have a sleep disorder. Contact your family healthcare provider or a sleep specialist if these conditions persist.

09/09/2019

Short vs. Long Sleepers
It’s not uncommon to meet an adult who sleeps less than six hours a night, but it is uncommon to meet one who feels rested after six hours of sleep or less. Contrary to popular belief, there is a small percentage of adults who don’t require the recommended seven hours of sleep each night. Someone like this is called a short sleeper, and they function well during the day even after sleeping less than six hours a night.

09/04/2019

Turn off all electronic devices with screens, including computers and cell phones, an hour before bedtime. The light from these devices may affect your sleep if left on closer to your bedtime.

08/28/2019

RICHMOND, Va. (WSET) -- As students across the Commonwealth head back to school or college, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) wants to remind parents to talk to their children about the dangers of e-cigarette use, or va**ng as Virginia is now reported cases of lung-illnesses related to using t...

08/28/2019

Sleep and Growing Older
Sleep needs change over a person's lifetime. Children and adolescents need more sleep than adults. Interestingly, older adults need about the same amount of sleep as younger adults -- seven to nine hours of sleep per night.
Unfortunately, many older adults often get less sleep than they need. One reason is that they often have more trouble falling asleep. A study of adults over 65 found that 13 percent of men and 36 percent of women take more than 30 minutes to fall asleep.

I. Introduction Sleep needs change over a person's lifetime. Children and adolescents need more sleep than adults. Interestingly, older adults need about the same amount of sleep as younger adults -- seven to nine hours of sleep per night.

08/19/2019

Getting the right amount of natural light during the day is important for older people who may not be able to venture outside as frequently as adults and children. Light exposure helps maintain a healthy sleep-wake cycle.

08/12/2019

Can too Much Sleep Kill You?
Media reports of a new study are tarnishing sleep’s healthy image. The tabloid headlines scream, “Too MUCH sleep could KILL YOU.” But could sweet, gentle sleep really be a cold-blooded killer? The British study involved nearly 10,000 adults…

08/07/2019

Go to bed at the same time every night, even on the weekends. Also, wake up at the same time each day. This will help to set your body's internal clock and optimize the quality of your sleep.

07/29/2019

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Sleep
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you change actions or thoughts that hurt your ability to sleep well. It helps you develop habits that promote a healthy pattern of sleep. Talk to your doctor or to a sleep specialist to see if one of these methods might improve your sleep. Following are the most common forms of CBT:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you change actions or thoughts that hurt your ability to sleep well. It helps you develop habits that promote a healthy pattern of sleep. Talk to your doctor or to a sleep specialist to see if one of these methods might improve your sleep. Following are the m...