Study Finds No Link Between Sleep, Fatigue Level

by Sheela Philomena on? August 02, 2013 at 10:38 AM Research News There is little or no relation between how much sleep people get at night and how tired they feel, say researchers. "The length of sleep is not a good measurement to analyse whether we get enough sleep or not," Torbjoern Aakerstedt told AFP of the studies conducted at the Stress Research Institute of Stockholm University.
"It's genetically conditioned and dependent on age and health," he said.

Aakerstedt's team has conducted three different studies, one of which investigated the sleep patterns of nearly 6,000 individuals.

The research suggests that the number of hours slept is of much less importance in determining how a person functions throughout the day.

"If you feel fine and dynamic during the day, you've probably slept enough," said Aakerstedt.

The research, to be published later this year, found the average number of hours slept during a working week is six hours 55 minutes, with an extra hour's sleep during holidays.

The researcher said that 20-year-olds should sleep eight hours on average, whilst 60-year-olds require only six.

"But there is no general average," Aakerstedt added. "Twenty-year-olds can sleep even more, but still be tired during the day" as their brain is still developing.

Yet, although more sleep does not mean more energy, no one should sleep too little, as it affects one's health, he said.

Too little sleep can result in a weak immune system, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, weight gain, workplace incidents and traffic accidents.

Source-AFP

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Homicide Rates by Mentally Ill Falls to Lowest Level Thanks to Safer Patient Care and Better Treatment in England

But suicides among mental health patients increased with the current economic difficulties a likely factor.

The findings, reported in the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness (NCI) produced by The University of Manchester, suggest more needs to be done to help mental health patients with debts, housing and employment.

The research team says safety efforts need to focus on patients receiving home treatment where there has been a rise in suicide deaths in recent years. Combined with a fall in the number of inpatient suicides, there are now twice as many suicides under home treatment as in inpatient care.

The report, commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership on behalf of the NHS England, DHSSPS Northern Ireland, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Channel Islands, examined homicide and suicide figures for all four countries of the United Kingdom among mental health patients from 2001-2011 (figures for 2011 are provisional).

There were 33 homicides committed by mental health patients in England in 2010 -- the lowest figure since data collection began in 1997 following a peak in 2006. A similar fall was found for homicide by people with schizophrenia in England (22 in 2010) and for people with symptoms of mental illness at the time of offence (England) (36 in 2010)*.

Professor Louis Appleby, Director of the National Confidential Inquiry, said: "It is welcome news that patient homicides are falling and reflects well on the safety measures taken by mental health staff. These are early trends and the precise causes are unknown but they may reflect better care for "dual diagnosis" patients - those with both mental illness and alcohol or drug misuse. The introduction of new Community Treatment Orders may also have played a part."

Provisional figures for suicide showed 1,333 suicides in mental health patients in England in 2011 - up from 1175 in 2010. Patient suicide in Scotland also rose but similar increases in Wales and Northern Ireland were based on small numbers and needed to be treated with caution, researchers said.

Professor Appleby said: "The increase in suicide among mental health patients is in line with an increase in the general population and is mostly likely due to the current economic circumstances. Although these are only early indicators, it would suggest services should try to address the economic difficulties of patients who might be at risk of suicide. Ensuring patients receive advice on debts, housing and employment could make a difference, while improvements in home treatment should now become a priority for suicide prevention. Particular caution is needed with home treatment for patients who live alone or are reluctant to accept treatment."

Other findings in the report include:

Opiates are now the main substances taken by patients in fatal overdoses in all countries; Hanging remains the main method for patient suicides (England, Northern Ireland, Wales).

Source-Eurekalert

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Comforts of Modern Life Lower Tolerance Level

Earlier days, people's energies were focused on basic needs like having food to eat and a roof over one's head. Now, there seems to be no concern for all these basic necessities as they are met easily. Our level of comfort has gone up to such an extent that we are pampered to a point where the slightest discomfort can cause to break into a sweat and behave like kids.

Road rage, violence and display of anger for frivolous reasons are common sight these days. A good way to keep a check on anger is to constantly question ourselves if things that make us angry are really a survival issue? If it is not life and death, then it does not warrant anger.

Researchers said that anger is 'hard wired ' into our brain and sometimes when we get angry without any purpose it can go wrong and get us into a rage.

It will pay to stop short, adopt the 'counting till 10 technique' or walk away from the situation to exercise restraint when angry and calm down.

Source-Medindia

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