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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Hitting the Snooze Button

Hitting the Snooze Button

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In a two-part study published in the Journal of Sleep Research, scientists surveyed 1,732 individuals and found that 69 percent use the snooze feature on their morning alarm, and of those people, 60 percent usually or always fall asleep between alarms. Snoozing is more common among younger people and night owls. For those using this feature, drowsiness and shorter sleep is more common. 

The study also sought to determine the effects of snoozing on 31 habitual snoozers. The first morning, the participants repeatedly hit the button to gain 30 extra minutes, and on the second morning, the participants got up on the first alarm. The researchers reported that 30 minutes of snoozing either improved or did not affect performance on cognitive tests administered directly upon rising, as compared to an abrupt awakening. There were no clear effects from snoozing on cortisol awakening response, morning sleepiness, mood or overnight sleep.

In-Print National Content Global and Health Briefs Health Brief December 2023
Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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