Sleepiness, Strokes, Parkinson's

My mom spent a lot of time sleeping when she was in the nursing home. Thankfully, it was mostly boredom and that hasn't been a problem since she has been home.

New research from the Northern Manhatten study indicates that significant involuntary dozing is correlated with 4.5 times more strokes.

And a study published in Neurology in 2005 linked daytime sleepinesss and subsequent development of Parkinson's disease (men with daytime sleepiness were more than three times more likely to develop Parkinson's).

The difference between the healthy versions of sleep (choosing to curl up with a cat and nap) and the unhealthy versions (can't stay awake during a show that one wants to watch) is often vascular health.

If you or a family member involuntarily falls asleep during the day on a regular basis, it's an important piece of information to share with your doctor.