What does your favorite sleeping position say about you?

When it comes to sleep, all men (and women) are not created equal

Researchers have found that, when it comes to sleep health, men and women are not created equal.

Studies show that sleep disorders do affect men and women differently. While men tend to suffer more from sleep apnea, women are more likely to report spending their nights tossing and turning.

Although researchers can't say for sure why women apparently have more trouble sleeping than men, they have noticed certain patterns. Particularly, women seem to have the most trouble falling asleep when hormone levels change - during pregnancy, early motherhood, menopause, and at certain times during the menstrual cycle.

Researchers know that the hormone progesterone causes sleepiness, and they also know that a woman's progesterone level rises during mid-month ovulation, and then drops dramatically at the onset of a menstrual period. This drop also is the time when many women report having sleep problems.

Learn more about the connection between sleep health and women's health, including ways pregnancy and menopause affect sleep.

In Defense of Mondays

You can't avoid it. You know it's coming - just like it has a thousand times before and will a thousand more.

But do Mondays get a bum rap?

We all know how it feels: You're sluggish. You're irritable. You can't focus...

Wait, don't we know those symptoms from somewhere else?

What if  "the Mondays" aren't a condition, but a symptom themselves?

Here's a hint: When was the last time you were out of bed and out the door by 7 a.m. - on a Sunday?

Who doesn't love staying up, and sleeping in a bit later on weekends? But, according to Meridian Health Director of Sleep Medicine Dr. Carol Ash, maintaining the same bedtime and wake-up time every day - yes, even weekends - helps keep your internal clock balanced and properly wound.

But if you're consistently throwing off your body's internal rhythm when weekends hit, don't be surprised to feel your chains grinding when it's time to shift back into high gear - a.k.a., Monday morning.

So, next time someone at the office complains about "the Mondays," smile and remind them that the world gave us YouTube, the Jackson 5 and Kermit the Frog all on a Monday.

And than invite them over for Sunday coffee - at 6 a.m. sharp.

Join Us in Freehold for a "Mall Walk" and Wellness Discussion Featuring Dr. Carol Ash!

Join us Wednesday, July 22 at Freehold Raceway Mall  for a relaxing morning mall walk, followed by a special discussion with Meridian's own authority on sleep health, Carol Ash, D.O.

Dr. Ash will talk about how making small, gradual adjustments to sleep and lifestyle habits can dramatically improve your long-term health. 

Register by calling  1-800-560-9990.  More information is available here.

For expert sleep advice, here's Dr. Ash on FOX News discussing some of the long-term effects lack of sleep can have on the overall health of adults and teenagers.

Mindfulness May Help Ease Sleep Problems for Seniors

Mindfulness meditation may help older adults get a better night's sleep, a study suggests.

Researchers found that among 49 older adults with sleep problems, those who learned mindfulness practices started sleeping better within six weeks, and on average, the effects of the mindfulness program were comparable to what's been seen in studies of sleep medications.

Read more on the findings here.

Sleep and Your Child

A good night's sleep is as important to your child as a hearty breakfast. Without enough shut-eye, children are more likely to struggle with their school studies, do poorly on the playing field, and suffer depression, studies show.

According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), children are getting less than the recommended amount of sleep over a 24-hour period.

This can make it tough for your child to solve problems and memorize lessons, which can lower grades and self-esteem. Sleep-starved kids are also more easily frustrated and fidgety. A child's sleep trouble affects the whole family. Parents who are up coaxing a child to bed are robbed of their own valuable sleep.

The best cure is a consistent bedtime schedule. Stick to a bedtime that permits this amount of nightly sleep:

• 11 to 13 hours for a 3- to 5-year-old child - Preschoolers often have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, the NSF says. Children this age also are more likely to have nightmares and sleep terrors, and to sleepwalk.

• 10 to 11 hours for a school-aged child - Schoolchildren spend time with TV, computers, and the Internet, all of which can erode time for sleep. This age group also may be drinking caffeinated beverages that can affect the ease of falling asleep at night. Watching TV just before bedtime may make it more difficult to fall asleep and may create resistance or anxiety about bedtime. Too little sleep can lead to mood swings, and behavioral and cognitive problems, the NSF says.

If the current bedtime for your child is too late, move it 15 minutes earlier each night, until you reach the desired bedtime. Tuck resisters back into their own beds, promptly and repeatedly, until they get the message that you expect them to get to sleep on their own.

Visit the Meridian Health Wellness Center for more sound sleeping advice.

Dr. Ash on Steve Harvey Show: Biggest Mistake Made by People Seeking Sound Sleep

What is the NUMBER ONE mistake made by people in their efforts to get a better night's sleep? On a recent visit to The Steve Harvey Show, Meridian Health Director of Sleep Medicine Dr. Carol Ash answers this question - and helps a woman who hasn't had a full night's rest in more than five years!