Smarter Sleeping 101

Archive for June, 2008

A new study has revealed that one in every four Americans suffers from insomnia, and women are the most affected.The study conducted with more than 9,000 adults showed that one in three people wakes up in the middle of the night at least three times a week due to stress.

Twenty-seven percent of women wake up every night, compared to 19 per cent of men following financial fears, family arguments, or problems at work.

“This is the first really good data we have showing the importance of nocturnal awakening in insomnia,” said Dr James Walsh, of St Lukes hospital, in St Louis, Missouri.

“It shows a strong overlap between the awakening and other sleep problems and it suggests that nocturnal awakening is a very under-appreciated aspect of insomnia,” he added.

This week’s Insomnia Story comes from the Islington Tribune.  Poor Marsha Soriano is kept up night after night living above a lively night club.  Unfortunately I have met too many people, especially here in New York, who have experienced the same issues.  They’ve tried sleeping in other rooms, turning up the TV or music, using earplugs, even yelling down at the club patrons below (probably the worst out of the ideas listed.)  Marsha decided to keep a journal of her noise problem and is now doing something about it.  Read the excerpt below:

“ A TEACHER has re­vealed how noise from an Islington bar has almost ruined her marriage.
Marsha Soriano has documented her sleepless nights in a noise diary, which will provide vital evidence when councillors review the Ladybird bar’s licence at the Town Hall on Monday.
Her notes, written in the middle of the night, describe how loud music from the Upper Street bar keeps her awake at the flat she shares with her husband Cesar. She has taken sleeping pills and spends part of the night on a sofa to escape the noise.
Bar owner Habib Eldebs maintains he has done everything he can to keep the noise down.
Ms Soriano said: “We’re moving out. We can’t take it any more. We want him to run a business and don’t care if he’s open till 4am, we just don’t want to hear it.”

Keep reading…