Posts by Peter Carey
Nightmares and night terrors – what’s the difference?
Children all have bad dreams from time to time, but how do you know if it’s a nightmare or a night terror? What are nightmares? Nightmares are vivid, frightening dreams that often wake you from sleep. They are most common in children, with up to half of all children experiencing them. Adults can…
Read MoreSleep and shift work: what you can do
If you’re a shift worker, you probably know first hand how shift work and sleep don’t go together. Here are our top tips on how to get the best sleep you can. What is shift work? Generally speaking, shift work is defined as any shift that falls outside the hours of 6am and…
Read MoreTop tips for sleeping when you’re sick
When you’re not well, sleep is one of the best things you can do. Unfortunately, sleeping when you’re sick isn’t as easy as it sounds. Here is our best advice on how to get quality sleep to help you recover. Sleep to recover Sleeping when you’re sick is one of the best things you…
Read MoreWhat is narcolepsy?
There are a number of chronic sleep disorders that can severely interfere with your life. Narcolepsy is one of them. What is narcolepsy? Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder that affects the brain’s ability to control sleep-wake cycles. Characteristics of this condition include overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sudden ‘attacks’ of sleep. People with…
Read MoreAre you making these sleep mistakes?
Want to get a great night’s sleep? Make sure you’re not making these sleep mistakes. Exercising close to bedtime While regular exercise does promote good sleep, exercising too close to bedtime can interfere with your sleep. This is because the immediate effects of exercise elevate stress levels, and cause an increase in body temperature…
Read MoreSmoking and sleep
We know that smoking is linked to many serious diseases including cancer and heart disease. But what about smoking and sleep? Tobacco smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your health, and research shows that it also impacts negatively on your sleep. Difficulty falling asleep People who smoke often…
Read MoreWhat is restless leg syndrome?
If you’ve ever experienced a powerful urge to move your legs at night, you may have restless leg syndrome What is restless leg syndrome? Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is also known as Willis-Ekbom disease. It’s a condition that causes an uncontrollable urge to move your legs and typically happens in the evening or…
Read MoreHow sleep changes as you age
The process of aging brings many changes, including differences to our sleep. Find out how your sleep needs change over your lifetime. The amount and quality of sleep changes as we get older. Here’s a quick summary on how your sleep needs change over time, and the differences you can expect as you…
Read MoreWhat is a circadian rhythm?
You may know circadian rhythms have something to do with sleep. But what are they, how do they impact sleep, and how can you reset yours? What is a circadian rhythm? Just like you have a daily routine, your body has one too. It’s called a circadian rhythm and it’s a 24-hour internal…
Read MoreThe latest in sleep research
There are many aspects of sleep that remain a mystery. However, researchers are discovering more all the time. Here is a quick summary of the latest sleep research. COVID-19 causing sleep issues A number of studies have been conducted around how COVID-19 has impacted sleep. One study by the University of Basel in…
Read More