Sleep Drunkenness, the Freshman 15 and Other News of the Week

The content and information below is republished with permission from the Cleveland Clinic.

Here is this week’s round-up of stories from around the Web featuring Cleveland Clinic experts that we know you won’t want to miss.

Dazed and confused

Have you ever woken up disoriented, trying to figure out where you are? You may have been sleep drunk – having problems waking up, and often feeling confused. In a new study, researchers interviewed more than 19,000 people age 18 and older and found 15 percent had experienced sleep drunkenness within the last year. The researchers found 84 percent of sleep drunk episodes were associated with either mental disorders or drugs. The study also found too much or not enough sleep and bipolar and panic disorders played a role as well. Sleep Drunkenness (WTVQ-TV).

See related story on Health Hub: Have You Ever Been Sleep Drunk? New Study Finds It’s Quite Common

Photo courtesy of clevelandclinic.org

Early gains

College offers many temptations. For the first time, you’re on your own and free to eat what you want, when you want it. You can heap up the helpings in the dining hall, eat dinners of onion rings and cheesecake, and indulge in sugary and salty snacks while studying. No wonder freshmen often pack on extra pounds, especially if they don’t  get as much exercise as they did in high school. Here’s some advice on how to hang on to your high school weight. Avoiding the “Freshman 15” (WRGT-TV).

See related story on Health Hub: Tips to Avoid the ‘Freshman 15’ (Video)

Kids and contacts

Is your son or daughter begging to get contact lenses? The Food and Drug Administration has a warning for you: Kids and contact lenses are not always the best fit. In a new advisory, the FDA wants parents to know that age is not the only factor to consider. Parents need to know whether their children can handle the responsibility that wearing contacts entails. The FDA cites a 2010 study in the journal Pediatrics that looked at the number of children taken to the emergency room each year for complications related to medical devices.Results showed that about 25 percent of the injuries were related to contact lenses.The most typical problems are infections and eye abrasions, which are often caused by a lack of hygiene. Kids and Contact Lenses (WTVQ-TV).

See related story on Health Hub: Do’s and Don’ts for Contact Lens Wearers

Controlling pain

A Chinese study has found that the ancient practice of moxibustion is an effective way to control arthritis pain in the knee. The traditional Chinese medicine technique involves burning herbs and applying the resulting heat to specific points in the body. Patients who underwent the treatment reported lessened pain, improved mobility and no side effects. The mechanism of moxibustion therapy is still not well understood, but is thought to be similar to that of acupuncture therapy. Controlling arthritis pain with an ancient treatment (Foxnews.com).

See related story on Health Hub: Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of Arthritis Myths

Something new

Do you tend to buy the same old, same old when you shop at the farmer’s market? Now is a great time to experiment. With summer winding down, we are heading into the peak of the farmer’s market season. There, you can find every color of the rainbow – at least for a few more weeks. Here are a few of the less-than-common foods you might want to try. Three farmers’ market superfoods that pack a vitamin punch(nationalpost.com).

See related story on Health Hub: 66 Days of Summer Eats

–News Wire Team, health.clevelandclinic.org