Sleep-deprived teens take more risks - CNN (article link)

Researchers say that lack of sufficient sleep is associated with risky behaviors such as smoking, drinking alcohol, being sexually active, using marijuana, lower physical activity, and feeling sad or helpless.

“Insufficient sleep on school nights is common and is associated with participation in health risk behaviors including substance use, fighting, and consideration of suicide,”

Read more: Sleep-deprived teens take more risks - CNN (article link)

Dreams Help Heal Painful Memories - PsychCentral (article link)

Berkeley researchers discovered that during REM sleep the brain processes emotional experiences and takes the painful edge off difficult memories.

The findings offer a compelling explanation for why people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as war veterans, have a hard time recovering from painful experiences and suffer reoccurring nightmares.

They also offer clues into why we dream.

Read more: Dreams Help Heal Painful Memories - PsychCentral (article link)

Sleep problems triple women's risk of developing fibromyalgia - CNN (article link)

"sleep deprivation has been shown in previous research to increase inflammation and reduce the body's ability to manage pain"

"Doctors have long been aware of the link between poor sleep and fibromyalgia, a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain and tender points in the soft tissues."

Read more: Sleep problems triple women's risk of developing fibromyalgia - CNN (article link)

Childhood Obesity and Sleep - ABC News (video)

Could a lack of sleep be putting your child at risk?

Read more: Childhood Obesity and Sleep - ABC News (video)

What makes some sleep more soundly? Spindles - CNN (video)

CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports on why some people are more easily awakened than others.

- When a person sleeps they have different patterns or sleep spindles.
- A person that has a lot of sleep spindles blocks disturbances such as noise.
- People with the most sleep spindles were getting the best sleep.
- People with fewer sleep spindles would wake up 20-30 times a night but did not remember.

Read more: What makes some sleep more soundly? Spindles - CNN (video)

Why do some sleep better than others? - CNN (video)

Susan Hendricks reports on a new study that finds heavy sleepers have different brain wave patterns than light sleepers.

- Sleep spindles produced by the thalamus.
- Sleep spindles block sound, the more sleep spindles a person generates, the more stable their sleep.

Read more: Why do some sleep better than others? - CNN (video)

Men who slept less than 6 hours were 4 times more likely to die of any cause during 14 year study - NBC News (video)

Three new studies link sleep deficits to major health problems.

- Men who slept less than 6 hours were 4 times more likely to die of any cause during 14 year study.
- when you don't get enough sleep there are changes in your hormones that control appetite.
- depression and anxiety more likely in young adults that sleep less than 8 hours a night, the risk increases for every hour lost.

Read more: Men who slept less than 6 hours were 4 times more likely to die of any cause during 14 year study...

Some researchers say the light from devices iPad and laptops may alter internal clocks and sleep cycles - CNN (article link)

So, for one month, whenever the sun set, he turned off all the gadgets and lights in his house -- from the bulb hidden in his refrigerator to his laptop computer.

Read more: Some researchers say the light from devices iPad and laptops may alter internal clocks and sleep...

8 Natural Remedies That May Help You Sleep - Health (article link)

- Try one of the following natural sleep remedies. "These are safer and have fewer side effects than OTC medications," says Jacob Teitelbaum, MD
- Magnesium and calcium, wild lettuce, hops, aromatherapy, melatonin, yoga, meditation, L-theanine, valerian

Read more: 8 Natural Remedies That May Help You Sleep - Health (article link)

Sleep deprivation; 1 sleepless night can hamper the body's ability to use insulin to process sugar - Reuters (article link)

Type 2 diabetes is caused by the body's inability to adequately use insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, to control glucose sugar produced from food. Sugar levels rise and can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and major arteries.
- Partial sleep restriction during a single night reduced some types of insulin sensitivity by 19 - 25%.
- "Our findings show a short night of sleep has more profound effects on metabolic regulation than previously appreciated,"
- "Our data indicate that insulin sensitivity is not fixed in healthy people, but depends on the duration of sleep in the preceding night,"

Read more: Sleep deprivation; 1 sleepless night can hamper the body's ability to use insulin to process sugar...

Sleepless nights can lead to serious health problems - CNN (video)

Snoring can cause serious health problems, including sleep apnea. We go 'Beyond The Surface' to learn more.
- sleep deprivation or sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

Read more: Sleepless nights can lead to serious health problems - CNN (video)

Sleep shortage takes its toll - NBC (video)

It seems easy enough: You're tired, you lay down, put your head on a pillow and sleep. But for many, it's not that simple.
- Bill Clinton says his heart trouble may be linked to lack of sleep.
- Increase stress hormones and alters insulin production.
- Increase risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Read more: Sleep shortage takes its toll - NBC (video)

'Poor sleep may lead to poor health' says expert - NBC (video)

Sleep expert, Dr Edward Suarez of Duke University, in his own words on the importance of sleep and the link between sleep deprivation and your health.
- Sleep deprivation causes inflammation, inflammation is implacated in both heart disease and diabeties.
- Sleep deprivation leads to weight gain.
- Poor sleep means less recovery and longer term can lead to poor health.

Read more: 'Poor sleep may lead to poor health' says expert - NBC (video)

Lack of sleep can lead to medical issues - MSNBC (video)

Not getting enough sleep? According to a number of recent surveys, you're not alone. D. Priyanka Yadav of the Somerset Medical Center and Carin Gorrell of Self magazine join TODAY's lester Holt to discuss the toll it takes on our bodies.

Read more: Lack of sleep can lead to medical issues - MSNBC (video)

Possible Link Between Sleep and Diabetes

Study shows that people deprived of deep sleep have poor blood sugar control.

Read more: Possible Link Between Sleep and Diabetes

The Rewards of Shut-Eye

Adequate sleep reduces stress. A midday nap can help deal with information overload.

Fact: The late stage of sleep—sometimes missed by early risers—can boost by 20% your acquisition of coordination crucial for playing a sport, a musical instrument, or any fine motor control.

Sleep strengthens the nerve circuits that underlie learning and memory…Sleep deprivation may be an important contributor to obesity. It also elevates the stress hormone cortisol.

Read more: The Rewards of Shut-Eye

Sleep or Suffer

At some point, nearly everyone struggles to sleep. Tips on how to get your snooze schedule back on track and on how to avoid sleepless nights.

Read more: Sleep or Suffer