Latest news with #BrighamAndWomen'sHospital
CTV News
3 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
When you snooze, you might lose hours of sleep each month. Here's how to stop
The snooze button has been a common feature of alarm clocks for decades. (PeopleImages/iStockphoto/Getty Images via CNN Newsource) When jolted awake by the blare of an alarm clock, it's tempting to reach for the snooze button to catch a bit more shut-eye. In my case, 'just five more minutes' is practically a morning mantra. And what's the harm? There's increasing debate about your snoozing habit, and whether or not it's silently sabotaging your morning. On the 'stop snoozing' side of the research, sleep scientist Dr. Rebecca Robbins suggests the snooze alarm may actually cost us sleep. 'That first alarm may interrupt vital stages of sleep, and anything that you might be able to get after hitting the snooze alarm is probably going to be low quality and fragmented sleep,' said Robbins, an associate scientist for the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders at Brigham and Women's Hospital. The average snoozer takes an extra 11 minutes after their first alarm, according to a new study coauthored by Robbins that used data from the sleep-tracking app SleepCycle. That adds up to about one night's worth of sleep per month spent snoozing. As we sleep, the brain cycles through different stages of neurological activity and the second half of the night is dominated by rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, when most of our dreaming is thought to take place. It's an important sleep stage for our cognitive function and memory consolidation, said Robbins, who is also an assistant professor of medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital. 'When you press the snooze button, especially for just a few minutes at a time, you're not likely to return to that REM stage,' Robbins said. But for a different take, there are sleep experts like Dr. Justin Fiala, a pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine physician at Northwestern Medicine Canning Thoracic Institute. There isn't consensus on whether this lighter sleep achieved during a snooze session always does more harm than good, said Fiala, who is also an assistant professor at Northwestern Medicine. On one hand, losing out on quality sleep instead of just waking up later may increase the risk of cognitive impairment and lower one's mood. 'Certainly, if you're feeling worse off (and) more tired from the snooze alarm, I would recommend going back to waking up cold turkey without it,' said Fiala, who also runs the CommunityHealth Chicago sleep clinic. On the other hand, those with a certain chronotype — a natural disposition determined by factors such as age and genetics — may benefit from the habit, Fiala said, referencing a 2023 study which found night owls tend to rely on their snooze button more. 'If your chronotype is nocturnal, you're a night owl, but your work schedule requires you to be up at 5 a.m., that increases the dissonance between what your body is naturally inclined to do,' Fiala said. For these night owls, the brief period of light sleep induced by the snooze button may actually help them transition from deeper stages of sleep interrupted by the first alarm into wakefulness, he said, adding that more research should be done to fully understand this effect and its limitations. Regardless of one's chronotype, this distinction of who gets the most out of snoozing can also help inform how to get the most out of snoozing. Consistency is key Most sleep experts emphasize adults get the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night for good health and emotional well-being. Sleeping enough can also reduce feelings of tiredness upon waking, but the consistency of your sleep timing is just as important as duration, said Kimberly Honn, an associate professor of psychology at Washington State University Spokane. At deep stages of sleep, electric pulses of the brain reach a highly rhythmic pattern different from our more erratic, awakened state, she explained. Trying to wake up during these stages cuts important brain maintenance processes short and can lead one to experience the foggy effects of sleep inertia, which can last for several minutes or even hours after waking up. When the body is accustomed to a regular sleep schedule, it may reduce the experience of sleep inertia upon waking, Honn said. The body can grow accustomed to moving through each sleep stage at similar times, ensuring sleep cycles are completed before waking and eventually allowing you to fall asleep faster. 'In the perfect world, we would not be relying on an alarm clock at all,' Robbins said. 'We would be able to fall asleep and wake up naturally and have energy throughout the day.' Fiala said he generally recommends varying bedtimes by no more than 30 minutes per night, even on weekends. If you have to switch schedules, he says you should change it incrementally over time. Optimizing your morning routine It's possible people who use the snooze button less simply don't have the luxury to sleep past their alarm, Robbins suggested. Inflexible work schedules could require first responders to start their shift promptly, or parents may have to rally their children out the door and toward the school bus. For this reason, Robbins recommends those trying to ditch a snoozing habit introduce more time constraints into their morning routine by setting the first alarm as late as possible. 'Ask yourself: Is there anything in that morning routine that you could maybe do without? Or maybe you could find a way to do it faster?' Robbins said. Snoozing could also mean you're losing out on time that could be used for adding wakefulness-promoting habits into your morning routine. The heaviest snoozers tracked in Robbins' study used around 22 to 27 minutes resting after the first alarm — time that could be used for stretching, journaling or cooking a nutritious breakfast, Robbins suggested. 'We talk a lot about wind down routines and bedtime rituals. I think morning rituals are also really lovely to help you get excited about your day,' Robbins said. 'It's important to find something to look forward to, whether that's a meeting in the morning, making yourself a cup of coffee, whatever helps motivate you (and) gets you out of bed.' Timing your alarm to the sunrise and allowing natural light to come through your windows in the morning can also help signal your body to wake up, Honn said. By Kameryn Griesser, CNN
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Driver ‘seriously' hurt after high-speed chase ends in fiery NH crash, police say
A man was 'seriously injured' after being involved in a police pursuit, where he drove over 140 miles per hour, according to a New Hampshire State Police statement. The incident happened at around 1:30 a.m. on Friday when a state trooper was driving southbound on the F.E. Everett Turnpike in Bedford and noticed a 2018 Infiniti Q50 pass him at over 140 miles per hour, and refused to stop. A pursuit began and the driver continued southbound on the turnpike until he drove off the right side of the road and crashed, state police said. The driver was trapped inside the car as it caught fire. State police quickly responded, using fire extinguishers to control the blaze while attempting to get the driver out. Merrimack, New Hampshire Fire Rescue personnel managed to put out the flames completely and free the driver from the heavily damaged vehicle. The driver was taken by medical helicopter to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston with serious injuries. Longtime Market Basket execs say they expect to be sacked amid company's turmoil Newest travel warning says Americans have been kidnapped, ransomed in this country Mass. State Lottery winners: 3 tickets worth $100K won, claimed on Friday 'He was a creative force': Lead singer of '60s psychedelic rock legends dead at 82 Greenfield man sentenced for alcohol theft, knife threat to store owner, DA says Read the original article on MassLive.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Kids will develop 25.4 million more cavities if fluoride is banned nationwide, study finds
A national ban on the mineral fluoride in U.S. public drinking water could result in a decayed tooth for one out of every three children, researchers said on Friday. A model estimating the potential impact on children's dental health and its costs found that it would result in a 7.5 percent increase in tooth decay, translating to 25.4 million more teeth. It would also cost an additional $9.8 billion over the course of five years, and $19.4 billion after 10 years. 'Fluoride replaces weaker ions within tooth enamel, making it stronger and less susceptible to tooth decay caused by bacteria,' Dr. Lisa Simon, a founding member of the system and a physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital, said in a statement. 'There's strong evidence from other countries and cities, such as Calgary in Canada, showing that when fluoride is eliminated, dental disease increases. Our study offers a window into what would happen in the United States if water fluoridation ceased.' Simon was the senior author of the findings, which were published on Friday in the journal JAMA Health Forum. Fluoride, a naturally occurring mineral found in the soil and water, has been used to help strengthen tooth enamel for decades. It was first added to public water systems in 1945. It has been deemed one of 10 great public health interventions of the 20th century because of the dramatic decline in cavities since then. Recently, however, states have acted to implement their own bans. The first was in Utah, and Florida followed suit a few weeks later. The bans come as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., told The Associated Press last month that he would instruct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending fluoridation in drinking water. Kennedy has cited a widely controversial study related to IQ that has been criticized by experts. But dentists say doing so would be costly to the health of Americans — and especially low-income or rural families who may rely on fluoride in drinking water as a cost-effective way to protect their teeth. Children with limited access to dental care are expected to be the most affected by a ban. 'Dental cavities disproportionately affect disadvantaged children,' Dr. Tomitra Latimer, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in a statement. 'That includes kids with autism, Down syndrome or cerebral palsy, who may take sugary medications or struggle with brushing.' The authors of the JAMA study found that a national ban would substantially increase dental decay and costs, particularly for publicly insured and uninsured children. To develop the model, the researchers used detailed oral health and water fluoridation data in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey that was collected from 8,484 children ages 19 and below. Then, they simulated two scenarios over periods of five and 10 years. One would maintain current fluoride levels, and the second would eliminate fluoride from public drinking water. They ran the simulation 1,000 times. The number of fluorosis cases — the discoloring of tooth enamel due to excessive fluoride intake — decreased by 0.2 million. The study did not look at cognitive effects from fluoride exposure, saying that current levels of fluoride in public water are not associated with worse neurobehavioral outcomes. The current recommended fluoride level in public water systems is 0.7 milligrams per liter. 'We know fluoride works. We're able to show just how much it works for most communities and how much people stand to lose if we get rid of it,' said Simon. 'Extensive research confirms the recommended level significantly reduces dental cavities without posing health risks,' Latimer said.
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Taking 9p daily supplement shown to ‘counter ageing process' by three years
A CHEAP and easy-to-find supplement could slow ageing by three years, scientists say Experts already urge Brits to take vitamin D from October to March, when sunlight is too weak for the body to produce enough naturally. 1 Vitamin D regulates calcium and phosphate levels, essential nutrients for healthy bones, teeth, and muscles. Now, scientists suggest taking the supplement daily for four years could slow ageing by helping preserve protective DNA caps, known as telomeres, which shrink as we get older. Shorter telomeres have been linked to ageing, as well as inflammation, which is associated with autoimmune diseases as well as cancer. But don't rush out to buy supplements just yet. The findings need to be confirmed with additional research, the US scientists from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, said. 'Dietary supplements will never be a substitute for healthy diet and healthy lifestyle, and we've made it very clear time and again that the focus should be on the diet and lifestyle rather than on supplementation,' Dr JoAnn Manson, a co-author of the study, said. 'However, targeted supplementation for people who have higher levels of inflammation or a higher risk of chronic diseases clearly related to inflammation, those high-risk groups may benefit from targeted vitamin D supplementation," she told The Washington Post. The study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, analysed data from 900 US adults over 50, who took part in the ongoing VITAL trial. Some were given 2,000 IUs of vitamin D3, others 1g of omega-3 fish oil a day, or a placebo, for four years. Scientists then measured the length of telomeres in the blood at the start, and again after two and four years. Top 5 Vitamins for Beautiful Hair Previous studies observed a link between vitamin D and longer telomeres, but couldn't prove the vitamin caused the effect. This latest trial was randomised, double-blind and placebo-controlled - the gold standard of clinical research - making the findings more robust. Those taking vitamin D3 saw significantly less telomere shrinkage than those who didn't, equivalent to a three-year slowdown in ageing. Meanwhile, government-funded research has found that more than one in 10 adults in the UK are lacking in the sunshine vitamin. How can I boost my vitamin D levels? You can derive a certain amount of vitamin D from your diet, through foods like: Oily fish – such as salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel Red meat Liver (avoid liver if you are pregnant) Egg yolks Fortified foods – such as some fat spreads and breakfast cereals It's recommended that children aged one and above and adults take a supplement with 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day during autumn and winter. You can get a box of Ultra Vitamin D 2000 IU Extra Strength (96 tablets) from Boots for just 9p a tablet. You'll find similar prices at Holland & Barrett and Morrisons too.
CTV News
26-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Snooze alarms may cost you vital sleep — three experts weigh in on the habit
The snooze button has been a common feature of alarm clocks for decades. PeopleImages/iStockphoto/Getty Images via CNN Newsource When jolted awake by the blare of an alarm clock, it's tempting to reach for the snooze button to catch a bit more shut-eye. In my case, 'just five more minutes' is practically a morning mantra. And what's the harm? There's increasing debate about your snoozing habit, and whether or not it's silently sabotaging your morning. On the 'stop snoozing' side of the research, sleep scientist Dr. Rebecca Robbins suggests the snooze alarm may actually cost us sleep. 'That first alarm may interrupt vital stages of sleep, and anything that you might be able to get after hitting the snooze alarm is probably going to be low quality and fragmented sleep,' said Robbins, an associate scientist for the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders at Brigham and Women's Hospital. The average snoozer takes an extra 11 minutes after their first alarm, according to a new study coauthored by Robbins that used data from the sleep-tracking app SleepCycle. That adds up to about one night's worth of sleep per month spent snoozing. As we sleep, the brain cycles through different stages of neurological activity and the second half of the night is dominated by rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, when most of our dreaming is thought to take place. It's an important sleep stage for our cognitive function and memory consolidation, said Robbins, who is also an assistant professor of medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital. 'When you press the snooze button, especially for just a few minutes at a time, you're not likely to return to that REM stage,' Robbins said. But for a different take, there are sleep experts like Dr. Justin Fiala, a pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine physician at Northwestern Medicine Canning Thoracic Institute. There isn't consensus on whether this lighter sleep achieved during a snooze session always does more harm than good, said Fiala, who is also an assistant professor at Northwestern Medicine. On one hand, losing out on quality sleep instead of just waking up later may increase the risk of cognitive impairment and lower one's mood. 'Certainly, if you're feeling worse off (and) more tired from the snooze alarm, I would recommend going back to waking up cold turkey without it,' said Fiala, who also runs the CommunityHealth Chicago sleep clinic. On the other hand, those with a certain chronotype — a natural disposition determined by factors such as age and genetics — may benefit from the habit, Fiala said, referencing a 2023 study which found night owls tend to rely on their snooze button more. 'If your chronotype is nocturnal, you're a night owl, but your work schedule requires you to be up at 5 a.m., that increases the dissonance between what your body is naturally inclined to do,' Fiala said. For these night owls, the brief period of light sleep induced by the snooze button may actually help them transition from deeper stages of sleep interrupted by the first alarm into wakefulness, he said, adding that more research should be done to fully understand this effect and its limitations. Regardless of one's chronotype, this distinction of who gets the most out of snoozing can also help inform how to get the most out of snoozing. Consistency is key Most sleep experts emphasize adults get the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night for good health and emotional well-being. Sleeping enough can also reduce feelings of tiredness upon waking, but the consistency of your sleep timing is just as important as duration, said Kimberly Honn, an associate professor of psychology at Washington State University Spokane. At deep stages of sleep, electric pulses of the brain reach a highly rhythmic pattern different from our more erratic, awakened state, she explained. Trying to wake up during these stages cuts important brain maintenance processes short and can lead one to experience the foggy effects of sleep inertia, which can last for several minutes or even hours after waking up. When the body is accustomed to a regular sleep schedule, it may reduce the experience of sleep inertia upon waking, Honn said. The body can grow accustomed to moving through each sleep stage at similar times, ensuring sleep cycles are completed before waking and eventually allowing you to fall asleep faster. 'In the perfect world, we would not be relying on an alarm clock at all,' Robbins said. 'We would be able to fall asleep and wake up naturally and have energy throughout the day.' Fiala said he generally recommends varying bedtimes by no more than 30 minutes per night, even on weekends. If you have to switch schedules, he says you should change it incrementally over time. Optimizing your morning routine It's possible people who use the snooze button less simply don't have the luxury to sleep past their alarm, Robbins suggested. Inflexible work schedules could require first responders to start their shift promptly, or parents may have to rally their children out the door and toward the school bus. For this reason, Robbins recommends those trying to ditch a snoozing habit introduce more time constraints into their morning routine by setting the first alarm as late as possible. 'Ask yourself: Is there anything in that morning routine that you could maybe do without? Or maybe you could find a way to do it faster?' Robbins said. Snoozing could also mean you're losing out on time that could be used for adding wakefulness-promoting habits into your morning routine. The heaviest snoozers tracked in Robbins' study used around 22 to 27 minutes resting after the first alarm — time that could be used for stretching, journaling or cooking a nutritious breakfast, Robbins suggested. 'We talk a lot about wind down routines and bedtime rituals. I think morning rituals are also really lovely to help you get excited about your day,' Robbins said. 'It's important to find something to look forward to, whether that's a meeting in the morning, making yourself a cup of coffee, whatever helps motivate you (and) gets you out of bed.' Timing your alarm to the sunrise and allowing natural light to come through your windows in the morning can also help signal your body to wake up, Honn said.
