Women need more sleep than men
A new study has justified women’s usually grumpy behaviour in the mornings, suggesting that females need more sleep than men and odds are, they don’t get enough. Researchers at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, found that women undergo a lot of stress, both mentally and physically, during the day and skimping on sleep only makes it worse. Sleep-deprived women are more at risk of developing heart disease, depression, psychological problems, and strokes, and have higher inflammation markers, which are linked to pain, the study also found. Dr Michael Breus said that the inflammation markers indicate that women can literally be in more pain when they wake up than men.
Obesity and rising pregnancy deaths
According to Associate Professor Rebecca Kimble, data from the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital shows a rising trend in overweight or obese pregnant women. The analytical data suggested that between 2008 and 2012, a quarter of pregnant women at the hospital were overweight and another 20 percent were obese. Prof Kimble said it came as little surprise that these increasing weights have resulted in rises in the number of anaesthetic risks, pre-term delivery rates, post-operative complications and co-morbidities like hypertension and diabetes. The researcher revealed that the risks of being overweight or obese during pregnancy don’t only relate to mothers but also contribute to a rise in the rates of birth defects, stillbirths and late foetal deaths.
Chewing gum main cause of headaches
Teenagers who suffer from migraines and tension headaches have been told they can help themselves – by giving up chewing gum. Headaches are common in childhood and become more common and frequent during adolescence, particularly among girls. Typical triggers are stress, tiredness, lack of sleep, heat, video games, noise, sunlight, smoking, missed meals, and menstruation. But until now there has been little medical research on the relationship between gum chewing and headaches. Scientists at the Tel Aviv University-affiliated Meir Medical Centre, in Israel, found that 87 per cent of teens who give up the habit experienced significant relief. They believe the finding could allow doctors to cure thousands of patients of migraines and tension headaches without the need for additional tests or medication.