The
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics is pleased to announce Karen
Matthews as the renowned guest speaker for this semester’s Science Inspires Series.
Matthews will present the talk “Getting a Good Night’s Sleep: Is It Important For Cardiovascular
Health?” on November 13 at 3:30 p.m. in Eberly Auditorium. Please join us for a public reception in Eberly Atrium following the
talk.
Matthews is a distinguished professor of psychiatry and
professor of epidemiology and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. Her
research revolves around the relationship between personality and physical
condition, particularly in terms of cardiovascular health. She has also
researched the effects of developmental stages and socioeconomic conditions on
physical health.
In
addition, her research has been recognized by awards from the American Heart
Association, APA Health Psychology and Pediatric Psychology divisions, Society
of Behavioral Medicine, North American Menopause Society, and the American
Psychosomatic Society.
The abstract for her talk is included below:
Getting a Good Night’s Sleep: Is It Important For Cardiovascular
Health?
Sleep is
multidimensional and is characterized by sleep duration, continuity, perceived
quality, daytime sleepiness, and morning/evening types. It is well recognized that good sleep is
important for emotional regulation, learning, and performance. Recent evidence suggests that good sleep also
may be linked to cardiometabolic health.
In this presentation, we will begin with the basics: define sleep, explain
its measurement, and review the prevalence of sleep problems. Then we will consider epidemiological
findings showing associations between sleep and cardiovascular events and
diabetes; and highlight evidence based on several of our studies regarding the
relationships between sleep characteristics and cardiometabolic risk factors in
middle-aged adults and adolescents.
We
conclude that not only is getting a good night sleep important for optimal
daily functioning, but perhaps also for preventing elevated cardiovascular risk
in vulnerable subgroups.
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics