Sleep apnea is possibly the most commonly seen sleep disorder and affects in the region of 18,000,000 Americans. A sleeping disorder which is characterized by interrupted breathing while sleeping, it is also without doubt the most dangerous of all sleeping disorders because it starves the brain of critical oxygen and occasionally proves fatal.
There are […]
Original post by Faith and software by Elliott Back
If you discover that you cannot work for the number of hours you used to, or if the cost of shift working is finally starting to wear on your health, you could be experiencing shift work sleep disorder or SWSD. This condition might mean that you are increasingly sleepy through the daytime but unable to […]
Original post by Faith and software by Elliott Back
If you’re experiencing insomnia on a regular basis, you’re probably ready to give anything a try that might let you get to sleep. However, it’s important that you do your research so you understand how various products work.
The number one thing a lot of people do if several nights of insomnia is causing daytime […]
Original post by Faith and software by Elliott Back
Before you can understand about apnea monitor electrods, you should understand what sleep apnea is. Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleeping disorders in the world, few people are actually aware of what is entailed with the condition.
Original post by James D Edwards and software by Elliott Back
Individuals diagnosed with cluster headache are at high risk of having undiagnosed sleep apnea, recent studies reveal. Researchers have concluded that there is a strong correlation between the occurrence of obstructive sleep apnea and cluster headaches, since the breathing complications are mostly prevalent among these individuals. At its very basic level, the scientific researches pointed out a possibility of treating cluster headache by treating the obstructive sleep apnea.
Original post by James D Edwards and software by Elliott Back
Despite the fact that we have known for a long time that children who suffer from sleep apnea commonly get relatively low scores on IQ tests (normally scoring an average of 85 as opposed to a score of 101 for children who are not suffering from sleep apnea) one thing which has not been known […]
Original post by Faith and software by Elliott Back
Insomnia is an extremely common sleep disorder which is characterized by interruptions to sleep, shortened sleeping time, restlessness and on occasions by complete wakefulness.
Apart from being extremely annoying, insomnia can cause sufferers to lose their energy and enthusiasm, develop memory and concentration problems and to feel lethargic and frustrated. This in turn can lead […]
Original post by Faith and software by Elliott Back
Sleep apnea symptoms are most commonly observed in men who are over forty and also overweight although they can appear at any age in both women and men and are being seen increasingly in children.
The clearest symptom of sleep apnea (which is only one of several common sleep disorders) is snoring which is difficult […]
Original post by Faith and software by Elliott Back
We all need to get a good night’s sleep in order to function properly, and sleep is necessary for our general wellbeing. It stops us from feeling tired during the daytime, is vital for our mental health and plays its part in combating disease. On occasions when we are deprived of the right amount of sleep, everything about our normal daily routine changes.
In an effort to get some much needed sleep insomniacs often turn to sleeping pills. However, is this really the best solution to the problem? Here are a few advantages and drawbacks of taking sleeping pills.
Advantages
* Two of the main reasons for people being apprehensive about taking sleeping pills in the past were the possibility of overdose and the worry of a habit being formed. However, the sleeping pills of today are considerably less habit forming and the chances of a lethal overdose are much reduced.
* Each individual patient has different needs and there are many types of sleeping pills to choose from which will address such needs. Some pills simply help you to fall to sleep, some ensure you sleep soundly through the night and some will do both of these things for you. With all this choice you are sure to find a sleeping pill which works just right for you without experiencing any unwanted side effects.
* A common complaint of sleeping pill takers of the past is that the medication causes drowsiness during the following day. Not so with the newer sleeping pills on the market today.
Drawbacks
* Even though less risky than sleeping pills of the past, there are still some serious dangers associated with today’s sleeping pills. These risks vary depending on the drug being taken, but blurry vision, dizziness and interaction with other medications and alcohol may be experienced.
* In the past sleeping pills have been said to be the cause of drivers falling asleep at the wheel of the car and this is clearly a danger to both the person taking the drug and to others.
* More often than not sleeping pills induce a deep sleep, which may mean the person taking the medication does not wake up in the case of an emergency such as a house fire.
* As a long term solution, taking sleeping pills is not very often effective. They may well be great for occasional bouts of insomnia but they do not get to, nor treat, the root of the problem. Even though they are not habit forming by nature, it may be necessary to continue taking them to see an improvement in sleep patterns.
In conclusion, sleeping pills do help us to sleep better but should only be used as a last resort. There are many alternatives which do not cost any money at all and are definitely worth trying first. If they do actually work for you not only will they save you money but they will eliminate any risks too.
Original post by Keira Adams and software by Elliott Back
Insomnia is quite common, and not nearly as rare as you might think. The most common form of insomnia is temporary however and bouts of it come few and far between. Many people who are suffering from temporary insomnia have an easy time relating it directly to something life changing or stressful going on in their life.
A small group of Americans suffer from the type of insomnia that lasts more than just a few nights and may struggle with sleeplessness for weeks at a time. Sometimes, the persistent insomnia is so severe it can last for months or years. The insomnia sufferers who deal with chronic insomnia really know what the side effects associated with insomnia can mean to a normal life.
Before someone learns to deal with the side effects of insomnia; they must first decide what type of insomnia the individual suffers from. There are traditionally three different types of insomnia and those who suffer often fall in one of their categories. One group may not be able to fall asleep at all. Another may be able to fall asleep, but wake every few hours. The last group may be able to sleep for three hours, but then wake without being able to fall back asleep for the remainder of the evening.
Those who suffer from insomnia often seek out over-the-counter medication for help. Sadly, most sleep aids found over-the-counter don’t address each form of insomnia, but only focus on helping you get to sleep. Sufferers who can fall asleep but can’t stay asleep often find themselves still waking in the night, with increased tiredness from the pills.
Side effects noted by individuals suffering from insomnia of any kind usually deal with headaches and an inability to concentrate. In conjunction with a pronounced irritability that affects those around the insomniac, these make social interactions and even working relationships sometimes hard to endure. While the insomniac may attempt to not let the lack of restful sleep interfere, sooner rather than later the natural resources are used up and the sufferer finds that just maintaining an even keel is getting harder to do.
When the natural energy reserves of the insomniac run dry, the condition can become quite dangerous. A lack of sleep can cause many problems, including problems with operating a car or even being a watchful pedestrian. Someone with insomnia may put themselves at an increased risk of being in an auto accident.
Sometimes an insomniac realizes their chronic lack of sleep is adversely affecting driving and also workplace behavior. Due to this realization, insomniacs may try to offset their lack of sleep, capacity to concentrate, and overall bad mood with over the counter stimulants. Terribly, many of these substances are hazardous and can adversely affect the human body.
Often insomniacs will try to help themselves fall asleep by self medicating, inviting sleep by overindulging in alcohol and other drugs. Indulging in these things is very dangerous for the insomniac and those around them! Thankfully, there are many healthy treatments out there that can help an insomniac find the sleep relief they long for.
Original post by Lewis Lawson and software by Elliott Back
There are many serious medical concerns from sleep apnea but now a study had linked serious and fatal complications for patients with heart failure. People with sleep apnea experience decreased or interrupted breathing during which the brain is oxygen deprived and not able to send out the messages to the respiratory muscles to inhale and exhale. Breathing can stop for several seconds or as much as a minute. Since these episodes can happen frequently during the night, it causes a special worry for people who suffer from heart problems.
Serious Concerns
Anyone who has heart failure should take note of the complications that can occur if sleep apnea is also present. A basic definition of heart failure is a disorder in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood per minute to supply the entire body’s need for oxygen and essential nutrients. The key word here is oxygen. In both sleep apnea and heart failure, the person’s supply of oxygen is reduced. When both conditions are present in a person, the failure of meeting necessary oxygen requirements is doubled to a dangerous degree.
A person suffering from heart failure is at a higher risk of dying during an episode of sleep apnea. The lower oxygen level in the body may also damage major organs as well as resulting in psychological problems from insufficient sleep.
What Can Be Done?
If you have both heart failure and sleep apnea, there are ways to help you. Because of a recent study, doctors are now prescribing acetazolamide, which is a mild diuretic and respiratory stimulant. This prescription drug is taken before going to bed and it has been shown to improve oxygen levels and to diminish sleep apnea problems. People who participated in this study noted they were less tired during the daytime and they were better able to concentrate.
Until this study, there wasn’t a major known concern between heart failure and sleep apnea. Now doctors are aware of the problems that could happen due to the extra drop of oxygen levels. If you are suffering from heart failure you may want to consult with your doctor if you suspect you may have sleep apnea as well.
Most people aren’t even aware that they have sleep apnea. Being properly diagnosed and treated will give you a better, safer night’s sleep.
Original post by Rudy Watkins and software by Elliott Back
Are you suffering from sleep apnea? Do you know that sleep apnea dental appliance can mitigate or eliminate the effects of sleep apnea? In this article we are going to see a brief overview of some regularly used appliances.
How Sleep Apnea Dental Appliance Help Sleep Apnea Symptoms
What happened in sleep apnea is that the muscles in the throat may relax too much, and this may narrow the airway significantly. Not only that the tongue may also collapse, or fold back, when this happened the air passage closes off and disturbs the normal flow of breathing. This is not a minor case anymore because this is the one that may affect bigger organs like the brain and heart. Many sleep apnea patients have turned to oral appliances which have been proven to provide positive results. What it does is controlling the movement of the tongue or by repositioning the lower jaw to make sure that the airways to stay open. Sometimes, what the actually need is only a sleep apnea dental appliance to help their sleep apnea symptoms. In addition it can also be used together with a Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) machine. Before you determine which sleep apnea dental appliance is right for you, you have to get both your medical doctor and your dentist to evaluate your condition. For choosing the dentist however, it’s important that you get a dentist that has experience in fitting these oral appliances before. This is because not every dentist knows how to do that and a poorly fitted appliance may cause unnecessary problems.
Different Types Of Oral Appliances
With over forty different types of sleep apnea dental appliance available to help sleep apnea symptoms, you may feel overwhelmed at first. But your dentist will tell you that the principles used in these devices fall into two general categories, which should make your selection much easier. Basically, oral appliances are classified by how they work or by their specific design.
The names of these appliances are descriptive enough to give you the basic idea of how they work.Among all the two most widely used Sleep Apnea Dental Appliance are tongue retaining appliances and mandibular repositioning appliances. A retainer holds the tongue in a forward position if you are using a tongue retaining appliance, it stops the back of the tongue from collapsing during sleep. The second type of device puts the lower jaw in a protruded position to keep the airway open. Both of these oral appliances have been proven to be successful in curing sleep apnea patients.
Choose the Right Dentist
This step in getting a sleep apnea dental appliance cannot be stressed enough. The dentist you select must have specific knowledge in this area. Your nasal passages and airways will be completely examined with a diagnostic tool that uses sound waves. This will give the dentist a complete picture and will enable the sleep apnea dental appliance to be correctly fitted.
Original post by fatimah edris and software by Elliott Back
There are many medical problems associated with sleep
Is Sleep Apnea Dangerous?
Sleep apnea
The end result is the same: the brain is deprived of necessary oxygen, which contributes to a host of other problems. Snoring
Psychological Aspects of Sleep Apnea
There can be many physical problems resulting from sleep apnea but the psychological ones are a little harder to recognize and diagnose. The first thing noticed is that the person doesnt get a peaceful nights sleep. A certain amount of sleep is required for the bodys major organs to repair and recharge right down to cellular level.
If this doesn’t happen, the person will feel exhausted in the morning. Daytime drowsiness is present, and this overpowering desire to sleep will stay with the person throughout the day. This will cause frustration and irritability, as the person needs to stay awake to perform their daily tasks. Problems with concentration and memory loss are also common. All of these emotions will add up and contribute to a growing sense of depression. The person may even feel like they are losing their mind, as their ability to think clearly is diminished.
They may only want to spend their day in bed to catch up on the rest they think they need but in reality what they should be doing is getting the treatment for their sleep disorder. In extreme cases, thoughts of suicide may come from sleep apnea. The quality and purpose of ones life will decline if there is oxygen deprivation night after night. Anti-depressant drugs are non effective in these situations as the medical condition of sleep apnea needs to be diagnosed and treated first.
Original post by Rudy Watkins and software by Elliott Back
Insomnia
* Transient Insomnia - This circumstance remains just for a couple of days. Transient insomnia is typically caused by tension or as a direct reaction to change. It is occasionally called adjustment sleep disorder. The disorder might spring up after a traumatic issue or even during minor changes such as travelling or atmospheric condition changes.
Caffeine and nicotine are likewise maintained to affect sleeping patterns. Caffeine, which is present in coffee, and nicotine, existing in cigarettes, can induce transient insomnia. In most cases, treatment for transient insomnia is not needed. It usually concludes after a few days once the individual was capable to adapt to the brand-new situations or environment.
* Short-term Insomnia - This endures for 3 weeks or less. Short-term insomnia and transient insomnia are just about similar in their causes.
Female hormonal changes can bear on sleep practices. Among the female hormones, progesterone, promotes sleep. During menstruation, once its levels are low, women may experience insomnia. On the other hand, during ovulation, the gain in progesterone levels step-ups sleepiness. Variances in the level of progesterone during pregnancy and menopause cause altered sleeping patterns leading to transient insomnia. While women after 50 likewise experience chronic insomnia, this is usually caused by psychological or overemotional factors.
Varieties in working circumstances, such as switching schedules, also cause short-term insomnia. Likewise, people who incline to overwork get less rest than the average. In one case, insomnia was also discovered in people doing a great deal of computer work.
Light can also touch on one’s sleep. A bit much light at nighttime can interrupt sleep or even prevent sleepiness. Also, little light during the day, as in disabled or senior patients who seldom go out can also cause short-term insomnia. This is since the degrees of melatonin reacting to darkness. Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland, a pea-sized gland at the centre of the brain, that assists and regulates the cycles of sleeping and awaking.
* Chronic insomnia - when a person couldn’t sleep, has interrupted sleep, or is still tired after sleeping; and the condition recurs for more than two nights every week for more than one month. Also, it is characterized when the patient is fatigued and believes that his daily activities are affected by this sleeping condition.
Based on the causes, chronic insomnia may be further characterized into primary or secondary: * Primary chronic insomnia - when the insomnia is not caused by any physical or mental imbalance. * Secondary chronic insomnia - may be caused by physical and mental conditions, such as depression, or emotional and psychiatric disorders.
In one survey, in industrial nations, chronic insomnia affects almost ten percent of adults. Insomnia can impact a patient during daytime when patient may experience drowsiness in the mornings or in the afternoon. A few, in spite of their drowsiness account failure to sleep. Even worse, a different group accounted excessive energy throughout the day. These people are more troubled and even more cranky.
Due to failure to acquire adequate rest, these people have subdued concentration. If someone has pre-existing medical condition, such as orthopaedic pain or arthritis, this may be aggravated by insomnia. When one suspects that he or she has insomnia, consulting a doctor would be the safest advise. One of these therapies may also be attempted.
* Minimizing consumption of caffeine containing beverages. This includes coffee, colas and chocolate. It is advised to restrict consumption after 3pm. For most people, these substances are eliminated from the body in a few hours. But some people have slow biologic elimination process, which caffeine can stay in the body longer than the average.
* People can also limit stay in bed during the sleeping hours. This is effective to increase the tendency to sleep when in bed.
Original post by Rich Benvin and software by Elliott Back
Several sleep
Sleep deprivation occurs when you child does not get enough sleep, which could lead to serious physical and emotional problems. Sleepwalking, on the other hand, occurs when children sleep lightly and unconsciously walks around in the middle of the night. Sleepwalking is not harmful, unless it becomes a nightly routine. Parasomnias are disruptive problems of sleep, which are not considered serious, that include night terrors and teeth grinding. One of the most common problems of parents is that they cannot get their child back to sleep. This happens when parents have not introduced sleep associations to their child, which can help him or her to sleep alone without being rocked, sucking a pacifier, drinking a bottler of milk or with the parents by his side. Solving your child’s sleep problems depend largely on how well you incorporated sleep associations into your child’s bedtime routine. Surefire Ways of Solving Your Child’s Sleep Problems One of the most traditional tips in solving your child’s sleep problems is to sleep when your baby sleeps. This is important because you are introducing the baby into a new routine that he or she will follow every day. Establish a bedtime routine when your baby is at three to five months of age. This routine may include last feeding or nursing, bedtime story, singing, diaper changing, last bath or other practices that can make your baby go to sleep. You need to teach your baby to associate nighttime with sleeping by giving him or her objects (blankets or toys) that can symbolize “his time to sleep”. Solving your child’s sleep problems will take time because you need to teach them every detail for them to sleep alone, without sleepwalking, experiencing nightmares, grinding their teeth and without separation issues. Be patient in supporting your child as he or she gets used to the bedtime routine. Remember that your child will eventually outgrow these sleep problems with your guidance and reassurance. However, if you tried every method in solving your child’s sleep problems, your child may be experiencing hunger, heat or cold, bloating, cold or stuffy nose, temperature, ear infection, head banging or body rocking, soiled nappy, noisy or quiet environment and lost sleeping aids, such as stuffed toy, pacifier or blanket. Some sleep problems, especially those that continue to persist, may need medical attention.
Original post by Faith and software by Elliott Back
Most people are aware of sleep
However, few people are aware of sleep eating disorder. Sleep eating disorder are just as serious at any sleep disorder or eating disorder alone. And because there is not nearly so much public awareness, sleep eating disorder often go unrecognized or undiagnosed. The two main types of sleep eating disorder are Night Eating Syndrome and Nocturnal Sleep-Related Disorder.
Night Eating Syndrome
Night Eating Syndrome is one sleep eating disorder. Only about 1 to 2 per cent of adults suffer from Night Eating Syndrome; however, it is suggested that approximately 27 per cent of people who are obese or overweight are afflicted with Night Eating Syndrome. People with Night Eating Syndrome eat more than half of their daily caloric intake between the meals of dinner and breakfast.
Oftentimes, such persons will be visibly upset or ashamed of how much they have eaten; it is common for afflicted persons to avoid breakfast. This sleep eating disorder is not a binge-like behavior; it is actually continuous eating throughout the night. Night Eating Syndrome has been attributed to stress, and depression often occurs as a result. People with this sleep eating disorder may have difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep; whatever the case, they awake often to eat.
Nocturnal Sleep-Related Disorder
Nocturnal Sleep-Related Disorder is another sleep eating disorder. This sleep disorder differs from Night Eating Syndrome in that people who are affected by Nocturnal Sleep-Related Disorder eat food at night while they are sound asleep. Similar to sleep walking, people have no memories or awareness of what occurred the night before. Only 1 to 3 per cent of the population seems to be subject to Nocturnal Sleep-Related Disorder. People with this sleep eating disorder are often tired throughout the day, and it is common for those who are affected to be on a diet throughout the day. There are ways to treat Nocturnal Sleep-Related Disorder, but it is recommended that sleeping pills should be avoided.
If you think that you are suffering from a sleep eating disorder, you should consult your doctor to begin receiving treatment for the disorder. You can also try to treat the behaviors by listening to soothing music as you fall asleep, and by reducing your caffeine and alcohol intake.
Original post by Faith and software by Elliott Back
Deep Sleep! Hypnosis for Insomnia