Credit: Anthony Militello/Seattle University Athletics Between classes, practices and cross-country flights, college athletes often live life on a tight schedule. Caroline Penner, an undergraduate researcher at Seattle University, presented her research at the 2026 American Physiology Summit. Her research tracked how in-season travel affected the sleep patterns and game performance of Division I women’s soccer … Continue reading Travel, Sleep Loss and Performance in College Women’s Soccer
Sleep
Why Sleep During Pregnancy is a Health Issue, Not a Luxury
Credit: iStock/AsiaVision Many people assume poor sleep during pregnancy and the weeks after giving birth is simply part of the experience. The physical changes of pregnancy—and the demands of caring for a newborn—can make rest feel out of reach. But research shows sleep does far more than fight fatigue. It plays a direct role in … Continue reading Why Sleep During Pregnancy is a Health Issue, Not a Luxury
Good Morning, Fall! How ‘Falling Back’ to Standard Time Affects Our Body Clock
Credit: iStock/simonapilolla Fall is here—a time for sweaters and scarves, warm beverages and changing leaves. Nights grow longer as the sun sets earlier, and in many parts of the U.S., we “fall back” from daylight saving to standard time to accommodate this shift. We may celebrate the feeling of getting to sleep in, or we … Continue reading Good Morning, Fall! How ‘Falling Back’ to Standard Time Affects Our Body Clock
Can’t Sleep? Turn On Some Tunes!
Credit: iStock/Motortion You have probably struggled with falling asleep at some point in your life. When you don’t sleep well, you may feel less happy or experience reduced cognitive speed, otherwise known as “brain fog.” Chronic sleep deficiency increases the risk for depression, high blood pressure and the development of various diseases. Having trouble falling … Continue reading Can’t Sleep? Turn On Some Tunes!
Why ‘Springing Forward’ Isn’t Good for Your Heart
Credit: iStock Ahh, spring is in the air again! The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming and warmer weather has finally arrived—at least in some parts of the country. However, likely everyone’s least favorite phrase associated with this time of year is: “spring forward!” That’s right, with springtime comes our annual ritual of turning … Continue reading Why ‘Springing Forward’ Isn’t Good for Your Heart
Tired after Thanksgiving Dinner? It’s Not Just the Turkey!
Credit: iStock Are you looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner? It can be a great opportunity to spend time with family or reconnect with friends while enjoying a delicious meal. But feeling bloated and exhausted after dinner could cause your excitement to be short-lived. Who knew eating could take that much out of you? The turkey, … Continue reading Tired after Thanksgiving Dinner? It’s Not Just the Turkey!
What Snoozing Seals Can Teach Us about Cardiovascular Health
Credit: Kaitlin Allen. Photo taken under NMFS permit #19108 Sleep apnea, which is thought to affect up to 1 in 4 adults, occurs when we briefly stop breathing while asleep. The brain senses the decrease in blood oxygen levels that occurs during the interruption and wakes us up so we’ll take a breath. Some of … Continue reading What Snoozing Seals Can Teach Us about Cardiovascular Health
COVID-19 Is Keeping Us Up at Night
Credit: iStock Most of us know how important a good night’s sleep is for our physical and mental health. This is especially true as we live through the COVID-19 pandemic, but for many sleep has become increasingly difficult. Three-quarters of U.K. residents reported changes in their sleep habits during the initial lockdown in March and … Continue reading COVID-19 Is Keeping Us Up at Night
Your Brain During Microsleep
Credit: iStock If you’ve ever forgotten your morning cup of coffee and noticed yourself dozing off in the middle of the day, you might have experienced microsleep, a brief but very deep episode of drowsiness. Microsleep and regular sleep affect our bodies in similar ways, including changing our brain activity and decreasing how much attention … Continue reading Your Brain During Microsleep
Sleeping on an Airplane: It’s All about Blood Flow
This week, the I Spy Physiology blog answers a reader question: Why is it hard to sleep upright on an airplane? Having trouble sleeping when traveling on an airplane or by train or car may not be just because of the change in air pressure or the motion of the vehicle. Your circulation—or lack of … Continue reading Sleeping on an Airplane: It’s All about Blood Flow