In the news

Trouble Sleeping?- Maybe You Two Should Sleep in Separate Beds!

I am not kidding here—a new study came out suggesting that couples who have trouble sleeping and who sleep in the same bed may get better sleep if they sleep in separate beds. Apparently around 25 percent of U.S. couples sleep in different beds or rooms, according to the National Sleep Foundation. This is no [...]

Night Shift Workers–Health Risks of Poor Sleep

It’s estimated that at least 20% of the workforce in the USA and in Europe work the so-called graveyard shift, either as their primary shift, or at least more than half of the time—that includes yours truly. A new study has confirmed what was suspected by many—that night shift workers face significant health risks, and [...]

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What is Sleep Apnea?

July 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment

What is sleep apnea–this is a common question that is on the minds of most people these days, especially those who are with someone who snores too loud or those who consider themselves as snorers themselves. It is actually quite normal for you to think that snoring is a common thing which doesn’t pose any serious health risk at all aside from disrupting the sleep of anyone sleeping with you at the moment. However, you might want to re-think this, since sleep apnea does indeed pose a threat to you in the long run. If you want to find out more on what is sleep apnea, just read on.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Truth be told, it is quite difficult for you to diagnose whether you have sleep apnea or not especially on your own. However, when it comes to finding the answer to what is sleep apnea, there are certain symptoms of sleep apnea that you might exhibit during the day that may help you determine whether you are suffering from this disorder or not so you can get to have yourself checked by your doctor. Among the major signs of sleep apnea include long pauses in breathing, chronic and loud snoring, gasping, snorting and even choking in sleep as well as sleepiness during the day time regardless of how long you sleep at night.

The answer to the question what is sleep apnea also deals with its symptoms which are mentioned above. Other possible symptoms of sleep apnea include morning headaches, feeling out of breath when awake, lack of focus and concentration, fitful or restless sleep as well as insomnia among others. If you are going to ask what is sleep apnea these symptoms are most likely to crop up during your search. These are important information that you need to keep in mind to determine on your own the answer to your question on what is sleep apnea. For sure, you will be finding all there is to know to give you a satisfactory answer to your question what is sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

Most online sites on what is sleep apnea also tackle the possible treatments for this problem. When it comes to sleep apnea treatment, you can choose between home remedies and prescribed treatment by your doctor. When it comes to home remedies to treat this, losing weight as well as changing your bad habits will go a long way to alleviating this problem. During your search for the answer on what is sleep apnea, most home remedies that are suggested are often effective that is why if you want to say good bye to sleep apnea and its symptoms follow these tips today.

If you have asked what is sleep apnea then you would know that elevating your head during sleep can help alleviate sleep apnea. Try sleeping on your side as well if you wish to open up your airway passage. It is also ideal for you make use of the tennis ball technique to keep from rolling back when you are sleeping. These are but a few things that you will come up with during your search for the answer to your question what is sleep apnea. For sure, when you get to read up on this sleep apnea article, you will find the best possible treatment there is for you to use.

Filed Under: Sleeping Disorders Tagged With: , , , ,

Shift Work Sleep Disorder

July 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Shift Work Sleep Disorder Defined

 

In our ever-changing, always evolving society, one is continuously pressured to step up and meet the demands of the modern world. Now, more than ever, with the phenomenon that is the internet and globalization driving the world, the world is literally awake 24 hours a day. In the labor market, this means that you are in competition for jobs with all other people from all over the world, as jobs can now be easily outsourced elsewhere in the world. Aside from traditional services which need a 24 hour watch like hospitals, everyday more and more jobs have shifted their working hours to nighttime rather than the normal 8 to 5 schedule. This phenomenon, while opening opportunities for many, has also exposed the same workers to certain health risks, one of which is the shift work sleep disorder.

One does not need a medical degree to understand the importance of regular sleeping habits. Sleep is our body’s way to recharge and revitalize. Without enough sleep, our body would just quickly deteriorate, and never recover from the many challenges it faces every day. However, as more and more job opportunities open up with abnormal graveyard work shifts at night, people are forced to take in these jobs, even at the expense of their own health conditions.

 Shift work sleep disorder is a type of sleeping problem believed to be caused by abnormal work shift schedules. This leads people who work these schedules to stay up at night and work, instead of sleeping, as normal people would do. Come mornings, after work, when they do get a chance to sleep, people suffering from shift work sleep disorders would normally find it difficult to fall asleep. This is mainly because of the disruption in the body’s sleeping patterns. The human body usually works around a system; it recognizes patterns and works in regular schedules. Once the normal system, pattern and schedule are interrupted, there is no guarantee that the human body will be able to perform its tasks efficiently.

Shift Work Sleep Disorder Symptoms

 

A person experiencing shift work sleep disorder may exhibit the following symptoms: excessive sleepiness, difficulty in concentrating, frequent headaches, insomnia, and lack of energy, among others. These symptoms may often lead to increased irritability, more work-related mistakes and errors, increased probability of calling out sick from work, and mood swings.

Ultimately, the treatment for shift work disorder is to get back to one’s natural sleep rhythm and work on normal, day hours. However, as most people might not have the luxury to do that, one can try a few of these tricks to curb the effects of working on night shifts on one’s health. Avoid excessive overtime logged in at work might be advisable, as well as ensuring there would be as minimal time as possible spent on travel time going home. Arranging schedules such that you don’t have to work several days in a row might also be helpful. Avoiding caffeinated rinks and avoiding smoking are also highly advisable for people suffering from shift work sleep disorders.

Filed Under: Sleep Rhythm Problem, Sleeping Disorders Tagged With: , ,

Sleep Terror Disorder

July 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment

What is Sleep Terror Disorder?

 

Sleep terror disorder is a type of sleep disorder characterized by frequent, sudden and partial arousal of a patient from his sleep, screaming or crying in fear. The patient usually jolts up from lying down, and acts in a scared and frightened manner. Sometimes, those suffering from sleep terror disorders would suddenly stand up from bed, and unconsciously goes around, and this is when accidents happen. There have been cases reported where patients have fallen out of windows or down the stairs while in episode attacks of sleep terror disorders. People experiencing sleep terror disorders are not fully awake and are not aware of their actions. Oftentimes, they would react violently if someone tries to restrain or console them. The patient normally does not remember his night terrors once awake. Episodes of terror attacks usually last for about 15 minutes or so. While these episodes are commonly known as night terrors, the term sleep terror disorder is deemed more appropriate as these types of sleep disorders can also happen during the day.

 While sleep terror disorder is associated with emotional distress, the definite causes of sleep terror disorders are largely unknown. It is observed to happen to those who have undergone severe emotional trauma, but not for all cases. Sleep terror disorders are more commonly seen among children than among adults. There seems to be no clear pattern as to whether more boys are girls are affected; so gender is not a factor in the disorder’s dynamics. In most cases, children’s sleep terrors are said to be resolved before or during the time children enter into adolescence, without any special medical intervention. Cycles of sleep terror disorders are believed to go down with age as the amount of slow-wave sleep, where the terror episodes usually happen during sleep, also goes down as a person ages.

Diagnosis of Sleep Terror Disorder

 

 Diagnosis, especially among children, usually starts with parents approaching their children’s pediatrician about these abnormal sleep terror attacks. Currently, there are not much available laboratory tests to directly diagnose sleep terror disorders. Detection of this particular sleep problem usually comes from the description of the parent or the guardian of the episode attacks. Parents are encouraged to consult pediatricians or sleep specialists if children experience terror attacks several times a week, and if the sleep disruption is already affecting the child’s activities at daytime.

 If the sleep terror episodes occur infrequently, or if it they do not seem to interfere significantly on a person’s activities during the day, sleep terror disorders may not necessarily require active intervention and medication. The person can go on with his or her normal activities, granted that the sleep terror attacks do not largely affect his or her other normal daily functions. Some households take precautions  for children experiencing sleep terror disorder by rearranging furniture, such that children will not hurt themselves should they bolt up suddenly from their bed and move around at night. For some cases, especially for those who have gone through some traumatic experience, sessions of psychotherapy have also proven helpful in dealing with sleep terror disorders.

Filed Under: Sleep-Troublesome Actions, Sleeping Disorders Tagged With: , , , ,

When Kids Can’t Sleep

July 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Pediatric Sleep Disorders

Sleep Disorders in Children – Diagnosis

Sleep disorders in children are a lot more common than we think. A lot of children have medical sleeping disruptions which can range from the seemingly innocent, occasional night terror to something as serious as neurological conditions like narcolepsy. These sleep disorders can affect a child’s daytime activities. There are studies that show that if sleep disorders in children are left untreated, they can have adverse effects later in life, as in poor performance in school and at work; in some cases simple sleep disorders evolve into more serious medical conditions.

 A child should get as much as 10 hours of sleep at night, and this has been proven necessary for the child’s developmental phases. If a child does not get that much sleep, it is important to find the root cause of the problem before it turns into something worse. It is important to properly recognize sleep disorders in children as early as possible. The sooner a sleep problem is diagnosed, the sooner the proper cure and treatment can be decided on for the child. As in other medical cases, early detection is key. Symptoms of sleep disorders in children may vary from that what an adult typically experiences. Regardless of this, a good pediatrician and observant parents or guardians should be able to identify and recognize if a child is having sleep problems.

Types of Sleep Disorders in Children

Pediatric Sleep Disorders

Sleeping Problems in Children

There are several types of sleep disorders in children, and some of the more common ones will be briefly discussed here.  Night terrors are one of the more common sleep disorders in children. Usually associated with a child’s emotional issues, night terrors are sudden and partial sleep disruptions in the night. Usual a child would not fully awaken but would cry out in the middle of sleep. Children do not usually remember their night terrors once they’ve woken up. For these cases, it is important to ensure that the child is comfortable – good ventilation, clean sheets – without necessarily waking up the child in the middle of night terror episodes. Extreme cases might need some form of medical intervention.

 Another commonplace disorder is sleepwalking. Children have been observed to rise during the night, with eyes open, but not actually seeing. They would around the house or even talk at some instances. The best way to deal with sleepwalking is to take some precautionary steps like putting the kid’s room in the first floor or child-proofing the room to prevent any bumps or other accidents.

 Another sleeping disorder observed in children is nighttime bedwetting. Bedwetting has been associated with emotional distress, developmental issues or even as straightforward as bladder problems. This sleep disorder is usually dealt with via training and conditioning the child using tools like alarms to help the child stop bed wetting.

 Sleep-onset anxiety has also been experienced by children. At such a young age, there are children that have difficulty sleeping because of unnecessary worries. Usually associated with emotional issues, a child needs to be assured in order to facilitate sleep.

 Sleep apnea, while more prevalent among adults, has also been observed among children. Sleep apnea is caused by obstruction in air passages, leading to abnormal pauses in breathing during sleep.

 Narcolepsy is one of the more serious cases of sleep disorders in children. It is a rare neurological and genetic condition characterized by excessive sleeping hours, at abnormal sleeping patterns. If a child is suspected to have narcolepsy, it’s best to immediately refer the child to a doctor or sleep specialist for diagnosis and treatment.

Filed Under: Pedriatic Sleep Disorders, Sleeping Disorders Tagged With: , , , ,

Sleep Problems in Adults

July 29, 2011 by 1 Comment

Why Sleep Problems in Adults Exist?

The importance of sleep cannot be stressed often enough. Much can be said about sleep and its benefits, but in simple terms, it is believed to be the human body’s way to recharge itself after a day of activities. With minimal response to any external stimuli, it is the body’s quiet time while it rejuvenates itself – from its large, complex systems down to its cells.

 At any age, a person should strive for sufficient sleep every single day. On average, a person should strive for 6 to 8 hours of sleep every single night, to give enough time for the body to revitalize itself. For children, this can be easily achieved, but for adults with a long list of work and extra-curricular activities, 6 to 8 hours of sleep every night may be ambitious for some.

 It is no secret that these days sleep disorders in adults are rampant. Sometimes, these sleep disorders can be temporary, semi-normal disturbances; in some case, they can indicate serious medical conditions. Older adults may typically have some sleeping disorders as they age, which can be still deemed normal. There are several factors that can cause sleep problems in adults. By the time a person reaches 65, the sleep-wake mechanism might not function as properly as when a person is a lot younger; the body may no longer produce normal levels of hormones needed to regularize sleep. In addition, some illnesses that come with old age, or the medication taken might also affect sleep patterns.

 Lifestyle habits can also be a factor in sleep problems in adults. Smoking, drinking alcohol or caffeinated drinks a couple of hours before sleeping hours will definitely take its toll on one’s sleep patterns. Today’s society characterized by over stimulation would also affect one’s sleep. Watching TV in the bedroom, browsing the internet late at night, partying – these can all lead to abnormal sleep patterns.

Sleep problems in adults symptoms

 Sleep problems in adults may exhibit different sleep disorder symptoms that affect sleep patterns. These symptoms seem commonplace and that is why people tend to ignore them and attribute them to something else, or just not be bothered by them at all, thinking it’s normal with old age. People can go on years not realizing they have sleeping disorders, simply thinking what they feel is normal, when it’s not.

One of the most common sleep disorder symptoms is daytime sleepiness. People would normally wrongly attribute it to other things, not realizing it really is a sign of some type of sleep disorder. Thus, it is important that sleep disorder symptoms should be recognized as early as possible for early diagnosis. Sleep disorders in adults are mostly treatable, especially with early detection and correct diagnosis. Other sleep disorder symptoms people should watch out for include snoring that is accompanied by abnormal pauses in breathing during sleep, loud and disruptive snoring, tingling and crawling sensation on the arms or legs at night, excessive physically playing out of dreams, bothering hallucinations, and of course, difficulty in sleeping and staying asleep.

Filed Under: Sleep Disorders in Adults, Sleeping Disorders Tagged With: , , , , ,

What Are the Common Types of Sleep Disorders?

July 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Sleep is our body’s natural coping mechanism against wear and tear, it is our body’s way to rest and recharge, and sleep disorders are generally understood to be disruptions to this natural mechanism. It is a state of non-consciousness, and inactivity–all our senses are generally suspended during sleep, therefore making us less responsive to any external stimuli. It is relatively easier to recover from and definitely more reversible than coma or hibernation as observed in animals; meaning, under normal circumstances, we can easily awaken from sleep. A person should have at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep everyday so it can function well. During sleep, our body rejuvenates its immune, skeletal, nervous, and muscular and digestive systems. Having good skin and complexion has also been linked to having enough sleep. The importance of sleep cannot be stressed enough for the proper and efficient function of the human body. Sleep deprivation and disorders will definitely take their toll on a person’s productivity and basic daily functions.

A sleep disorder should therefore not be taken too lightly. While some sleep disturbances are temporary, other types of sleep disorders might be potentially more serious than they may appear. There are several medical conditions which can lead to sleep disorder. Aside from sleep deprivation, which is in itself is already a problem; sleep disorders can also be signs of more serious physical and emotional conditions. There are many types of sleep disorders; there can be sleep disorders in adults and sleep disorders in children. Types of sleep disorders are generally classified into three categories, namely, lack of sleep, disturbed sleep, and excessive sleep.

The more popular type of sleep disorder under the category lack of sleep is called Insomnia. Insomnia is a type of sleep disorder where there is difficulty in falling or remaining asleep. Patients usually complain of the inability to fall asleep. And when they do get to sleep, patients find it hard to maintain sleep, oftentimes waking up in the middle of the night. A lot of insomnia cases are linked to patients’ personal and environmental stressful conditions, and the condition is observed more in adults than in children.

The next type of sleep disorder, disturbed sleep, has more varied sub-types. One of the more prevalent an potentially life threatening is sleep apnea. Sleep Apnea is a sleeping disorder characterized by pause or interrupted breathing while sleeping. The patient may go on years without being aware he or she has the condition. Sleep apnea has been associated with fatigue and sleepiness while awake, even as the patient had seemingly complete hours of sleep the previous night.

The third type of sleep disorder, excessive sleep, is medically known as narcolepsy. It is a neurological condition where patient sleeps in abnormally long hours of sleep. Narcolepsy is also characterized by an uncontrollable urge to go to sleep during inappropriate times within the day, regardless if the patient has enough sleep the previous night. People with narcolepsy can also experience hallucinations at the onset of sleep called hypnagogic hallucinations, sleep paralysis for a brief time after waking up, and muscle weakness or paralysis.

Other types of sleep disorders not discussed here but are also commonly widely experienced include snoring, restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movements of sleep, and bed wetting or enuresis, among others.

Filed Under: Sleeping Disorders Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,