Two recent studies detailed in the latest issue of Science journal are providing more evidence that a good night's sleep can play an important role in cementing memories formed during the day. One new study has discovered a new region of the brain involved, along with the hippocampus, with creating memories of the day's activities during sleep. A second study suggests that melatonin, a hormone involved in regulating our circadian rhythm, acts to suppress the formation of new memories as bed time approaches. This could possibly function to give memories made early in the day a chance to be prepared for long-term storage. (Read more about A Sound Night's Sleep Creates Strong Memories)

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There is new hope for the millions of americans suffering from fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes muscle pain, stiffness and fatigue for unknown reasons. It affects between three and six percent of Americans, mainly women.

Treating the disorder using western medicine can be frustrating. This is why many are now turning to old, eastern medicine for an answer. (Read more about ACUPUNCTURE AND FIBROMYALGIA)

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A study from the National Institute of Mental Health has found that women who suffer from depression are more likely to enter menopause with an increased risk of bone fractures. Researchers report that 17% of women with depression had decreased bone mass in the femoral neck, compared to 2% of women who did not have depression. Additionally, low bone mass in the lumbar spine was found in 20% of depressed women, compared to 9% who were not depressed. The researchers theorized that women with depression have overactive immune systems that produce a chemical known as IL-6. This chemical is associated with bone loss as well as promoting inflammation. During adolescence, bone mass reaches its peak and begins to decline through the rest of life, thinning at a faster rate after a woman undergoes menopause. (Read more about Women With Depression At Risk For Osteoporosis)

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The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association have released a set of guidelines that promote adults ages 18 to 65 to exercise a minimum of five days per week to prevent disease. The guidelines recommend moderate intensity aerobic physical activity, such as brisk walking, for 30 minutes five days a week or vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, like jogging, for 20 minutes three days per week. Also emphasized is strength training a minimum of two non-consecutive days per week and includes 8 to 10 exercises repeated 8 to 12 times. (Read more about Guidelines for a Healthier Heart)

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Talking on your cell phone before going to bed could interfere with getting a good night's sleep, a recent study suggests. Carried out by Sweden's Karolinska Institute and Wayne State University in the US, the study suggests radiation from the handset can cause insomnia, headaches, and confusion. Scientists studied 35 men and 36 women between the ages of 18 and 45 who were exposed to radiation equivalent to that received when using a mobile phone. Others were placed in the same conditions, but given only false exposure. Those exposed to radiation took longer to enter the first of the deeper stages of sleep, and spent less time in the deepest one. (Read more about Cell Phones Linked to Insomnia and Headaches)

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A study published in the latest issue of the journal SLEEP has found that either a decrease or an increase in sleep duration is associated with an elevated risk of mortality. The study conducted by the University College London Medical School followed over 10,000 participants between 35 and 55 years of age. The individual screenings were conducted between 1985 and 1988 and involved a clinical examination and self-administered questionnaire. The results found that a decrease in sleep duration among participants sleeping six, seven, or eight hours at baseline was associated with a 10 percent risk of cardiovascular mortality. However, an increase in sleep duration among those who were already sleeping seven or eight hours was associated with a 10 percent excess risk of non-cardiovascular mortality. (Read more about Sleeping Seven or Eight Hours Per Night is Best for Health)

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A type of antioxidant found in pomegranates may contribute to prostate health, according to a study by researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles. Antioxidants known as ellagitannins and their metabolites accumulated in the prostates of mice in this laboratory study. The researchers then grafted prostate cancer cells onto mice whose immune systems had been deliberately hampered. One group of mice was then treated with ellagatannins and their metabolites. The treated mice were found to have significantly less tumor growth than mice in the control group. (Read more about Pomegranates Reduce Prostate Cancer)

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The current generation of anti-depressant drugs have little benefit for most patients, according to new research from the University of Hull. The researchers accept that many people do feel the effects of the drugs, but they argue that it could be a placebo effect. People feel better only because they are taking medication they feel will help them. Researchers focused on drugs which work by increasing levels of the mood controlling chemical serotonin in the brain. These included Prozac, Seroxat, along with a similar drug called Efexor - all common prescriptions. (Read more about Anti-Depressants Not Much Better Than Placebo)

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The human body uses electrical impulses generated in the brain to facilitate intercellular communication. This is only possible because our bodies are composed mainly of water with a high mineral content, making it highly electrically conductive. With so much information being passed through our body, it's not surprising that electrical exposure from external sources in our sleeping areas can disrupt some of its functions. Some people develop symptoms when they experience long-term exposure to levels of electricity, such as: headaches, hyperactivity, nightmares, depression, fatigue, eyestrain, and muscle cramps. (Read more about Five Steps To A Healthy Sleeping Environment)

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For many, stress is just a normal part of a busy work schedule. Even though stress is becoming routine, it is self destructive in numerous ways. Studies reveal that stress causes deterioration in everything from your heart to your gums, and can make you more susceptible to everything from a common cold to cancer. One of the main culprits in the stress-illness connection is the hormone cortisol - though it plays a necessary role in helping us cope with acute or short-term threats. When an animal perceives danger, the body triggers a chain reaction of signals to release various hormones, like epinephrine (adrenaline), nor-epinephrine, and cortisol, from the adrenal glands. These hormones boost heart rate, increase respiration and increase the availability of glucose in the blood, thus enabling the "fight or flight" response. Because this response requires a great deal of energy, cortisol tells other taxing physical processes like digestion, reproduction, physical growth, and the immune system - to slow down or shut down altogether. (Read more about Understanding Stress)

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