This week in sleep news:
Commuters use their extra time to sleep
The pandemic has led to massive changes in the way Americans work: 15% of full-time workers have shifted to complete remote work, while another 30% have moved to a hybrid schedule. There have been theories about how the time not spent commuting is spent.
Now, the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) has a better look at the actual use of that time, and it’s good news for our mental and physical well-being! Most people are using their time for leisure activities and sleeping. The ATUS reported that people of all ages saw an increase of about an hour in their time spent sleeping. While time spent on leisure activities also went up for all age groups, younger people spent more leisure time outside the home, such as attending social events and exercising, while older people chose to spend their leisure time at home preparing meals and doing household tasks.
Does menopause affect sleep quality?
A study presented at the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) annual meeting looked at the link between poor sleep and migraines during the menopausal transition. Researchers compared the effects of a history of migraines and sleep quality in premenopausal and perimenopausal women. What they found is that a history of migraines predicts sleep quality in premenopausal but not perimenopausal women and that healthcare professionals should consider menopause status when addressing poor sleep in women. Researchers say studying the link between poor sleep and migraines during the menopausal transition could help researchers develop treatments and preventative strategies to improve sleep and reduce migraines among perimenopausal women.
Brain cells responsible for sleep-wake shifts identified
A research team from the Center for Brain Research at the Medical University of Vienna has published a study in the journal Nature identifying a specific cell group in the brain responsible for shifts in the sleep-wake rhythm caused by psychostimulants. Researchers found that psychostimulants can cause an increase in alertness and activity, even during circadian periods of rest and sleep. Additionally, the study noted that people with irregular sleep-wake cycles, whether due to nocturnal activity or jet lag, often use psychostimulants to compensate for the circadian shifts and correct their sleep rhythms.
In fun sleep news...
Sleep can be challenging on long-haul flights. Now airline Lufthansa is looking to alleviate for the cramped space with its new on-board sleep setups. Whether you’re in economy or first class, Lufthansa has unveiled new accommodations to make your flight more comfortable. In Economy, the Sleeper’s Row allows you to transform a whole row of three or four seats into a cot-like flat bed during long-haul flights of 11 hours or more. For business class seats, enjoy a suite with 45-inch walls and no middle seat. In first class, experience spacious suites that offer ceiling-high walls that can be closed for privacy, a seat that’s almost a meter wide, a wide-screen TV, and a wardrobe.
In sleep-centric social media...
Taylor Swift has finally released an album for all of us who spend our nights wide awake, overthinking. Midnights is a collection of songs about 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout Swift’s life.
