All posts tagged: sleep

Think 8 hours is a good night’s sleep? Science says that number might actually be lower

Think 8 hours is a good night’s sleep? Science says that number might actually be lower

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore We’ve all heard the phrase “make sure to get eight hours of sleep” – but recent research shows that the optimal range of shut-eye could be lower than you might think. People who got between 6.4-7.8 hours of sleep a night were found to have better functioning immune systems, brains and hearts, researchers at the Columbia University Irvin Medical Center said in a recent study. The findings suggest that getting too little or too much sleep are hallmarks of poorer overall health. “Previous studies have found that sleep is largely linked to aging and the pathological burden of the brain. Our study goes further and shows that too little and too much sleep are associated with faster aging in nearly every organ,” Junhao Wen, an assistant professor of radiology at the school’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, explained in a …

Households in England urged to fill up hot water bottle on Tuesday | UK | News

Households in England urged to fill up hot water bottle on Tuesday | UK | News

Published by Sam Flores

A hot water bottle could help you get a better night’s sleep during the heatwave this weekend (Image: Getty) Households in England are being urged to fill up a hot water bottle this Tuesday as temperatures of up to a sweltering 34C are forecast. Bank Holiday Monday officially broke records for the hottest May day ever recorded in the UK, and on Tuesday the hot weather is set to continue to bake Britain, with England in particular facing the hottest conditions alongside Wales, while Scotland and Northern Ireland cool slightly. The Met Office is forecasting more baking hot weather for England on Tuesday with temperatures expected to climb above 33-34C again, especially in the South East of England and London, while the UKHSA’s Heat Health Alerts remain in place for all 9 regions of England. The Met Office’s forecast for Tuesday says: “Another sunny day across England and Wales as the heatwave continues, with a small chance of a few heavy, thundery showers. Fresher for Scotland and Northern Ireland with sunny spells. READ MORE: Households …

Best Memorial Day Mattress Deals: Helix, Saatva (2026)

Best Memorial Day Mattress Deals: Helix, Saatva (2026)

Published by skeptic

Memorial DaY brings discounts to the mattress models we test all year long, and the sales are going strong. As a seasoned deal hunter, I know that mattresses go on sale pretty often, but whenever someone asks me the best time to buy, I tell them to wait until Memorial Day or Black Friday and Cyber Monday. If you’ve been in the market for a new mattress, now’s the time to act. The WIRED Reviews team thoroughly tests the best mattresses long-term. We don’t conduct “nap tests” or base recommendations on first impressions. Our top picks are tried-and-true, and they’re on sale right now. We’ll also include some deals on bedding, pillows, mattress toppers, and other sleep accessories as we update this story through the weekend. Prices shown are for queen sizes. Feel free to check out our many other sleep recommendations, including the best pillows for neck pain, the best body pillows, and the best sunrise alarm cocks. You might also want to read our guide on how to choose a mattress. And finally, …

Is a wool mattress the key to better sleep? Five months in, I’m converted | Sleep

Is a wool mattress the key to better sleep? Five months in, I’m converted | Sleep

Published by Sam Flores

The first time I slept on a wool mattress was a revelation. As is so often the case with bed-based Damascene moments, this one happened on holiday. The wool and pocket-sprung mattress in our Lake District hotel room was cosy but breathable even in the height of summer, and it proved far too comfy to leap out of for early morning walks. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Back home, I soothed the post-holiday blues by seeking out wool mattresses to review. First, I tested the Millbrook Wool Luxury 4000, which is excellent but didn’t quite live up to that hallowed Cumbrian memory. Then came this Woolroom Standen Wool mattress, which did – and even nearly toppled the Otty Original Hybrid as best overall in our best mattresses roundup, where I called it “a masterpiece”. Woolroom’s mattress didn’t quite claim the top spot though, mainly because it costs more than many people earn in a month. But its impact on my sleep …

Signaller who ‘forgot’ about oncoming Manchester train ‘had just four-and-a-half hours sleep’ before 80mph horror crash

Signaller who ‘forgot’ about oncoming Manchester train ‘had just four-and-a-half hours sleep’ before 80mph horror crash

Published by Sam Flores

A rail signaller who “forgot” about an train travelling from Manchester to Cardiff before a horror crash left six people injured was exhausted after having just four-and-a-half hours’ sleep, according to a report. The shocking lapse came moments before a passenger train ploughed into a tractor trailer at a farm level crossing near Leominster, Herefordshire. Investigators found the signaller failed to keep track of the train before the smash which left six people injured. Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter The crash happened at Nordan Farm on May 22 last year as the 8.30am Manchester to Cardiff service slammed into a loaded agricultural trailer being hauled across the tracks. The train was travelling at around 80mph when it struck. The trailer became stuck on the front and was dragged for hundreds of metres before the train ground to a halt. The train was travelling at around 80mph when it struck Passengers were left shaken, with several suffering minor injuries, though no one on board or the tractor …

Epic dreaming is leaving people exhausted and distressed

Epic dreaming is leaving people exhausted and distressed

Published by skeptic

Imagine regularly waking up exhausted, not because you didn’t sleep, but because you seemingly spent the entire night immersed in incessant dreams. For people who experience such “epic dreaming”, the effects can be severe, often impacting their work and day-to-day lives. “These vivid experiences linger in my mind, drain my energy and create lasting fatigue,” said one such epic dreamer. This woman, identified as 38-year-old Madame R, is one of four epic dreamers who have been assessed at two centres in France. Though scientific descriptions of epic dreams date back more than 20 years, the four detailed case studies support the idea that it should be recognised as a distinct sleep disorder, according to the researchers, who included Pierre Geoffroy at Paris Cité University. During her assessment, Madame R said she has always experienced epic dreaming, but it worsened after the birth of her second child. The other case studies include Monsieur W., a 74-year-old man who said his intense, vivid dreams are “at times indistinguishable from reality”. Then there’s Monsieur D., a 58-year-old man …

The bamboo mattress I rely on for cool, comfortable sleep in a heatwave

The bamboo mattress I rely on for cool, comfortable sleep in a heatwave

Published by Sam Flores

The Panda London brand has built its reputation around bamboo-based sleep essentials – a natural material that is extremely soft, antibacterial and hypoallergenic. Bamboo is highly breathable, so you’ll keep cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The same technology that’s used in Panda London’s towels and bed linens is also used in the brand’s mattresses. So, when I opened up my new mattress last summer, I could barely wait for it to expand before jumping on top of it – knowing I’d have a fantastic night’s sleep. The hybrid mattress pro leans into a layered and performance driven design, combining pressure-relieving foam with a responsive spring base. Up to 1,500 pocket springs work independently to support your body, while multiple foam layers add additional cushioning. I tend to favour a softer mattress, while my partner prefers something firmer, and this strikes a sweet spot for both of us. It avoids that claustrophobic sinking sensation some memory foam mattresses have, and instead, you feel gently supported, almost like you’re resting on top rather than …

Struggle to sleep in heatwaves? Here are six simple changes to make now

Struggle to sleep in heatwaves? Here are six simple changes to make now

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore As summer approaches, the joy of longer days and warm evenings often gives way to a less welcome reality: the struggle for sleep. While daytime heat is embraced, rising temperatures become distinctly unappealing when night falls. If concerns about how the warmer weather might affect your rest this summer are weighing on you, you are certainly not alone. Dr David Garley, director at The Better Sleep Clinic, confirms this widespread issue. “During warm weather, it’s common for people to have problems with falling asleep at the beginning of the night,” he states. “Tossing and turning in bed and trying to manage your temperature is something that’s quite universally experienced.” He explains that high temperatures and increased humidity can disrupt the body’s natural cooling process, vital for falling asleep. (Alamy/PA) “When you move from the wake phase to the sleep phase of …

CPAP Insurance Rules Too Stringent, Deny Device Coverage To Sleep Apnea Patients Who Would Benefit

CPAP Insurance Rules Too Stringent, Deny Device Coverage To Sleep Apnea Patients Who Would Benefit

Published by Sam Flores

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterTHURSDAY, May 21, 2026 (HealthDay News) — It’s notoriously difficult for some sleep apnea patients to adapt to using a CPAP machine – but most will and should be given the chance before insurance companies cut off coverage for the devices, a new study says. Despite not meeting Medicare requirements that would have ended coverage, more than one-third of patients still use their CPAP machines enough to sleep better and become healthier, researchers reported Wednesday at the annual meeting of the American Thoracic Society in Orlando. “These findings challenge a long-standing assumption in clinical practice and policy,” said lead researcher Dr. Dennis Hwang, a sleep and pulmonary doctor at Kaiser Permanente Southern California in Yorba Linda. “While clinicians know some patients take time to adapt, the scale of continued use we observed in those that did not initially meet Medicare adherence was striking,” Hwang said in a news release. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machines deliver a steady stream of pressurized air through a mask to prevent a person’s airways from …