Stress Seems to Block Deep Sleep
 (HealthDayNews, 2/23/04)

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh monitored the heart rates of 59 students while they slept. They created stress in half the subjects by telling them that they would have to give a speech on a topic that would not be disclosed to them until they awoke. The stressed students experienced fewer episodes of deep sleep, had more sleep disruptions and exhibited changes in their heart rate patterns during both the dreaming (REM) and non-dreaming phases of sleep. These findings suggest that daytime stress may negatively impact the rhythm of sleep and induce nervous system disruptions similar to those experienced by insomniacs