In the News

A lot of people think they sleep soundly despite nearby noise, but they should think again. Mathias Basner, MD, PhD, professor of Sleep and Chronobiology in Psychiatry, has exposed hundreds of people to noise during sleep studies, finding that many would get up in the morning believing they’d slept through the night without waking, but the data showed they’d had num­er­ous awakenings. Tags: scientific_american mathias_basner sleep_medicine psychiatry expert_opinion EH FY24 2024 Q4 April

Getting regular physical activity is among many ways to get better sleep, according to Jennifer R. Goldschmied, PhD, an assistant professor of Psychiatry. “Exercise can be a great way to help you feel more alert, both in the morning and during periods of the day when alertness naturally decreases,” she said. Tags: peloton sleep_medicine jennifer_goldschmied psychiatry EH fy24 2024 April Q4

Over-the-counter medications can offer temporary relief for sleep troubles but shouldn't be used on a regular basis. Indira Gurubhagavatula, MD, MPH, an associate professor of Sleep Medicine, shared that insomnia is just a warning light. “Any time you feel like you can’t address it by yourself, reach out to a health care provider around you," she said. Tags: time indira_gurubhagavatula sleep_medicine supplements EH fy24 2024 Q4 April

Synthetic forms of melatonin have grown in popularity to aid sleep, but experts urge caution in using it as a "first line sleep aid" for children. Ilene M. Rosen, MD, an associate professor of Sleep Medicine, advocates practicing proven bedtime routine behaviors, adhering to the same bedtime each night, and for children and adults to avoid "bright lights and electronics in the bedroom in order to allow the body’s natural production of melatonin to take effect and promote sleep." Tags: usa_today ilene_rosen sleep_medicine melatonin EH FY24 2024 Q4 April top_tier

An interview with Indira Gurubhagavatula, MD, MPH, an associate professor of Sleep Medicine, is cited on how sleep impacts our memory and cognitive function, such as difficulties in recalling information and increased irritability or anxiety. Gurubhagavatula added that "sleep is not a passive process." Tags: counsel_and_heal sleep_medicine indira_gurubhagavatula memory EH FY24 2024 Q3 March

Last summer, Philip Gehrman, PhD, an associate professor of clinical Psychology in Psychiatry, published a study that provides further evidence for the phenomenon of improved moods in depressed patients after a night without sleep. Gehrman warned that none of us—especially those suffering from depression—should try to self-medicate by pushing through until dawn. However, he says his findings could help scientists identify other forms of therapy for the condition, which is so difficult to treat. Tags: nautilus philip_gehrman sleep_medicine psychology psychiatry depression EH FY24 2024 Q3 March

A dental device is one of the primary alternatives to CPAP machines in helping those diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) get more comfortable sleep, according to Richard Schwab, MD, chief of Sleep Medicine. They can also be used with CPAP to help make severe obstructive sleep apnea milder. Tags: Consumer_Reports richard_schwab cpap sleep_apnea sleep_medicine EH fy24 2024 March Q3

A new museum in Bali helps travelers understand the Balinese tradition of Nyepi, when work, travel, and the use of electric lights are banned. The departure from the constant din of noise in today's world can help to ease what can be interpreted as a stressor. Mathias Basner, MD, PhD, professor of Sleep and Chronobiology in Psychiatry, added that "this will initiate increased levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline in the blood that can increase the risk for heart attacks and strokes." Tags: national_geographic mathias_basner sleep_medicine chronobiology psychiatry EH FY24 2024 March Q3

When we sleep, our bodies continue to work on our behalf, similar to maintenance crews may clean and restock a building after a day's use. Indira Gurubhagavatula, MD, MPH, an associate professor of Sleep Medicine, shared some of the processes behind removing the metabolic waste generated during the day to prepare us when we wake up. Tags: whyy indira_gurubhagavatula the_connection regional_philadelphia sleep_medicine EH FY24 2024 Q3 March

The shift to Daylight Saving Time can impact mood for some but can also contribute to other issues. Ilene M. Rosen, MD, an associate professor of Sleep Medicine, added that there's an increase of fatal motor vehicle crashes on top of increased crashes. "So that's one risk," she said, noting that "another one is cardiovascular events, more heart attacks, more strokes." Tags: 6abc ilene_rosen sleep_medicine daylight_saving_time EH FY24 2024 Q3 March

Black adults across the United States suffer from sleep problems following exposure to news about unarmed Black individuals killed by police during police encounters, according to research led by Atheendar S. Venkataramani, MD, PhD, an associate professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy. The issue may compound the risk factors that poor sleep already poses for many chronic and mental health conditions, from depression to post traumatic stress disorder. Tags: Patient_Daily atheendar_venkataramani sleep_medicine medical_ethics_and_health_policy race communications_placement press_release FY24 2024 eh February Q3

Treatment with a ‘chemical chaperone’ assists in reducing the accumulation of protein plaques and restores cognitive functioning in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. Nirinjini Naidoo, PhD, a research associate professor of Sleep Medicine, shared that their findings could lead to novel treatments for Alzheimer’s. Tags: ReachMD Nirinjini_Naidoo sleep_medicine Alzheimer's_disease communications_placement press_release podcast EH FY24 2024 February Q3

According to Indira Gurubhagavatula, MD, MPH, an associate professor of Sleep Medicine, "sleep is not a passive process." When people wake up before they are fully rested, they get less sleep overall and also may get less rapid eye movement sleep (REM) sleep. They may also miss out on the last and longest period of REM sleep, which happens in the final hours of rest. Because of that, “you might notice you can’t remember things as well,” she said. Tags: new_york_times top_tier communications_placement EH FY24 2024 Q3 February sleep_medicine indira_gurubhagavatula

Goes with Black Enterprise clip Tags: fox_5 race medical_ethics_and_health_policy sleep_medicine atheendar_venkataramani EH communications_placement press_release FY24 2024 February Q3

Black Americans lose sleep following exposure to police killings of Black people, according to a new study led by Atheendar Venkataramani, MD, PhD, an associate professor of Medical Ethics & Health Policy. Trouble sleeping or insomnia is often linked to PTSD, and the researchers hypothesized that the awareness of Black people dying at the hands of the police could lead to diminished expectations of well-being, paranoia, and hypervigilance, as well as increased stress levels, which have all been associated with a lack of sleep. Tags: black_enterprise sleep_medicine atheendar_venkataramani medical_ethics_and_health_policy race EH communications_placement press_release FY24 2024 Q3 February