Several nights of less than 6 hours of sleep per night can impair mental performance dramatically!               www.reuters.com/newsArticle

CPAP Reduces Heartburn (GERD) by Half!
A device that helps people who have obstructive sleep apnea may also help people who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD). Doctors at Duke University Medical Center and the University of South Alabama have found that the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) also alleviates symptoms of nighttime GERD in many patients suffering from both disorders by 48%. "This is the first long-term, prospective study of the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux, and specifically the efficacy of a proven sleep apnea treatment in reducing reflux symptoms," said John O'Connor, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology at Duke University Medical Center and senior author of the study, which was published in The Archives of Internal Medicine . 

Gain Sleep, Lose Weight!                                                                                                            Try sleeping those pounds off.  This advice may sound like it comes from a bad infomercial, but recent research suggests chronic sleep deprivation (averaging less than 7 hrs. sleep) can affect the body's metabolism, which in turn, directly affects your ability to shed those extra pounds.  Studies have shown that if people get less sleep than they should, it affects various components of their metabolism and can affect appetite and therefore increased weight.  Blood glucose tends to be higher, insulin levels lower and cortisol levels higher after sleep deprivation.  Lack of sleep has a harmful effect on carbohydrate metabolism and endocrine function.  Maintaining enough quality sleep goes together with good weight management according to Dr Michael Thorpy in HealthScout News.