Flu vaccine linked to an increase in sleep disorder
A UK study has strengthened evidence from Scandinavia that a vaccine used to prevent pandemic flu boosts the risk of sleep disorder among teens and children, doctors say.
Using the Pandemrix vaccine increased the risk of narcolepsy among people aged four to 18 by a factor of 14 compared to those who did not get the vaccine.
The risk in absolute terms was between one in 52,000 people and one in 57,000, but this figure may be an over-estimate, according to the study published by the British Medical Journal (BMJ).
The Truth About Thread Count
Remember when the only thing most people did when they went to sleep was to count sheep?
Well, these days, some are counting something else — thread count; the amount of threads per square inch in the fabric.
Macy’s personal shopper, Jennifer Horan, says her store sells all kinds of sheets. Their highest thread count is 900. “Look for your best thread count and a touch that feels really soft for you,” she said.
The Key to a Good Night’s Sleep
Experts say poor bedtime preparation is a common cause of sleep disorders.
Kinesiologist, Kathy Somers, says having a “wind down” before bed is important. That means no TV, computers or smartphones – no distractions to keep the brain’s synapses firing.
Caffeine can be a problem too. Experts recommend sleepers abstain from coffee for six hours before turning in.
Fresh New Bedding Ideas for Winter
Use these tips to refresh your bedding for winter.
-
Hotel bedding – make your bed with tight hospital corners, tuck a fleece blanket in over your loose sheet and cover everything with a neutral or white duvet stuffed with down bedding.
-
Modern bedding – choose a heavy blanket or sham that fits your mattress, with no excess fabric hanging over the edges. Choose sheets and covers in warm tones like cream, olive, dark teal and chocolate. Click Here To Read More
Hotel Beds Given Thumbs Down for Hygiene
A survey has found that most hotel guests opt to eat their room service food in bed, but that it is often the dirtiest part of the hotel room, where bacteria is left to thrive.
The research by Check Safety First focused on female business travellers and found that 80 per cent of them chose to eat while sitting on the bed.
Shockingly, they found that mattresses and doonas are rarely changed and can contain a host of harmful bacteria.
Good Design Decisions Can Improve Your Lifestyle
According to US interior designer, Barbara Miller, there are plenty of instances where simple, affordable design decisions can improve life for an entire household of people.
”Something as simple as the shape of the dining room table can impact how your family interacts,” Miller says. “A round table has been proven to be the most socially inviting configuration. People will sit there longer and they’ll talk more because they’re facing everyone — as long as it’s not more than 60 inches wide.”
5 Home Decor Trends that Dominated in 2012
2012 had its share of innovations adopted enthusiastically by expert designers. Here are 5 that were particularly popular.
-
Bare bulbs – bare bulb industrial fixtures were a unique way to introduce an urban angle to rustic interiors.
-
Vintage furnishings – remodelling old furniture with distressed wood finishes was also a popular trend in 2012.
-
Tangerine Tango – this was Pantone’s ‘Shade of the Year’; a fresh, vibrant and juicy reddish-orange colour. Designers in 2012 used it a lot in accents, wallpapers and tapestries. Click Here To Read More
How to Make Your Guest Room More Welcoming
Want to give your holiday house-guests a hotel-like experience? Here are some handy tips:
-
Place a reading lamp, alarm clock and carafe of water on a nightstand near the bed.
-
Leave a basket with travel-size soap, shampoo, toothbrush, and toothpaste in the room or the ensuite.
-
Place folded fresh towels in an easy-to-find place. Click Here To Read More
Presidential Sleeping Habits
President Obama is a self-described night owl and needs a White House operator to call him every morning when it’s time to get up.
And he’s not alone. A few former US presidents also had some surprising habits when their heads hit the pillow.
Weight Loss Can Improve Sleep
Weight loss can improve the quality of sleep when your head hits the pillow, according to a study by Johns Hopkins researchers.
The six-month study involved 77 people with Type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes; all of whom were overweight or obese.
They all lost about 15 pounds each during the study and their overall sleep health improved by about 20 per cent.