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Study says: Falling asleep, staying asleep growing more difficult for Americans each year

Sleep
© Photographee.eu - stock.adobe.com
Do you find yourself staring at your bedroom ceiling most nights? Most people don't think twice about the occasional sleepless night, but a new set of research finds that the ability to sleep peacefully throughout the night is becoming an increasingly rare skill in the United States.

Each year, more and more Americans are finding it difficult to fall asleep quickly and sleep soundly through the night, and even those who are able to get enough shut-eye often report poor overall sleep quality. According to the research team at Iowa State University, these changes are largely independent of sleep duration. In fact, problems falling and staying asleep were found to be most prevalent among people with generally healthy sleep length on most nights.

So, while many Americans may still technically be getting their recommended seven to eight hours of sleep per night, it may take upwards of an hour for them to initially fall asleep, and waking up multiple times throughout the night is common.

Comment: See also:


Life Preserver

The curious bidirectional link between gut health and sleep

insomnia
Sleep plays an integral role in your immune function, and one of the surprising mechanisms behind this link has to do with how sleep impacts your gut microbiome. Two recent studies shed light on this connection between sleep and your gut health.

The first, published in the December 2018 issue of Frontiers in Psychiatry,1 focused on the microbiome's role in insomnia and depression. As noted by the authors:
Numerous studies have suggested that the incidence of insomnia and depressive disorder are linked to biological rhythms, immune function, and nutrient metabolism, but the exact mechanism is not yet clear.

There is considerable evidence showing that the gut microbiome not only affects the digestive, metabolic, and immune functions of the host but also regulates host sleep and mental states through the microbiome-gut-brain axis.

Preliminary evidence indicates that microorganisms and circadian genes can interact with each other. The characteristics of the gastrointestinal microbiome and metabolism are related to the host's sleep and circadian rhythm.

Comment: See also:


Microscope 1

CDC raises alarm over surge of drug-resistant superbugs infecting 3 million Americans annually, killing 4 people every hour

Colonies of E. coli bacteria
© Reuters/CDC Handout (file photo)
Colonies of E. coli bacteria grown on an agar plate are seen in a microscopic image.
Resilient "superbug" pathogens are seeing a boom in the United States, with lethal infections on the rise even as health officials take "aggressive" steps to rein them in, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) said in a new report.

In its latest "Antibiotic Resistance Threats" assessment, the CDC found an alarming rise in drug-resilient infections, surging from 2 to nearly 3 million per year since its last report in 2013. Those infections now kill 35,000 people each year, adding 12,000 annual fatalities to the CDC's previous assessment.

"Germs continue to spread and develop new types of resistance, and progress may be undermined by some community-associated infections that are on the rise," the report says, adding that "more action is needed to address antibiotic resistance."

Comment: For a deeper understanding of germs and infections, read Paul W. Ewald's groundbreaking book, "Plague Time: The New Germ Theory of Disease".


Cow

Are there benefits to collagen supplements?

collagen powder
© Photo Illustration by The New York Times; Shutterstock
It will make your skin look dewy and fresh, your bones and nails strong, and your joints pain-free. These are the claims made by the countless manufacturers of collagen supplements that come in the form of powders, pills and creams. For that reason, it's no surprise that collagen has become a widely sought-after ingredient in the wellness and beauty communities. But collagen's efficacy is still pretty up in the air. Frustrated? Here's what we know.

What is collagen?

Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in the body. In fact, collagen is "the main structural protein that forms the connective tissue throughout our body, from skin to bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments," said Dr. Shari Marchbein, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York. It's no wonder that the bottled up version of this protein (usually made of animal collagen) is in high demand.

Comment: It's understandable that the author would have a skeptical take, given the fact that supplement companies tend to over-hype the benefits of their products. The fact of the matter is, when you're taking a raw material like collagen, you can't be sure the body is going to use it the way you intend. The amino acids in collagen are used for so many processes in the body, there's really no guarantee you're going to see it reflected in the skin. But it's still really good for you - it's a great source of glycine!

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Biohazard

Pneumonic plague diagnosed in two people in China

pneumonic plague
© AP
Yersinia pestis bacteria, the cause of plague.
Two people in China have been diagnosed with plague, the latest cases of a disease more commonly associated with historical catastrophe.

Plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and can arise in three forms - a lung infection, known as pneumonic plague; a blood infection, known as septicemic plague; and a form that affects the lymph nodes, called bubonic plague.

The latter form is perhaps the most famous, and was behind several pandemics including the Black Death of the late middle ages, which is estimated to have killed up to 60% of the European population.

The two new cases being treated at a hospital in Beijing are of the pneumonic form, which is even more serious than bubonic plague.

Comment: See also:


Brain

Air pollution nanoparticles linked to brain cancer for first time

air pollution
New research has linked air pollution nanoparticles to brain cancer for the first time.

The ultra-fine particles (UFPs) are produced by fuel burning, particularly in diesel vehicles, and higher exposures significantly increase people's chances of getting the deadly cancer. Previous work has shown that nanoparticles can get into the brain and that they can carry carcinogenic chemicals.

Brain cancers are rare, and the scientists have calculated that an increase in pollution exposure roughly equivalent to moving from a quiet city street to a busy one leads to one extra case of brain cancer for every 100,000 people exposed.

"Environmental risks like air pollution are not large in magnitude - their importance comes because everyone in the population is exposed," said Scott Weichenthal, at McGill University in Canada, who led the study. "So when you multiply these small risks by lots of people, all of sudden there can be lots of cases. In a large city, it could be a meaningful number, particularly given the fact that these tumours are often fatal."

The research analysed the medical records and pollution exposure of 1.9 million adult Canadians from 1991 to 2016. Such large studies provide strong evidence, though not a causal link. Weichenthal said the correlation seen between brain cancer and nanoparticles was "surprisingly consistent", but as this is the first study, it is important that other researchers replicate it.

The discovery of abundant toxic nanoparticles from air pollution in human brains was made in 2016. A comprehensive global review earlier in 2019 concluded that air pollution may be damaging every organ and virtually every cell in the human body.

Comment: Read also,


Alarm Clock

Understanding Your Circadian Rhythm and Body Clock

clock
You may imagine your body clock works to wake you up at the same time each day. True, many people can set their body clocks to wake at a specific time, with a bit of practice that is! However, there's a lot more to the body clock and circadian rhythm than that.

In fact, the body clock and circadian rhythm pretty much determine the quality of your sleep. That means that if your body clock is out of sync, you may suffer sleep disturbances. But there are ways to reset your circadian rhythm.

In this article, we take an in-depth look at the body clock and circadian rhythm, providing a definition and outlining their function and role. Furthermore, you'll find out about body clock irregularities and how to reset your circadian rhythm to get a better night's sleep. All in all, you'll get a detailed insight into all aspects of your body clock and circadian rhythm. Their impact on your overall health is significant, so read on and learn more!

Cow

Red meat 'most perfect food' for humans, closely followed by milk

steak dinner
Professor Robert Pickard, emeritus professor of neurobiology at Cardiff University, said the agricultural industry had been 'the butt of an enormous journalistic effort to sell copy by producing totally indefensible headlines' about red meat causing cancer.

Prof Pickard also hit out at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) report which claimed processed meats 'definitely' cause cancer and lean red meat 'probably' causes cancer.

Speaking at NFU Cymru's annual conference in Llandrindod Wells last week (November 7), he said: "There is not a single proven case of eating red meat or processed meat actually causing a cancer.

Comment: Only through the repeated brainwashing techniques of the mainstream media could people actually ignore what their body intuitively knows - red meat is good for you.

See also:


SOTT Logo Radio

Objective:Health: #36 - ITN - Aborted Babies in Vaccines | Childhood Obesity | Red Meat Studies

O:H header
It's time again for another of our 'In the News' (ITN) shows, where the Objective:Health hosts weigh in on some of the headlines showing up in our feeds in the world of health.

We cover a lot this week: A new study showing children who live closer to fast food joints are more likely to be obese (duh); genetic testing shows many vaccines contain aborted fetal cells; Tylenol taken by pregnant women may cause autism, ADHD or other developmental issues; chemicals in consumer products lead to kids with lower IQs; a not-in-the-least-bit shocking study finds previous studies showing red meat is bad for you were all really crappy studies; and finally, Scientific American, the mainstream of the mainstream science publications, actually publishes an article suggesting 5G may not be safe.

Join us for our hot, and not so hot, takes on the latest in health news.


And check us out on Brighteon!


For other health-related news and more, you can find us on:

♥Twitter: https://twitter.com/objecthealth
♥Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/objecthealth/

And you can check out all of our previous shows (pre YouTube) here.

Running Time: 01:02:55

Download: MP3 — 57.2 MB


Arrow Down

Virginia doctor allegedly tied women's fallopian tubes, performed hysterectomies without consent, federal investigators say

Doctor's office
© Google Map Street View
The office of Dr. Javaid Perwaiz in Chesapeake, Va.
Federal prosecutors have accused a Virginia doctor of performing surgeries on women -- such as hysterectomies and removing their fallopian tubes without their consent according to court documents.

Javaid Perwaiz, 69, faces several charges related to insurance fraud as a result of an investigation that began in September 2018 after the FBI received a tip from a hospital employee who suspected he was "performing unnecessary surgeries on unsuspecting patients," according to the criminal complaint, filed Friday in the Eastern District of Virginia.

The unidentified patients would advise hospital staff that they were there for their "annual clean outs" and were not aware of the procedures they were undergoing, the affidavit states. In addition, hospital staff "had a difficult time" keeping up with the doctor "as he ran from procedure to procedure," charging documents say.

Perwaiz has a practice in Chesapeake, where he lives, according to the court documents.

A preliminary review of Medicaid claims from his patients revealed that certain patients were subjected to repeated surgical procedures, with some occurring on an annual basis, the affidavit states. From January 2014 to August 2018, Perwaiz allegedly performed surgery on 40% of his Medicaid beneficiaries, which amounted to 510 patients. About 42% of those patients underwent two or more surgeries, according to the court documents.