Sleep

The sinister side of snoring
Sleep apnoea - usually manifest in bursts of strangled-sounding snores - plagues millions every night. It's a sleep-thief, but it's also potentially very dangerous...

Sleep apnoea ups ED risk
Men with sleep apnoea may suffer from a treatable form of erectile dysfunction caused by regular deprivation of oxygen experienced during these episodes of obstructed breathing.

Heavy snoring may up stroke risk
Heavy snoring is associated with plaque build-up in the carotid arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain and, therefore, may be a risk factor for stroke.

Naps boost memory
Just in time for the holidays, some medical advice most people will like: take a nap - even a 12-minute nap can boost some forms of memory.

Sleep terrors may be genetic
Sleep terrors may run in the family, new research with twins shows.

Bad sleep affects outlook on life
People who have a tough time getting a good night's sleep are more likely to become dissatisfied with their lives later on, a new study in twins from Finland shows.

More sleep = less colds
People who get less than seven hours of sleep per night appear about three times as likely to develop a cold as those who sleep eight hours or more.

Apnoea sufferers have different palates
People with obstructive sleep apnoea have soft palates that are more elongated and angled than those of people without the condition, researchers report.

Less sleep leads leads to REM sleep
Research shows that decreased nightly total sleep time, even within the normal range, is associated with an increased percentage of REM sleep during subsequent naps.

Gene mutation linked to narcolepsy
Scientists have identified a genetic mutation linked to narcolepsy, a disease that can cause someone to doze off in mid-sentence or behind the wheel of a car, a study reports.

Women have more nightmares
Women have many more nightmares than men and also have more emotional dreams, according to a new UK study.

Exercise, sleep lower cancer risk
Regular physical activity can significantly lower a woman's risk of developing cancer, but skimping on sleep can eliminate those gains, a study found.

Sleep apnoea means more sick leave
People with sleep apnoea may be at increased risk of needing an extended sick leave from work, or going on permanent work disability, a new study suggests.

Sleep tied to heart attacks
Researchers have found a jump in the number of heart attacks following daylight saving time changes.

Bad snorers sit too long
Canadian researchers have identified a new risk factor for excessive snoring, known as obstructive sleep apnoea, in normal-weight men: too much sitting

Sleeping on your side is healthy
The healthiest position for sleep is on the side, according to researchers at the University of Cleveland in the US state of Ohio.

Lifestyle change eases apnoea
Losing weight through lifestyle changes can improve or even reverse mild cases of the night-time breathing disorder, sleep apnoea, a new study suggests.