Health
The top 5 worries — and 5 worst sleep habits — that are keeping Americans up at night
One in five polled Americans say they “rarely or never” wake up feeling well-rested — and a new survey has identified the factors keeping sleep at bay.
Stress in general was labeled as the biggest culprit, negatively impacting 74% of Americans’ sleep routines, according to the survey by U.S. News & World Report.
“More specifically, we gathered data on the bedtime worries keeping Americans awake at night,” Julia Forbes, sleep editor at U.S. News 360 Reviews, told Fox News Digital.
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Based on the survey of 1,200 American adults, these were the biggest concerns that kept Americans from drifting off in 2023.
One in five polled Americans say they “rarely or never” wake up feeling well-rested — and a new survey has identified the factors keeping sleep at bay. (iStock)
Top 5 worries at bedtime
1. Inflation
2. COVID-19
3. Gun violence in America
4. Climate change
5. 2024 Presidential election
The 2023 list of worries was almost identical to 2022, with the Russia-Ukraine war taking the last spot.
The cost of living woes are not surprising, according to Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist in Manhattan and Washington, D.C., and author of the book “Be Fearless: Change Your Life in 28 Days.”
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“This is often top of mind for people, including many of my patients,” Alpert, who was not involved in the survey, told Fox News Digital.
“As the prices of goods and services continue to increase, so do people’s worries about making ends meet.”
Stress in general was labeled as the biggest culprit, negatively impacting 74% of Americans’ sleep routines. (iStock)
The psychotherapist also commented on climate change making the list.
“People who worry about climate, some might argue, don’t have more pressing concerns, such as how to pay their bills or if their child might be involved in a school shooting,” Alpert said.
“As the prices of goods and services continue to increase, so do people’s worries about making ends meet.”
“My guess is that the climate change worriers might inhabit more blue than red states, and politics is at play here.”
Dr. Chris Mosunic, chief clinical officer at Calm in San Francisco, said it’s “no surprise” that the election is one of the top worries keeping Americans up at night.
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“When it comes to getting a good night’s rest, especially in moments of heightened anxiety like the election, practicing healthy habits is crucial to winding down at night,” he told Fox News Digital.
Alpert agreed that the election continues to be a source of stress for his patients, as they have a difficult time shutting it off at night.
Going to bed at inconsistent times was the top worst sleep habit impacting people’s slumber, the survey found. (iStock)
In addition to racing thoughts, certain habits and activities can make it more difficult to get the optimal quality and quantity of sleep.
Top 5 worst sleep habits
1. Going to bed at different times
2. Viewing screens in bed
3. Eating too much before bed
4. Falling asleep with the TV on
5. Pulling all-nighters
Dr. Chris Winter, a neurologist and sleep medicine specialist with Mattress Firm in Houston, Texas, said that inconsistent schedules has a rightful spot at the top of the list.
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“More and more research is coming out that shows even when sleep quality is sound and sleep amounts are adequate, inconsistency of sleep timing can lead to a large range of negative health consequences — heart disease, weight gain, cognitive decline and even cancer,” Winter, who also was not involved in the survey, told Fox News Digital.
Nearly 90% of adults and 75% of children keep at least one electronic device in their bedrooms, according to a poll taken by the National Sleep Foundation. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
The screen time issue is easily solved, he noted — “just leave your phone in the kitchen.”
Nearly 90% of adults and 75% of children keep at least one electronic device in their bedrooms, according to a poll taken by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF).
“Inconsistency of sleep timing can lead to a large range of negative health consequences.”
Staying up all night deserves to be higher on the list, according to Winter.
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“It’s a terrible situation to be in from a sleep, health and safety perspective,” he said.
The general recommendation is for adults between 18 and 64 years of age to get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night, according to the NSF.
Health
Katie Couric couldn’t remember the year or the president during frightening brain episode
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Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27.
In a post on Substack titled “The Day I’ll Never Remember,” she detailed a sudden episode that left her unable to recall the current month, year and president.
“I thought it was 2024. And I believed Joe Biden was president,” she wrote.
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The event occurred while Couric was attending the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado, during which she participated in two public panels — one on AI and one on journalism — both of which she cannot remember at all.
“I have no idea what we talked about, or of what occurred when the panels ended,” she said.
Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27. (Getty Images)
John Molner — Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels — also shared his account.
After the event, someone told Molner that Katie wasn’t feeling well. When he reached her, an EMT and a doctor were tending to her. “I could tell something was off,” he wrote. “It could have been altitude sickness, but Katie was definitely not all there.”
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At the hospital, when Couric struggled to recall the year, the president and her grandchildren’s names, doctors began checking for a stroke.
An MRI revealed no signs of stroke, which was a relief, but “Katie’s ‘fog’ became a lot more apparent,” Molner wrote.
John Molner, Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels, also shared his account. (Getty Images)
“She repeatedly asked me the same questions: ‘What was I doing before we got to the hospital?’ ‘Why am I at the hospital?’”
Couric was ultimately diagnosed with transient global amnesia, a sudden, temporary episode of memory loss that prevents a person from forming new memories and may also erase some recent memories, according to Mayo Clinic.
“The cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself.”
It is not caused by a stroke, seizure or head injury, and it usually resolves completely within 24 hours.
“[It’s] just a very weird neural episode that’s pretty uncommon and, at least in most cases, is a ‘one and done’ experience,” Molner said.
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Couric said she finally began feeling “like herself” again around 9 p.m. and went to sleep at 2 a.m.
As TGA leaves a “permanent gap in memory” for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a “big, black hole.”
As TGA leaves a “permanent gap in memory” for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a “big, black hole.” (Getty Images)
Data shows that approximately three to eight people per 100,000 will have an episode of transient global amnesia, with people 50 years of age and older at higher risk.
The specific cause of TGA is not known, but some experts believe it stems from a “temporary dysfunction in the brain’s hippocampus — the area responsible for creating new memories,” Couric shared.
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“Doctors believe this is driven by brief interruptions in blood or oxygen flow, or microscopic spasm in the blood vessels.”
Episodes could potentially be triggered by intense physical exertion, emotional distress, extreme temperature changes or migraines, experts say.
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Approximately 15% of patients will have a recurrence 10 years later.
“Why did this happen to me? Was the altitude an issue? Was I dehydrated? Tired? Stressed? The literature doesn’t seem to indicate that these are contributing factors, but the cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself,” Couric wrote.
Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise. (iStock)
“All I know is that those hours will be forever lost. Someone described it as my brain failing to hit the ‘record button.’”
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“While this was a freaky occurrence, it could have been much more serious. So ultimately, I’m relieved — even though several hours of a Saturday in June will always be missing for me.”
Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise.
Health
One walking habit could signal a healthier brain after 80, scientists say
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Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers.
That’s according to a recent study led by Stony Brook Medicine in New York, which evaluated the cognitive function of 4,000 adults 80 and over who participated in multiple aging and longevity studies over several years.
Among this group, 6% to 10% were classified as super movers, which means they walk at a much faster pace than others of the same age and gender — at speeds comparable to people three decades younger.
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The super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed.
The findings were published in the journal Neurology on June 16.
Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers. (iStock)
“The study reinforces that mobility and brain health are closely connected,” lead study author Dr. Joe Verghese, MD, neurologist at Stony Brook Medicine, told Fox News Digital. “This suggests that preserving mobility may be an important marker of healthy brain aging and resilience.”
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The most intriguing finding, according to Verghese, was that super movers maintained cognitive function despite having similar dementia-related brain changes as their peers.
In postmortem brain analysis, there was no difference in dementia-related pathologies between the super movers and the slower walkers, the study stated.
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“This suggests they may possess resilience mechanisms that help preserve brain function even in the presence of age-related changes,” he said. “Understanding these resilience factors could lead to new strategies for promoting healthy brain aging.”
As the study was observational, there were some limitations, and it does not prove that walking faster prevents dementia, the researchers noted.
Super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed. (iStock)
“Other factors, such as cardiovascular health, physical fitness or genetics, may also contribute to both faster walking and better cognitive outcomes,” Verghese said.
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This study adds to growing evidence that what’s good for the heart and muscles also benefits the brain, he noted, adding that “staying physically active remains one of the most effective, evidence-based ways to support healthy aging.”
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment.”
“The broader message is that physical activity is important at any age,” Verghese said. “Walking is an easy step-up point because you don’t need any special equipment. You can do it inside or outdoors, and you can do it on a regular basis. You can walk with a dog, you can walk with a friend.”
Any activity is beneficial if it’s done regularly and with the right intensity, he added.
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Rather than just trying to walk faster, the neurologist recommends that seniors focus on maintaining mobility through regular physical activity, strength training, balance exercises and good cardiovascular health.
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment,” Verghese noted.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking. (iStock)
This can be achieved by walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or about 20 to 25 minutes most days. Another option is to engage in shorter sessions that add up over the day.
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“You have to do it within your health limitations and medical conditions,” Verghese advised. “So if there are any medical concerns, I would get your physician to clear you before starting exercise.” The good thing about walking, he added, is that you can start at a slow pace and then gradually build up to a brisker pace.
“And then adding on strength and balance training, whatever age you are, I think is also important.”
Health
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