WETTING THE BED: A SLEEP DISORDER

WETTNG THE BED

from the article "5 Common Sleep Disorders: Disturbing or Dangerous?"

By Laurie Sanchez, Lifescript Staff Writer
Published January 26, 2011
Reviewed By Edward C. Geehr, M.D

Wetting the bed

When adults soak the sheets, it’s called secondary incontinence. And it’s unnerving.

“A sudden nighttime accident can freak people out,” says Elizabeth Kavaler, M.D., clinical assistant professor of urology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City and author of A Seat on the Aisle, Please! (Springer).

But it’s usually not as isolated as it appears. Typically, it’s part of a larger condition known as overactive bladder (OAB).

That’s when the bladder becomes irritable and reactive – usually as part of aging – resulting in a greater and more frequent urge to urinate, Kavaler says.

“When people look back, they realize they’re going to the bathroom more than they used to. Or they’ve been having trouble getting to the restroom on time.”

Some adult bedwetting stems from a urinary tract infection (UTI), but OAB is the more common cause, Kavaler says.

What you can do about it: Make a doctor’s appointment.

If you have a UTI, you’ll be prescribed antibiotics.

If OAB is the cause, there are three approaches to treatment, Kavaler says.

The first course of treatment, behavior modification, involves reducing the amount of liquid you drink, especially bladder irritants such as caffeine and alcohol, and moving consumption to earlier in the day. You’ll also be asked to use the restroom more frequently and on a schedule.

“For bedtime, we might have a patient try to get up one more time in the middle of the night to void,” Kavaler says.
If that doesn’t work, there are nine different anticholinergic medications (such as Detrol), which treat OAB by relaxing bladder muscles.

“That shows how common this is,” Kavaler says.

Medication comes in gels, patches and pills. And about 80% of the people who try them get some degree of relief, she adds.

If you fall into the other 20%, your doctor may suggest invasive surgery to regulate urinary urges.

Common options include surgically implanting a bladder pacemaker, which sends electrical pulses to the nerve that controls bladder function. Botox is a newer treatment for OAB. It works by preventing inappropriate contractions of the bladder muscles.

Check out our Sleep Health Center.

MY THOUGHTS

of all the sleep disorders, i think this is the one that i would hate the most.  sounds very uncomfortable.  and embarrassing. 

NIGHT SWEATS

NIGHT SWEATS

from the article "5 Common Sleep Disorders: Disturbing or Dangerous?"

By Laurie Sanchez, Lifescript Staff Writer
Published January 26, 2011
Reviewed By Edward C. Geehr, M.D

Night Sweats

If you routinely wake up with your PJs, pillowcase and sheets drenched, you're having night sweats.

There are several possible causes: a temporary hormonal issue (such as menopause), fever due to flu or infection, the side effect of a medication (antidepressants are one culprit), sensitivity to alcohol or an overactive thyroid.

It could also indicate another sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea, or a serious health issue, including lymphoma, HIV or tuberculosis.

What you can do about it: See your doctor if night sweats continue consistently for more than a week or intermittently for more than a month, says Jill Grimes, M.D., a family physician.

Because of the range of potential triggers, your doctor may ask about your medications and alcohol intake.

“Women in their 40s can develop an alcohol sensitivity that may manifest as night sweats after a glass or two of wine,” Grimes says.

Your doctor may order a number of tests, including:

    * Checking hormones to see if you’re in menopause

    * Tuberculosis skin test

    * Blood work, to rule out overactive thyroid and low blood sugar

    * HIV test

    * Chest X-ray to look for enlarged lymph nodes, which can signal lymphoma

    * A sleep study, if your doctor suspects sleep apnea is behind your sweats.

If your doctor rules out any serious issues, you may be able to minimize night sweats by cutting back on caffeine and alcohol.

Regular exercise can also help, Grimes says.

“It seems to help reset the body’s internal thermostat and may decrease the frequency or intensity of night sweats.”

MY THOUGHTS

this article should remind us not to disregard anything.  night sweating can be serious and probably cannot be solved by a cooler aircon.  it's scary to think that something as simple as sweating can be caused by an overactive thyroid, even lymphoma.

RESTLESS LIMB SYNDROME

RESTLESS LIMBS

SLEEP APNEA

from the article "5 Common Sleep Disorders: Disturbing or Dangerous?"

By Laurie Sanchez, Lifescript Staff Writer
Published January 26, 2011
Reviewed By Edward C. Geehr, M.D

Restless Limbs

This bodily behavior, called periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), mostly affects legs but sometimes arms too.

It’s often confused with restless leg syndrome (RLS) – that irritating, tingling feeling that starts in the legs as you’re trying to fall asleep and makes you need to move around. Many people have both conditions.

“There’s a common overlap,” Gromer says. “Patients don’t often come in to be treated for PLMD, since it usually doesn’t disturb them, but they'll want treatment for RLS.”

PLMD differs from RLS because it occurs only when you’re asleep, and movements – ranging from twitches to kicks – are involuntary.

Most people with PLMD don’t know they have it. The biggest sign is that they wake up with the sheets strewn about, says Hirshkowitz.

While these movements won’t necessarily harm you, “they tend to disturb a bed partner,” Gromer says.

What you can do about it: If PLMD is disrupting your sleep, or you regularly wake up tired, talk to your doctor.

Treatment is the same as for RLS: It includes taking iron supplements, since the disorder is linked with having a low amount of ferritin, a protein that helps store iron.

A doctor may also prescribe dopamine agonists (drugs that mimic the effect of the neurotransmitter dopamine), levodopa [also known as L-DOPA, a psychoactive drug that increases dopamine concentrations], sleep agents such as benzodiazepines and anticonvulsant medications.

Regular exercise, such as walking and nightly stretching, and limiting caffeine and alcohol also seem to help, Hirshkowitz says.

MY THOUGHTS

i'm so curious if i have the restless limb syndrome i'm thinking of  turningthe video on while i'm sleeping.

SLEEP APNEA

SLEEP APNEA

from the article "5 Common Sleep Disorders: Disturbing or Dangerous?"

By Laurie Sanchez, Lifescript Staff Writer
Published January 26, 2011
Reviewed By Edward C. Geehr, M.D

You might be spending the entire night gasping for breath – waking up and falling back asleep immediately, up to 20-60 times per hour. And you might not even know it.

This potentially serious condition, called obstructive sleep apnea, occurs in people with a narrowed airway, either since birth or after gaining weight around their neck.

Normally, muscles in the face and neck relax during sleep, including the tongue, cheek muscles soft palate and uvula (the soft tissue that hangs in the back of your mouth).

If you have sleep apnea, this already narrow airway closes completely, making you stop breathing for at least 10 seconds.

That’s when the body’s built-in survival mechanism kicks in, Gromer says.

“Your brain says, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve got to save you,’ and wakes you up,” she says.

Your heart starts pounding, blood pressure rises, and body temperature skyrockets. That opens the airways, making you gasp and take in air. Then you fall back asleep immediately and the process starts again.

The result: extreme fatigue the next day and increased cardiovascular stress each time you’re jolted awake.
“You’ll always wake up tired,” Gromer says. “Sleep becomes very unrestful. The most common thing I hear [from my sleep apnea patients] is ‘I sleep, but I have no energy.’”

Because sufferers fall asleep immediately after each episode, many don’t know they have sleep apnea until someone informs them. Bed partners unusually notice loud snoring, choking or gasping sounds.

What you can do about it: See a sleep specialist.

Sleep apnea gets worse as you age, and fatigue can be as dangerous as cardiovascular stress. It slows your reaction time, impairs judgment, and may even make you fall asleep at the wheel of your car.

The most common treatment is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), a mask the sleeper wears to assist with breathing.

Other options include surgery to remove or reduce the uvula, soft palate and surrounding tissues, or to stiffen them with deliberate scarring. However, it doesn’t reliably cure sleep apnea, and some scarring may aggravate symptoms, cautions sleep expert Max Hirshkowitz, Ph.D., author of Sleep Disorders for Dummies (For Dummies)

Oral appliances that support the tongue, soft palate or jaw to open airways are also available. But they reduce apnea only by 50%, Hirshkowitz says.

MY THOUGHTS

snoring is not necessarily sleep apnea. if you snore and you're not sure if this is snoring or sleep apnea check out this article - http://www.aaoms.org/sleep_apnea.php

PILLOWS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

PILLOW FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

from the article "What’s the Right Pillow for You?"
By Bonnie McCarthy, Special to Lifescript
Published January 30, 2011

Pregnant Women

Most women sleeping for two experience back pain, especially in the eighth and ninth month of pregnancy.

So the right pillow is a must, says Thomas Holtgrave, N.P., a Long Beach, Calif., a nurse practitioner specializing in obstetrics and gynecology.

He advises expectant moms to sleep on their sides, which encourages blood flow between the two main vessels that run down the center of the body (the descending aorta and the inferior vena cava).

Avoid sleeping on your back, because the gravity of a pregnant uterus obstructs blood flow.

Pregnant women should sleep with one or two pillows under the head, and another between the stomach and bed to prop up the belly and take pressure off ligaments.

Add a pillow between your knees to minimize pressure on hips and lower back. Another small pillow propped behind the lower back can provide lumbar support, Holtgrave says.

Or here’s a simpler solution: A full-body pregnancy pillow shaped like a giant, contoured “U” or “C.” Many women find that these support them perfectly, Zarzana says.

MY THOUGHTS

that's a lot of pillows! there won't be space for your husband.

PILLOW FOR SNORERS

PILLOW FOR SNORERS

from the article 'What’s the Right Pillow for You?'
By Bonnie McCarthy, Special to Lifescript
Published January 30, 2011

Snorers (and Their Partners)

If you or your bedmate snores like a foghorn, take heart. An anti-snoring pillow can help.

They’re designed to support the back of the neck and subtly shift a back-sleeper’s head to “the sniff position.” That’s as if you sat upright and pulled your head slightly forward to smell something, Kotler says. This opens airways for easier breathing.

It’s a gentle adjustment that won’t create other problems, such as neck pain.

If that doesn’t help, other factors may be at play.

Some snoring is related to sleep apnea, a dangerous condition marked by gasping or periods of stopped breathing during sleep.

Sleep apnea raises the risk of high blood pressure and is linked to depression and gastroesophageal reflux disease. If you suspect you or your partner have it, consult a doctor.

MY THOUGHTS

scary,huh!  here's a sample of an anti-snoring pillow

cgi.ebay.com

PILLOW FOR ALLERGY SUFFERER

PILLOWS FOR ALLERGY SUFFERERS

from the article "What’s the Right Pillow for You?"
By Bonnie McCarthy, Special to Lifescript
Published January 30, 2011

Allergy Sufferers

Choose synthetic fibers if you have asthma or allergies.

“Feather pillows can worsen allergies and make you cough or wheeze at night,” says Ronald Kotler, M.D., medical director of the Pennsylvania Hospital Sleep Disorders Center in Philadelphia and author of 365 Ways to Get a Good Night’s Sleep (Adams Media).

Other allergens that might be hiding in your pillow: pollen, pet dander and dust mites – plus their fecal matter. To keep these away from your head, use an anti-allergy pillow cover (on its own or under a regular pillowcase).

In addition to helping you sleep through the night, these pillows could make you look better when you wake up. These irritants often lead to morning facial swelling and puffiness, according to Mehmet Oz, M.D., co-author of YOU: The Owner’s Manual (Collins).

Down alternatives, such as lamb’s wool or silk, are natural dust-mite repellants, so they can also provide relief. Memory foam and water pillows are hypoallergenic too.

MY THOUGHTS

if you don't have this allergy, consider yourself really lucky. my nephew is so sensitive to dust, mites, insects.  everything has to be hypoallergenic.  quite expensive to maintain.

PILLOW FOR STOMACH SLEEPERS

PILLOW FOR STOMACH SLEEPERS

from the article "What’s the Right Pillow for You?"
By Bonnie McCarthy, Special to Lifescript
Published January 30, 2011

Stomach Sleepers

Sleeping on your stomach is a no-no. Don’t do it.

When you lie on your stomach, you have to twist your head in order to breathe. That can lead to neck pain and headaches, Zarzana says. Stomach sleeping also stresses the lower back.

Break the habit by sleeping on your side with a body pillow in front of you, McAllister suggests. This type of pillow is three times as long as a king-size, allowing you to snooze on your side while keeping the front of your body comfortably supported.

MY THOUGHTS

i've never really met anyone who sleeps on his/her stomach. except babies. i hope you're not one of them. if you are, go and get the body pillow.

PILLOW FOR NECK PAIN SUFFERERS

from the article "What’s the Right Pillow for You?"
By Bonnie McCarthy, Special to Lifescript
Published January 30, 2011

Neck Pain Sufferers

For the 35%-80% of the population who suffer from neck soreness, memory foam and water-based pillows are best, Zarzana says.
In fact, snoozing on a water-based pillow can relieve chronic neck pain, reduce the frequency of headaches and improve sleep by better supporting neck muscles, according to a 1997 Johns Hopkins University study.

MY THOUGHTS

in case you've forgotten, here's a memory pillow

www.alibaba.com

and a water pillow

www.allegromedical.com

PILLOW FOR SIDE SLEEPERS

PILLOW FOR SIDE SLEEPERS

from the article "What’s the Right Pillow for You?"
By Bonnie McCarthy, Special to Lifescript
Published January 30, 2011

Side Sleepers

A little feather pillow doesn’t give side sleepers the spine proper support. This can lead to compression of the vertebrae. If you’ve woken up with numbness and tingling in your arms, you’ve probably experienced that.

To keep your spine aligned, side sleepers should use a medium-firm pillow that supports the back and neck.

When testing different pillows, lie on your side and make sure the space under your neck – between the head and shoulders – is well-supported, Maas says.

To improve overall spinal alignment, sleep with a “leg-spacer” pillow between your knees, Zarzana suggests. These are designed to relieve pressure on the hips, knees, ankles and joints.

These pillows may also ease sciatica pain by reducing pressure on lumbar vertebrae where the sciatic nerve is located, says Wayne McAllister, a chiropractor in Stockton, Calif.

MY THOUGHTS

that's me!  i always sleep on my side. right or left.  but never on my back.  and i always wake up with numb and tingling arms.i should get one leg-spacer pillow -

RIGHT PILLOW FOR BACK SLEEPERS

RIGHT PILLOW FOR BACK SLEEPERS

from the article 'What’s the Right Pillow for You?'
By Bonnie McCarthy, Special to Lifescript
Published January 30, 2011

Back Sleepers

In this position, an unsupportive pillow or no pillow at all may place unnecessary pressure on the back and the joints between the vertebrae.

But a stack of pillows can cause injury too, Zanzana warns. If it makes your head jut farther forward than normal, you’ll get pain and tightness in your neck.

For back sleepers, she recommends memory foam, which molds to the neck’s natural curve. Denser pillows tend to be more supportive, but they’re also more expensive.

Another option is a water pillow, which has a water-filled base sandwiched between polyester filling. Just add water to achieve the desired pillow height.

Both types of pillows offer consistent support, even when you change positions.

Also, placing a second pillow under your knees – such as a bolster (tube-shaped pillow), half-bolster or wedge – can alleviate pressure on the lower back.

MY THOUGHTS

if you're wondering....

here's a memory pillow from bracesupport.com

a water pillow from zimbio.com

and a bolster from seattlehomesmag.com

IS YOUR PILLOW CAUSING YOU SLEEPLESS NIGHTS?

IS YOUR PILLOW CAUSING YOU SLEEPLESS NIGHTS?

from the article 'What’s the Right Pillow for You?'
By Bonnie McCarthy, Special to Lifescript
Published January 30, 2011

Having trouble sleeping? The right pillow can help you rest through the night. Whether you’re a back-sleeper or champion snorer, we’ll guide you to the best place to lay your head…

Hitting the pillow and getting some shut-eye isn’t always as easy as it seems.

About 75% of Americans suffer from one or more sleep disorders at least a few nights a week, says psychologist James Maas, Ph.D., a sleep expert and the author of Power Sleep (Harper).

Pain can also keep you up at night. Nearly 60% of U.S. women report that physical discomfort interrupts their slumber at least three nights a week, according to a poll by the National Sleep Foundation.

Poor sleep doesn’t just leave you bleary-eyed the next day. It can also have serious health consequences, including a higher risk of hypertension, stroke and heart attack, Maas says.

So what’s costing you those precious zzz’s?

Possibly your pillow.

The right support is medium firm and not too thick. It keeps your head and neck in a line, as if you were standing up, according to Maas.

If it doesn’t, you can end up with headaches, insomnia, pain, stiffness, and numbness or tingling in the arms, says Michelle Zarzana, D.C., a chiropractor in Long Beach, Calif.

And remember, pillows have a shelf life.

“Good pillows might last 4-5 years if you’re lucky, but there are people sleeping with the same pillow they’ve had since they were children,” Maas says.

And that’s just the beginning. The way you sleep and certain health conditions also determine which pillow you need. We asked experts how to get the right support.

MY THOUGHTS

let's just stop right there.  the article is too long.  anyway, the kind of pillow you need depends on the type of sleeper you are.  which could be any of the following:

1. Back Sleepers

2. Side Sleepers

3. Stomach Sleepers

4. Neck Pain Sufferers

5. Allergy Sufferers
6. Snorers (and Their Partners)

7. Pregnant Women