Sleep Deprivation Detrimental to Reason

Lack of sleep hinders coping skills, logical reasoning: study

Scientists have confirmed what every newborn-cradling, sleep-deprived parent knows: that lack of sleep is connected to an inability to cope with normal emotional challenges.

They also theorize that sleep deprivation is linked to psychiatric ailments such as anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder.

Scientists at the University of California at Berkeley and Harvard Medical School have found that the amygdala, the region of the brain that alerts the body to protect itself in times of danger, goes into overdrive on no sleep. This in turn shuts down the prefrontal cortex, which commands logical reasoning, and thus prevents the release of chemicals needed to calm down the fight-or-flight reflex.

The findings are published Oct. 22 in the journal Current Biology.

"It's almost as though, without sleep, the brain had reverted back to more primitive patterns of activity, in that it was unable to put emotional experiences into context and produce controlled, appropriate responses," said Matthew Walker, director of UC Berkeley's Sleep and Neuroimaging Laboratory and senior author of the study, in a release.

The researchers studied 26 healthy participants aged 18 to 30, splitting them into two groups with equal numbers of males and females.

The sleep-deprived group stayed awake during Day 1, Night 1 and Day 2, while the sleep-control group stayed awake both days and slept normally during the night.

The participants' brains were scanned with magnetic resonance imaging while they were exposed to images that ranged from neutral to very negative. The brain responses of the participants were measured.

Researchers found that the amygdala became hyperactive in response to negative visual stimuli such as mutilated bodies, children with tumors and other gory images in study participants who stayed awake for 35 hours straight.

Brain scans of those who got a full night's sleep in their own beds showed normal activity in the amygdala.

"The emotional centres of the brain were over 60 per cent more reactive under conditions of sleep deprivation than in subjects who had obtained a normal night of sleep," Walker said.

The researchers feel that the findings point to a connection between sleep disruption and mood disorders, including bipolar disorder.
Source: CBC.ca

Addictive Sleep Aid Warning

Consumers who use Optimum Health Care SleePlus TCM or BYL SleePlus are being warned that the sleep supplements could be addictive when used continually over a period of a few months, Health Canada says.

The federal agency said in an advisory issued Thursday that the sleep aids, which have not been authorized for sale in Canada, contain the drug clonazepam. Patients should only take products containing clonazepam under the supervision of a health-care professional.

Optimum Health Care SleePlus TCM products were sold through the Vancouver clinic Optimum Health Care. BYL Pharmaceuticals Ltd. distributed its BYL SleePlus products to other retailers. Both packages were labelled with Chinese script.

Consumers should talk to a health-care professional before they discontinue use of the sleep aids and return the products to the retailer.

Side-effects of the drug include dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, depression, loss of memory and hallucinations.

No adverse reactions linked to the use of the products have been reported in Canada.

Consumers with questions can call Health Canada at (613) 957-2991, or toll free at 1-866-225-0709.

Source: CBC.ca

Sleeping Aid Recall

Potentially habit-forming herbal sleep aid recalled

Health Canada issued an advisory Friday warning consumers against taking an herbal sleep aid because it could be habit-forming.

The federal agency says Sleepees contains the drug estazolam, which is not declared on its label. The supplement has not been authorized for sale in Canada.

The distributor, Vancouver-based Our World Network Inc., has stopped selling the herbal sleep aid and is recalling the following Sleepees product lots: B39054006, B39069004, B39035001, B38883003, B38893003, OWN 961, OWN-042606, OWN 980, OWN 913.

Estazolam, which should only be taken when prescribed by a health-care practitioner, can be potentially addictive when taken for as little as a few months.

"Consumers who may still have this product in their homes are advised to consult with a health-care professional before they stop taking the capsules, because of the risk of withdrawal symptoms," Health Canada said in a release.

Side-effects include depression, hallucinations

Side-effects linked with the use of estazolam may include dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, depression, loss of memory and hallucinations.

No adverse reactions associated with the use of Sleepees have been reported in Canada.

Consumers should return the product to the place of purchase. For more information, people can call Health Canada's public enquiries line at at (613) 957-2991, or toll-free at 1-866-225-0709.

Source: CBC.ca