Position Matters Position is the thing in life – or so my grandmother would tell me. Position certainly changes how well you sleep. Writing in the NY Times Science section April 19th, Anahad O’Connor looked at some studies, old and new, about where one should sleep in order to rest well. Sleep quality is of […]
Let air traffic controllers nap (4/20/11)
Sleeping and Flying It’s a national emergency: air traffic controllers have fallen asleep in Reno, Washington, and several other cities. Planes carrying severely ill patients arrive at airports where “nobody” is in charge. The government head of air traffic control has been asked to resign. What’s going on? It’s very much the same situation that […]
Depression and insomnia – what causes what? (4/18/11)
Is Depression Making Me Sleepless, Or Is Insomnia Making Me Depressed? Depression and insomnia are common and possess common symptoms. Some estimate that 30% of Americans will eventually experience clinical depression, and perhaps 40% of adults complain that many or most nights they don’t get enough sleep, wake too often, or feel unrested on awakening. […]
Cut your light at night (3/9/11)
Light is a Drug If reading this at night, you might want to dim the lights. Q: What is the drug everyone is sensitive to? A: Light. (Some, but not all blind people are exceptions – more below) Q:What does it do? A: Change body clocks; in the daytime improve mood and create vitamin D; […]
Fat Planet – People are getting fatter, but not everywhere (2/22/11)
Bigger It’s not just pets that are getting fatter. Humans are, too. And though the US ranks 49th in the world in lifespan, our nation is number one in body mass index, a major index of obesity. Sixty eight percent of Americans are now classified as obese or overweight. However, beyond the headlines of Finucane […]