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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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Sleep Disorders in Children

March 7, 2012 by 2 Comments
Sleep Disorders in Children - Insomnia

Sleep disorders in children have been reported to impact on children’s performance in school as well as social-emotional adjustment. Psychologist put an estimate of about 30 percent of children suffering from sleep disorder somewhere in their childhood. It is therefore prudent for parents to be aware of the sleep patterns that are normal in children, the type of sleep disorders and the available remedies for such. Normal patterns of sleep in children has been categorised into two broad classes namely rapid eye- movement (REM) sleep and non rapid-eye movement (NREM) sleep.

Common Sleep Disorders in Children

The rapid eye movement sleep is the one in which our eyes are in rapid movement under the eyelids and the both the heart beat and breathing becomes irregular. In addition, the body temperature control becomes unusual such that shivering is not there when it gets cold and sweating at high temperatures is not evident. The nerves impulse responsible for nervous messaging is inhibited making you somehow paralyzed and it is at this level that dreaming occurs. In the non rapid eye movement sleep, drowsiness characterises the initial stage of the sleep. Here waking is easy. At the deeper levels of the sleep waking becomes challenging and one can be confused and disoriented on waking up. Our muscles are more active during the NREM although they cannot move since there are nerves signal sent from the brain to the muscles to initiate movement.

Sleep Disorders in Children - Insomnia

Sleep Disorders in Children

These two sleep patterns are there even before birth. After birth, infants tend to sleep almost invariably. As they develop the sleep becomes less during the day and sleeping is longer at night. For instance, at the age of 6 months, infants sleep for 13 hours a day on average. By the time the children are two the sleep period reduces to about 12 hours and by 4 years they are doing between 10 to 12 hours of sleep. The drop in sleeping hours that becomes more significant during the adolescent stage is associated with biological reasons.

Some sleep disorders in children are quite common, mild and easy to remedy while in other cases the problem may become more severe indicating signs of underlying physical problems and if not treated they may yield long-term consequences. Consulting a paediatrician or a sleep specialist my help you in diagnosing sleep disorders. School psychologist too might give valuable input in identifying and dealing with the problem. In diagnosis of sleep disorders in children will involve evaluation of your child’s sleeping patterns, normal bed and wake time for school days and for the weekends and vacations, problems of falling asleep and the frequency of sleep. Variation in attention and concentration and change of behaviour in children may be a sign of sleep disorder.

There are a number of ways available for dealing with sleep disorders in children. In the case that your child suffers from night terrors, it is advisable to keep them as comfortable as possible. Instances of night terrors during sleep mostly occur when the child is in NREM stage of sleep mostly for children aged between 4 to 8 years. If the night terrors proves to be persistent it is vital to seek medical involvement.

Bedwetting is another recipe of sleep disorder. Bedwetting is common for children between the ages of 6 and 12 which are mostly to do with primary enuresis which is associated with lag in development, low capacity of the bladder, and hereditary reasons and this should not be alarming. However, secondary enuresis, which involves a notorious recurrence in bedwetting even after a year or more after children achieves bladder control, is a sign of emotional distress and remedy is thus called for. The remedies in such case include bladder control, reinforcement and responsibility training. Finding out any cause for emotional distress for your child and dealing with it might also be very helpful. This might involve counselling. There is also medication that can be administered to alleviate this cause of sleep disorders in children and visiting your child’s paediatrician would be vital.

Children may experience difficulty in falling asleep due to them having worries and fears. This condition is called the sleep-onset anxiety and may be as a result of trauma and other stressful events during the day. This sleep disorders in children can be dealt with by making use of calming bedtime habits, reassuring the child and even therapy for behavior and assisting the child deal with their worries and anxiety. Delayed sleep-phase syndrome is another sleep disorder. This problem involves the inability of the child to go to sleep during the normal sleep hours. This disorder may be corrected by light therapy, chemotherapy and adherence of a consistent schedule for the child’s sleep. Use of sedative therapy might also be of assistance. Sleep walking is also a symptom of sleep disorder. Awakening your child on a habitual schedule can address such events of sleep disorders in children.

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

What is Sleep Paralysis

January 15, 2012 by Leave a Comment
What is Sleep Paralysis - Immobility during sleep

What is sleep paralysis?

 

Often, people misdiagnose sleep disorders due to overlapping symptoms experienced in some, in the following article we hope to provide you with detailed and distinct knowledge of what is sleep paralysis?

That feeling when you’re sleeping and you feel as if you are drifting through dreams and suddenly you’re fully aware of your surroundings, following which you are unable to move at all and you feel another’s presence, that is the empirical essence of what is sleep paralysis. The prospect of sleep paralysis is rather scary, and therefore it is important to know exactly what is sleep paralysis so you’re in a better position to realize it and deal with it the next time.

To begin to uncover the question what is sleep paralysis, quite simply, it is a condition in which an individual experiences partial or absolute inability to carry out voluntary movements. This either happens just as you are falling asleep, (hypnogogic or predormital) or in most cases upon awakening from sleep (hypnopompic or postdormiral). It mostly happens when one is in a supine position and the paralysis lasts anywhere between seconds to several minutes.

Understanding what is sleep paralysis and narcolepsy

 

What is Sleep Paralysis - Immobility during sleep
Sleep paralysis is a condition in which an individual experiences partial or absolute inability to carry out voluntary movements.

Sleep paralysis is most often associated with narcolepsy, a neurological condition whereby one experiences sudden bouts of daytime sleepiness. Therefore it is always good to get your condition checked by a doctor to ensure you do not have narcolepsy, as unlike sleep paralysis, that is a physically harming condition. There is no real causation of sleep paralysis yet discovered, it could be a number of factors such as genetics, immunity etc. General symptoms covered when considering what is sleep paralysis, include immobility, the feeling of not being able to breathe, rapid eye movements, feeling choked and hallucinations of strange noises and images.

When looking at what is sleep paralysis, it is important to remember that the condition, is in no way harmful to the health, physically or even mentally. Except, while undergoing a phase of sleep paralysis, there is a strong feeling of fear and anxiety that is felt in the moment. It seems extremely scary and confounding and it’s hard to make sense of much immediately. This sensation can be heightened if hallucinations take place, whereby one begins to imagine the presence of someone either fantastical or horrific, which in most cases is extremely disturbing to the mind. During this whole phase though you are technically awake, the process must have been quite sudden, due to which the brain still believes it is dreaming. But within minutes the body fully awakens and either gradually or abruptly one will be able to move voluntarily again. The phase usually terminates upon sound or touch.

Sleep paralysis though seemingly unreal, is quite a realistic experience and is quite common. About 20% to 50% of the world suffers from it. It is found most commonly amongst university students (21%), a lot of which is owed to sleep deprivation, stress and the disruption of sleep-wake cycle schedules.

It is important to keep in mind the above-mentioned facts about what is sleep paralysis, to avoid confusing it or misdiagnosing it with other sleep and anxiety disorders.

Filed Under: Sleep Paralysis, Sleep-Troublesome Actions Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Sleep Paralysis Causes

January 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Sleep Paralysis Causes

What are the common sleep paralysis causes?

The scary feeling that you feel from not being able to move at all during sleep, comes with sleep paralysis, to be able to avoid this fearful condition it is of essence to look at it’s parameters and sleep paralysis causes. In every 10 people, 4 experience sleep paralysis and it is so randomly spread that anyone can experience it at any stage when any of the causes are triggered, therefore it is important to learn of sleep paralysis causes.

There are quite a few sleep paralysis causes that doctors consider to be significant in bring about the condition, however these are all just widely considered theories, as the actual and primary sleep paralysis cause is still unknown. Sleep paralysis in effect is causes by a short-term episode of muscle paralysis, which disables one to move in any manner. It does not in any way cause any damage to an individual’s physical health but it does affect them mentally, sometimes quite severely. Those who suffer from sleep paralysis often feel extremely frightened when unable to move and experience immediate bouts of stress to the slight disorientation of not fully being able to grasp what is happening and it’s effects and reasons.

A very common sleep paralysis cause is narcolepsy, whereby you experience random, sudden bouts of extreme daytime sleepiness brought about by mixed brain signals regarding the sleep-wake cycle. The sudden state of being awake and then asleep is a major sleep paralysis cause. A lot of the times when you change your sleep schedule drastically it can also result in sleep paralysis, this is very common amongst first year university students as well for those who travel around a lot across several time zones. Moreover, irregular sleep schedules, also form substantial sleep paralysis causes, whereby you take frequent naps, sleep in very often or put yourself through sleep deprivation.

Major sleep paralysis cause – STRESS

 

Sleep Paralysis Causes

How sleep paralysis occurs?

Another major sleep paralysis cause is the presence of high levels of stress or even low levels of stress on a regular basis. The hormones released in your body when you are experiencing stressful situations, results in disturbed sleep and affects the motor ability when asleep. When people have a fear of sleeping alone for whatever reason and they do sleep alone, it can also cause a lot of stress brought about by fear, very often becoming a sleep paralysis cause. A lucid dream can often bring about sudden bodily movements that can be immediately succeeded by an episode of sleep paralysis. Also sleeping in a face upwards position or a supine position for long fixed time periods that freeze your body in that position for a time period causing sleep paralysis.

Certain medications, prescribed or unprescribed, contain chemical drugs which either induce or inhibit sleep and can bring about sleep paralysis as well. Hence it is important that you check that the medication you are taking doesn’t have large doses of sleep affecting drugs, as that can often become sleep paralysis causes.

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

Causes and Treatment for Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder

October 10, 2011 by Leave a Comment

What is Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder?

 

Millions of people suffer with Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder, and that includes winter depression, Delayed Phase Sleep Disorder, and other sleep disorders. This condition is typically characterized by gastrointestinal distress, poor performance, excessive daytime sleepiness, and insomnia. These symptoms are the result of a misalignment between the body’s internal circadian body clock and the timing of the external social world.

Circadian rhythm refers to a person’s internal body clock that helps to regulate the daily bodily processes. There are many patterns associated with the circadian rhythm, such as cell regeneration, hormone production, brainwave activity, and other activities that are linked with this typical daily cycle.

This circadian rhythm internal clock in people is mainly located in a grouping of cells that is found in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. Circadian rhythms are also vitally linked to determining the sleeping patterns of people.

Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder – Causes and Treatments

 

Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder typically has many causes such as routine changes, medications, time zone changes, pregnancy, and shift work. Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder is typically treated depending on the diagnosis for the particular type of sleep disorder. The goal of any treatment plan is to fit the person’s desired lifestyle with a healthy schedule.

Sometimes therapy is used to help people that are diagnosed with Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder and it typically combines stimulus therapy like chronotherapy or light therapy with improved sleep hygiene. Light therapy is designed to effectively reset the individual’s circadian rhythm to a more productive pattern.

Chronotherapy is a systematic and gradual behavioral technique where the sleep time is adjusted slightly until the desired and healthy bed time is achieved. Sometimes the combination of these two therapies produces excellent results in individuals that suffer with Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder.

It is important that a person that suffers with Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder maintain their circadian or internal clock exposed to bright light during daytime hours. Also, quiet activities before going to bed will help you to relax and also to unwind. These activities might include relaxation tapes, listening to soft music, or reading prior to bedtime. In addition, any type of strenuous activity before going to bed should be avoided including late evening exercise.

Regular exercise in the early evening or late afternoons is encouraged if you suffer with Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder because it helps to relieve stress and anxiety that is sometimes associated with sleep disorders. Napping is discouraged because it might interfere with sleeping at night. In addition, exposure to bright lights during the evening hours, including video games, computers, and television should be avoided.

If you’re sensitive to caffeine and are suffering with Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder, then it’s best to completely avoid caffeine, especially after lunchtime. It’s also important to have the right bedroom environment and that includes having a comfortable bed in a dark, quiet room with comfortable temperature. Also, remember that alcohol interrupts sleep and nicotine is a stimulant, therefore they should be avoided if you’re suffering with Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder.

Filed Under: Sleep Rhythm Problem, 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: , , , ,

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: , , , , , , , ,