FRIDAY, Aug. 8 (HealthDay News) -- People are groggier and think less clearly when woken up during their night-time sleep than during than an afternoon nap, a new study shows.

The findings, published in the August issue of the Journal of Biological Rhythms, have implications for anyone who needs to be alert upon awakening in the middle of the night, such as on-call physicians, emergency personnel and even parents.

(HealthDay News) -- If you have trouble falling or staying asleep, it's important to understand the reasons for your insomnia.

Here's a list of possible reasons for your sleepless nights, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* Discomfort or illness.
* Depression.
* Stress or anxiety.
* Drinking caffeine or alcohol, smoking, or taking certain medications or illicit drugs.
* An inappropriate sleep environment, including one that's too bright or too noisy.
* Related activities that affect your sleep, such as taking naps or going to bed too early.

FRIDAY, Aug. 1 (HealthDay News) -- The interrupted nighttime breathing of sleep apnea appears to increase the risk of dying, Australian researchers report.

Earlier studies have linked sleep apnea to increased risk for death. However, these studies were done in sleep centers rather than in the general community. This new study suggests that the risk is present among all people with obstructive sleep apnea.

TUESDAY, July 29 (HealthDay News) -- Aging hinders the consolidation of memories during sleep, a process that's crucial for the conversion of fresh memories into long-term ones, say University of Arizona researchers.

The researchers recorded activity in the hippocampus -- a brain region involved in learning and memory -- in 11 young and 11 old rats as they navigated mazes for food rewards. The rats' hippocampal activity was recorded again when they slept.

THURSDAY, July 24 (HealthDay News) -- The reason healthy adults sleep less in their 60s than they did in their 20s might simply be because people need less sleep as they age, new research suggests.

If true, the observation could mean that what many elderly people interpret as insomnia could be a completely normal reflection of an age-related shift in their internal clock.

A health education sleep study released in last months Sleep Journal says tai chi chih can help older adults receive a better night’s rest.

Nearly two-thirds of the study participants experienced a “significant improvement in sleep quality” from the lullaby-like, rhythmic movements of tai chi.

According to the Tai Chi Chih organization, it is not martial arts, but a group of 19 movements and one pose “focused on the development of an intrinsic energy called chi.”

Dr. Maoshing Ni talks with CEO/Founder of EmpowHer, Michelle King Robson about women’s wellness, and how he was inspired to help others through traditional Chinese medicine after a childhood injury. Dr. Maoshing Ni also answers listeners questions.

For the more than half of all Americans over age 59 who complain about not being able to fall asleep easily, the answer may rest with a 2,000 year old Chinese series of movements.

Researchers from the University of California at Los Angeles found that the 19 moves and one pose found in tai chi chih -- the Western version of the ancient philosophy that combines movements and poses to relieve stress and find spiritual fulfillment -- actually allowed study subjects to improve their sleep patterns.

By Randy Dotinga
EmpowHer's HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, June 12 (HealthDay News) -- A new study suggests that older men with abnormal sleeping patterns may face a higher risk of death.

The findings aren't conclusive, and they don't indicate why unusual sleep patterns could be unhealthy. Still, they're food for thought, especially for older men, said study author Misti Paudel.

THURSDAY, June 12 (HealthDay News) -- Compared to children in predominantly Asian countries, kids in predominantly Caucasian countries get more sleep overall, have earlier bedtimes, and are less likely to share a room with young children, a new study says.