Weight Loss Improves Metabolic Parameters and Sleep Disordered Breathing in Children

This article describes findings from a study presented at the American Thoracic Society about how weight loss can improve metabolic markers and sleep disordered breathing in adolescents.

New Findings About Our Biological Clock

This article describes some interesting findings about how our biological clock may control how when we wake and when we sleep.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Diabetes

Here is an article about data presented at the American Thoracic Society linking obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to type 2 diabetes. This study confirms what we already think clinically about OSA and diabetes.

Gabapentin for Insomnia in Women

Many women suffer with insomnia symptoms, and these can get worse as a woman approaches menopause. A case series was published in the April edition of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine about using Gabapentin for this problem. The author, Dr. Guttoso, hypothesizes that in women who are approaching menopause, low estradiol levels may contribute to nighttime awakenings. Gabapentin is an anti-seizure medication, but it has been shown to improve sleep quality and can improve deep sleep amounts. It's not clear how Gabapentin would improve sleep quality in pre-menopausal women with nighttime awakenings.

He presents histories of three women, all of which had insomnia symptoms. In the first case, the woman took Gabapentin nightly. Within a few weeks, she was sleeping better, had more daytime alertness, better concentration, and improved mood. She did have dizziness, but this was not all the time and did not seem to interfere with her functioning. The second woman reported that nightly Gabapentin also relieved her insomnia symptoms, with a temporary side effect of daytime sleepiness and irritability. However, after about three weeks of therapy, those side effects disappeared. For the last woman, she again reported elimination of her insomnia symptoms with nightly Gabapentin. She denied any side effects, and stated that Gabapentin enhanced her daytime alertness, improved her concentration, and gave her more daytime energy. She was even able to stop drinking coffee at work.

Of course more research is needed to determine if women that are close to menopause have nighttime awakenings in associated with low estradiol levels, and whether Gabapentin can improve sleep quality in randomized controlled clinical trials.

A Sleep Mask to Help With Lucid Dreaming?

Just saw this about a new sleep mask that supposedly can help people with lucid dreaming. That occurs when people are conscious while dreaming. I am not sure how this mask would work, but here is the link to the article.

CPAP Use and High Blood Pressure

This article discusses how regular use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in obstructive sleep apnea may reduce high blood pressure.

Reversing Brain Abnormalities in Childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Here is a news brief about childhood obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In kids, untreated OSA can cause learning, attention, and behavioral problems. In fact, some kids with OSA are incorrectly diagnosed as attention deficit disorder. It is thought that OSA can actually damage kids' brains. A new study shows that treating OSA can reverse some of the brain damage done and improve kids' learning, attention, and behavior.