BiotechMashup

(SAGE Publications UK) Insomnia and other sleep disorders are very common, yet are not generally well understood by doctors and other health care professionals. Now the British Association for Psychopharmacology has released up-to-the-minute guidelines in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, published by SAGE, to guide psychiatrists and physicians caring for those with sleep problems.

(American Academy of Sleep Medicine) A natural yellowing of the eye lens that absorbs blue light has been linked to sleep disorders in a group of test volunteers. The connection could help explain why sleep disorders become more frequent with increasing age.

Whether doctors have knowledge of guidelines or not appears to be unsuitable as an indicator of how guidelines are being put into practice in the clinical routinee, according to a new study by researchers in Germany. Only 40% of the primary care physicians surveyed had knowledge of the cardiovascular guidelines; 60% of them show room for improvement.

A natural yellowing of the eye lens that absorbs blue light has been linked to sleep disorders in a group of test volunteers. The connection could help explain why sleep disorders become more frequent with increasing age.

For all those who have trouble falling asleep and are looking for some easy good night sleep techniques, this site is a must-visit. Not only does it reveal the 4 most effective natural techniques to fall asleep, but reveals some useful tips on insomnia cures, how to get to sleep following some unusual steps, and more. Of course, the free copy of the Ultimate Sleep Apnea Treatment Guide is indeed an attractive bonus.

(University of Montreal) Can't sleep at night? A new study published in the journal Sleep has found that people who suffer from insomnia have heightened nighttime blood pressure, which can lead to cardiac problems. The investigation, which measured the 24-hour blood pressure of insomniacs compared to sound sleepers, was conducted by researchers from the Universite de Montreal, its affiliated Hepital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal Sleep Disorders Centre and the Universite Laval.

(Lifespan) A new survey of child psychiatrists indicates that insomnia is a major problem among children in mental health treatment and at least a quarter of these patients are given sleep medication. The results of the survey, conducted by Judith Owens, M.D., of Hasbro Children's Hospital, suggests that management of insomnia in this population is a common practice, although the clinical approach varies widely. The study appears in the August 2010 edition of Sleep Medicine.

In an updated policy statement and technical report, the American Academy of Pediatrics is expanding its guidelines on safe sleep for babies, with additional information for parents on creating a safe environment for their babies to sleep.

(American Academy of Sleep Medicine) A study in the Dec. 1 issue of the journal SLEEP found that loud snoring and two common insomnia symptoms -- difficulty falling asleep and unrefreshing sleep -- each significantly predicted the development of the metabolic syndrome. The study emphasizes the importance of screening for common sleep complaints in routine clinical practice.