The Insomnia Answer: A... Paul Glovinsky, Art Sp... Best Price: $1.45 Buy New $11.90 (as of 02:35 UTC - Details)

A cap that cools the brain could mean a better night’s sleep for insomniacs.

The cap pumps a liquid coolant round the front of the scalp and the forehead.

This chills the prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain thought to play a role in prompting deep sleep.

Tests show insomniacs have higher levels of activity in this part of the brain at night than those who have no trouble nodding off.

But cooling the brain seems to dampen this activity and allows it to switch off properly for a good night’s sleep.

The Insomnia Solution:... Michael Krugman MA GCFP Best Price: $1.46 Buy New $15.38 (as of 02:10 UTC - Details)

Eight volunteers wore the cap for an hour before bedtime and the first hour of sleep, after which researchers removed it.

Scans taken during the night showed wearing the cap caused a marked decline in brain metabolism, the rate at which cells in the frontal cortex process sugars and chemicals in the blood.

Six of the volunteers reported more refreshing sleep, fewer distracting thoughts at bedtime and waking up less in the night.

One in four people is affected by insomnia – most have ‘primary’ insomnia, an inability to fall asleep because of worries or stress.

Secondary insomnia, which is due to existing illness or a side-effect of prescription drugs, is less common.

We spend £20million a year on sleeping pills and other remedies. Many sufferers rely on drugs such as benzodiazepines, which act as tranquillisers, to help them.

In England alone, there are ten million prescriptions for sleeping pills every year.

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July 16, 2009

The Best of Pat Hagan

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