Penn Sleep in the News

A new study found that those who slept in on the weekends had a lower risk of heart disease compared to those who didn’t. But catching up on sleep that you missed during the weekdays isn't the magic answer, says Michael Miller, MD, a professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, who said adverse health consequences of chronic sleep deprivation likely can't be fixed with just better sleep on the weekends. Tags: michael_miller Cardiovascular_Medicine health health.com sleep sleep_medicine expert_opinion FY25 Q2 October 2024 MT

Many pregnant people develop snoring during pregnancy, from about a quarter up to half of people in some studies, according to Grace Pien, MD, MSCE, associate professor of Sleep Medicine. The snoring can be caused by many things including the weight gain that accompanies pregnancy and hormonal changes. "Ultimately, it's important to remember that pregnancy is time-limited and, hopefully, so is the snoring," Pien said. Tags: the_bump sleep_medicine grace_pien sleep_apnea pregnancy snoring EH FY25 2024 Q1 October

CBT-I, a form of cognitive behavioral therapy, is a treatment for insomnia that involves actions like changing what you do when you can’t sleep and reframing anxious thoughts related to sleep. Michael Perlis, PhD, an associate professor of Psychiatry and director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine program, added that CBT-I is a promising treatment for insomnia that’s co-morbid with other conditions, like chronic pain and anxiety. Tags: guardian michael_perlis top_tier sleep_medicine psychiatry cbti behavioral_sleep_medicine_program insomnia depression EH FY25 2024 Q1 September

Though up to 10 percent of Americans suffer from restless legs syndrome (RLS), a neurological disorder that causes uncomfortable sensations in the legs and an irresistible urge to move them, broader awareness remains elusive. Jennifer R. Goldschmied, PhD, an assistant professor of Psychiatry, notes that many patients she sees often mistake restless legs syndrome for nervous or habitual shaking of the leg. Tags: yahoo_life Korin_Miller jennifer_goldschmied sleep_medicine psychiatry rls restless_legs_syndrome expert_opinion EH FY25 2024 Q1 September

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most adults need at least seven hours of sleep each night—and living in a city with more noise and activity can present additional challenges. Indira Gurubhagavatula, MD, MPH, a professor of Sleep Medicine, said that getting enough exercise, managing stress levels, and limiting caffeine and alcohol consumption help. Tags: EH Indira indira_gurubhagavatula sleep_medicine KYW_Newsradio KYW Conner_Barkon sleep better_sleep sleep_in_cities Q1 FY25 September 2024

Mouth taping is a social media trend that involves sleeping with mouth tape, or surgical tape placed over the lips, to prevent mouth breathing. However, medical evidence to support effectiveness of mouth taping is limited. Indira Gurubhagavatula, MD, MPH, a professor of Sleep Medicine, recommended instead to consult with a sleep specialist to check for blockage of the nasal passages due to congestion from allergies, viral infections, polyps, a deviated nasal septum or other structural difference. Tags: national_geographic indira_gurubhagavatula sleep_medicine mouth_taping sleep_apnea EH FY25 2024 Q1 September

The five-day Polaris Dawn space mission will venture 870 miles from Earth, farther than anyone has been since the 1972 Apollo moon program. It will also be another opportunity for Mathias Basner, MD, PhD, professor of Sleep and Chronobiology in Psychiatry, and Christopher Jones, PhD research assistant professor of Psychiatry, to study the impact of space flight on a civilian crew, as they previously did with the Inspiration 4 crew, giving additional data on the physiological and mental changes crew members may experience. Tags: pc_mag mathias_basner christopher_jones space sleep_medicine psychiatry chronobiology Physiology EH FY25 2024 Q1 August

Indira Gurubhagavatula, MD, MPH, professor of Sleep Medicine and Allan Pack, PhD, the John Miclot Professor outline how to spot sleep apnea, and avenues for treatment. Those include a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, essentially a pump that keeps users' airways at a high enough pressure to prevent collapse, which Gurubhagavatula noted "may one day become your best friend when you see what's on the other side, and the life you get to live with a good night of sleep." Tags: popular_science indira_gurubhagavatula allan_pack sleep_medicine sleep_apnea cpap EH FY25 2024 Q1 August

The practice known as "sleep divorce," where partners sleep in separate beds or bedrooms to get better sleep, is one of a few tips experts recommend for a good night's rest. Richard Schwab, MD, chief of Sleep Medicine, also noted that sticking to a schedule and keeping light exposure and temperature at the right levels can help. Tags: CNBC sleep_medicine richard_schwab sleep_divorce EH FY25 2024 Q1 August

Among the recommendations for better sleep when taking red-eye flights: being mindful of pre-flight cocktails, keeping your normal sleep routine and planning on catching up on sleep later. Philip Gehrman, PhD, an associate professor of clinical Psychology in Psychiatry, noted that the first day of a trip should keep sleep in mind. "Don't plan anything that requires you to be alert and well-rested," he said. Tags: Washington_Post top_tier philip_gehrman psychiatry psychology sleep_medicine expert_opinion Penn_Sleep_Center EH FY25 2024 Q1 August

While many people experience acute insomnia, usually in response to a stressful situation, others experience insomnia that does not go away. According to Indira Gurubhagavatula, MD, MPH, an associate professor of Sleep Medicine chronic insomnia could be caused if a person takes medications chronically to fall asleep and feels "they just cannot sleep without the aid of sleeping pills." Tags: health indira_gurubhagavatula sleep_medicine insomnia EH FY25 2024 August Q1

Historical figures including Charles Dickens to Benjamin Franklin reportedly relied on “polyphasic sleep” or “segmented sleep," the practice of sleeping in multiple smaller segments during the day. This method plunges the sleeper into deep sleep but “the brain needs time to come online again to fire up all the systems,” says Mathias Basner, MD, PhD, professor of Sleep and Chronobiology in Psychiatry. “It can take up to an hour or even longer, to be fully alert again.” Tags: good mathias_basner psychiatry sleep_medicine chronobiology polyphasic_sleep EH FY25 2024 Q1 July

A new database aims to pave the way for a better understanding of space health and medicine as more civilian missions launch. Mathias Basner, MD, PhD, professor of Sleep and Chronobiology in Psychiatry, was among the experts who studied the Inspiration4 civilian crew, reviewing their heart rate, oxygen level, mood state, sleep quality, alertness and other metrics. According to Basner, the crew was more positive post-flight, but "that just hinted to the fact that they were happy that they made it,” back to the ground safely. Tags: national_geographic mathias_basner sleep_medicine psychiatry communications_placement press_release nasa space chronobiology neurobiology EH FY25 2024 Q1 July

Two new clinical trials showed that tirzepatide, a weight loss drug in the same class of medications as Ozempic, significantly improved symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea in people with obesity. Sigrid Veasey, MD, a professor of Sleep Medicine, added that the search for more sleep apnea treatments has been “a hot pursuit for a very long time,” she said. Tags: new_york_times sleep_medicine sigrid_veasey top_tier weight_loss tirzepatide ozempic EH FY24 2024 Q4 June

New research outlines the impact of going to sleep after 1 am on mental health. Indira Gurubhagavatula, MD, MPH, an associate professor of Sleep Medicine, cautioned that, while the study had limitations, its findings were expected and point to the broader importance of sleep, in general. "“Most people by now are starting to understand that as much as we treat sleep like it’s a bonus, it’s actually essential. It’s a biologic necessity,” said Gurubhagavatula. “And we can’t go without it similar to air, food and water.” Tags: Huffington_Post indira_gurubhagavatula sleep_medicine expert_opinion EH FY24 2024 June Q4