Most people spend roughly one third of their whole lives sleeping. Despite its obvious importance to health, sleep remains mysterious in many ways. The debate of how much sleep we really need to be healthy has been going on for a long time, with different people claiming to need different amounts of sleep to feel rested and well. In the last few years, however, research conducted by experts in the field unequivocally supports the notion that the average adult needs between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night.
Insomnia is a growing issue, with roughly 30% to 50% of adults dealing with at least a mild form. As this number increases, the desire to find safe and effective treatments has grown precipitously in the last decade. Among some of the most common approaches to the treatment of insomnia are soporific drugs such as benzodiazepines. These drugs are designed to lower brain activity and artificially induce sleep. Unfortunately, this class of drugs have been found to be ineffective in generating healthful and regenerative sleep.
As more and more people search for sleep aids, and marijuana is slowly being decriminalised throughout the world, many people are turning to the humble flower to help them sleep. While many smokers of marijuana claim that it helps them with their sleep, the research on this topic is far from settled.
With the latest of a continual line of COVID variants having entered Australia, questions surrounding the relative hazards of Omicron and similar variants are arising quickly. Queensland is the first state to have confirmed Omicron cases with two of the genetic variant have been detected, both contained in individuals quarantining. Fortunately, authorities have said that both men are “well” after recovering from the symptoms.
A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open has established a clear link between sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and COVID infection severity. Published in November, the authors note that while contraction of the virus is not related to SDB, severity of outcomes is increased significantly. The primary finding being that people with COVID-19 who experience sleep disordered breathing have a 31% higher likelihood of hospitalization and death.
A new preprint article from South Africa suggests that the novel coronavirus variant Omicron is more likely to cause infection in those who have already been infected with a prior strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The study, “Increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection associated with emergence of the Omicron variant in South Africa” used data from 2,796,982 individuals with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 who had a positive test result at least 90 days prior to 27 November 2021.
It’s not uncommon for people to wake up feeling tired, sluggish and run down. Many feel the need for a second coffee by midday to recover from this feeling and get through the day. But have you wondered why you might be feeling tired even after a good night’s sleep? Here are 9 reasons why you might be waking up tired:
Australia is among the most vaccinated countries in the world with over 86% of Australians aged over 16 have received two doses, and 75% of adolescents have had their first dose. However, children under 16 are missing from the picture.
