NARCOLEPSY
from the article '4 Sleep Disorders Solved'
By Stephanie Schorow, Special to Lifescript
Published April 26, 2010
Narcolepsy
What it is: In TV shows and movies, narcoleptics fall asleep in mid-sentence and wake up as if nothing happened. In reality, a person suffering from narcolepsy has intense daytime sleepiness and dozes off gradually, Schulman says, sometimes in inappropriate situations.
“People with narcolepsy are very sleepy but it’s not as if they're walking and suddenly drop over asleep,” he says.
Narcoleptics may also have to deal with the double-whammy of insomnia too. Not only do they fall asleep during the day, but they can have periods of intense wakefulness during the night.
About one in every 2,000 people suffers from narcolepsy.
It's associated with a condition called cataplexy and its sufferers sometimes experience episodes of partial or total muscle loss, often triggered by emotions such as anger or laughter.
It may be frightening to see someone go completely slack for 30-60 seconds, but cataplexy isn't life-threatening, Schulman says. “People are awake during cataplexy attacks, but they just can’t move.”
Narcolepsy seems to affect men just slightly more than women, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. It generally starts in the teens but may not be diagnosed until a person is 20-30 years old. Often, it’s never diagnosed.
“People just get used to being tired,” Schulman says.
What causes narcolepsy: Research has found differences between normal sleepers and narcoleptics during the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep. Narcoleptics go into REM sleep much more quickly than normal sleepers.
The brain chemical hypocretin may be to blame. Hypocretin helps regulate wakefulness and keeps REM sleep stable. Narcoleptics have lower levels of this chemical, but researchers don’t know why. There could be a genetic link: Up to 10% of people with narcolepsy report having a family member with the same symptoms, according to the National Institutes of Health.
How to treat narcolepsy: There’s no cure, so daytime sleepiness and drowsiness is treated symptomatically. Short naps can be particularly effective. In extreme cases, medications – often stimulants – can be prescribed.
MY THOUGHTS
Sounds serious to me. Especially since there's no cure. I remember having a friends (who has joined our Creator at age 40 or so), who would fall asleep while choosing food from a restaurant menu. Found it funny then. Never knew it was a sleep disorder.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
SOUND SLEEP - Best Energy Source
Your Best Energy Source—Sound Sleep
By Woodson Merrell, MD
O, The Oprah Magazine | September 16, 2008
In an excerpt from his book, The Source, Woodson Merrell, MD, explains how to get quality sleep quickly and easily.
One of the comments I frequently hear from patients is "I don't need a lot of sleep." A corollary of this is the oft-repeated phrase "I don't have enough time to sleep." As gently as I can, I break the news that adequate, regenerative rest is a critical foundation of health as well as a source of abundant energy.
Inadequate sleep is now associated with heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, among other chronic diseases. Recent investigations have helped prove that eight hours a night is optimum for cellular rejuvenation, and yet, according to one study, 71 percent of Americans get less than that—and are sleep deprived. Much of our sleep debt has been run up by choice—people just don't want to turn out the lights. But insomnia is also on the rise. One study put the national price tag of treating it at $14 billion.
Most people probably don't have time to catch up on lost sleep by napping in the middle of the day (God bless the cultures that encourage a siesta), but you can make adjustments in your habits to improve the quantity and quality of regenerative rest at night.
I'll share some very simple and practical—nonpharmaceutical—ways to improve your sleep. Before you try them, consider talking to your doctor if you're averaging less than seven hours a night or always feel tired. Snoring, stress, heartburn, and chronic pain can all disrupt your rest and may be symptoms of serious health issues.
Good Bedding
A 2001 German study found that a medium-firm pillow significantly improved sleep (the firmest was of no advantage). Bottom line: A pillow should support your head, not bury it.
Pillows also frequently contribute to allergies that impair breathing. The source of allergens can be the filling (down allergies are common) or dust mites. I highly recommend getting a nonallergenic foam pillow and a dust-mite-blocking protector. You should toss your pillow into the dryer every few months to kill dust mites and replace it every couple of years.
If you're in the market for a mattress, Consumer Reports found that people who spent 15 minutes testing a bed in the store—spending at least five minutes on each side, especially in their preferred sleeping position—were as satisfied as those who were allowed to take the beds home for a test sleep.
Light Therapy
By exposing sleep-deprived people to specially designed full-spectrum lights (10,000 lux fluorescent bulbs) for 30 minutes in the early morning, scientists have helped them get to sleep earlier and stay asleep longer. One theory is that regular exposure to such light in the morning triggers a more advantageous nighttime release of melatonin, the hormone that keeps your body clock on a regular schedule, ensuring that you feel sleepy in the evening and stay asleep through the night.
Light therapy can work wonders for people who find it difficult to fall asleep before midnight and are sluggish in the morning. For serious insomnia, it's best to work with a sleep specialist to devise a treatment program, which usually requires that you commit to waking up earlier each morning. But if you're suffering, it's worth a try.
Dark Therapy
Scientists studying the light-melatonin connection have discovered that the blue spectrum of light can disrupt circadian rhythms and keep you awake. Exposure to blue light late at night—it's emitted by computers, televisions, even digital clocks—can wreak havoc with your body clock. Keep your room pitch-dark at night, and cover all digital clock or DVD player readouts.
Behavioral Therapy
Here's the Catch-22: Obsessing about not getting enough sleep can stop you from getting enough sleep. This is so common that therapists have developed a protocol of behavioral modification that's been shown to work 70 to 80 percent of the time when this is the case.
The drill goes like this: Go to bed only when sleepy, and get up if you haven't fallen asleep in 20 minutes. Avoid nonsleep activities in bed (watching TV, eating, planning, or problem solving). Try to get up at the same time every morning. Don't get attached to unrealistic expectations of sleeping soundly every night, and try not to blame insomnia for any daytime problems. And don't catastrophize (imagine the bad things that will happen as a result of a poor night's sleep).
Acupuncture
Because research suggests that acupuncture helps balance neurotransmitters (elevating levels of the feel-good hormones called endorphins, for example), there's a logic for its use in promoting relaxation, which results in a better quality of sleep. In China acupuncture has been used successfully for thousands of years to treat sleep problems, though this effect has not been sufficiently studied in controlled trials in Western medicine. In my own practice, I use acupuncture as part of a comprehensive approach to insomnia.
And If Those Don't Work...
While lifestyle adjustments such as proper diet, exercise, and stress control are most important in improving sleep, nutritional supplements can provide a helpful nondrug transitional aid to improve sleep until you can make those changes. Just check with your doctor first.
Melatonin
It's the master hormone for regulation of the sleep cycle. Melatonin levels in the body rise just before you fall asleep and decline through the night, hitting a low point about two hours before you wake. (Melatonin is also a powerful antioxidant that enhances the reparative function of sleep.) Studies show that ingesting the hormone as a supplement can help reset the body clock, which is why it's used to alleviate jet lag. Melatonin can also gradually help insomniacs feel sleepy at an earlier hour: Take 1 to 3 milligrams two to three hours before the desired sleep time. Remember: While melatonin can help normalize sleep patterns, it is not a sleeping pill.
Valerian (Valeriana Officinalis)
A flowering plant, valerian is the closest you can get to an herbal sleeping pill—its sedative powers far outperform chamomile. Research suggests that components of valerian root affect enzyme systems that control neurotransmitter levels responsible for sleepiness. (Due to its sedative effect, valerian should not be taken before driving or operating machinery.) Try 400 to 600 milligrams an hour or two before bedtime.
L-Theanine
This amino acid, which you can find in most supplement stores, helps reduce tension and stress. I commonly recommend L-theanine in conjunction with other treatments for insomnia. Typical dosage is 300 milligrams a day.
MY THOUGHTS
I'm pretty sure the light and the dark therapy will work. I've been getting a lot of sun in the mornings and my sleeping habits have improved. Not having TV in the bedroom does the trick, too. It takes willpower and some amount of getting used to. But it works.
By Woodson Merrell, MD
O, The Oprah Magazine | September 16, 2008
In an excerpt from his book, The Source, Woodson Merrell, MD, explains how to get quality sleep quickly and easily.
One of the comments I frequently hear from patients is "I don't need a lot of sleep." A corollary of this is the oft-repeated phrase "I don't have enough time to sleep." As gently as I can, I break the news that adequate, regenerative rest is a critical foundation of health as well as a source of abundant energy.
Inadequate sleep is now associated with heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, among other chronic diseases. Recent investigations have helped prove that eight hours a night is optimum for cellular rejuvenation, and yet, according to one study, 71 percent of Americans get less than that—and are sleep deprived. Much of our sleep debt has been run up by choice—people just don't want to turn out the lights. But insomnia is also on the rise. One study put the national price tag of treating it at $14 billion.
Most people probably don't have time to catch up on lost sleep by napping in the middle of the day (God bless the cultures that encourage a siesta), but you can make adjustments in your habits to improve the quantity and quality of regenerative rest at night.
I'll share some very simple and practical—nonpharmaceutical—ways to improve your sleep. Before you try them, consider talking to your doctor if you're averaging less than seven hours a night or always feel tired. Snoring, stress, heartburn, and chronic pain can all disrupt your rest and may be symptoms of serious health issues.
Good Bedding
A 2001 German study found that a medium-firm pillow significantly improved sleep (the firmest was of no advantage). Bottom line: A pillow should support your head, not bury it.
Pillows also frequently contribute to allergies that impair breathing. The source of allergens can be the filling (down allergies are common) or dust mites. I highly recommend getting a nonallergenic foam pillow and a dust-mite-blocking protector. You should toss your pillow into the dryer every few months to kill dust mites and replace it every couple of years.
If you're in the market for a mattress, Consumer Reports found that people who spent 15 minutes testing a bed in the store—spending at least five minutes on each side, especially in their preferred sleeping position—were as satisfied as those who were allowed to take the beds home for a test sleep.
Light Therapy
By exposing sleep-deprived people to specially designed full-spectrum lights (10,000 lux fluorescent bulbs) for 30 minutes in the early morning, scientists have helped them get to sleep earlier and stay asleep longer. One theory is that regular exposure to such light in the morning triggers a more advantageous nighttime release of melatonin, the hormone that keeps your body clock on a regular schedule, ensuring that you feel sleepy in the evening and stay asleep through the night.
Light therapy can work wonders for people who find it difficult to fall asleep before midnight and are sluggish in the morning. For serious insomnia, it's best to work with a sleep specialist to devise a treatment program, which usually requires that you commit to waking up earlier each morning. But if you're suffering, it's worth a try.
Dark Therapy
Scientists studying the light-melatonin connection have discovered that the blue spectrum of light can disrupt circadian rhythms and keep you awake. Exposure to blue light late at night—it's emitted by computers, televisions, even digital clocks—can wreak havoc with your body clock. Keep your room pitch-dark at night, and cover all digital clock or DVD player readouts.
Behavioral Therapy
Here's the Catch-22: Obsessing about not getting enough sleep can stop you from getting enough sleep. This is so common that therapists have developed a protocol of behavioral modification that's been shown to work 70 to 80 percent of the time when this is the case.
The drill goes like this: Go to bed only when sleepy, and get up if you haven't fallen asleep in 20 minutes. Avoid nonsleep activities in bed (watching TV, eating, planning, or problem solving). Try to get up at the same time every morning. Don't get attached to unrealistic expectations of sleeping soundly every night, and try not to blame insomnia for any daytime problems. And don't catastrophize (imagine the bad things that will happen as a result of a poor night's sleep).
Acupuncture
Because research suggests that acupuncture helps balance neurotransmitters (elevating levels of the feel-good hormones called endorphins, for example), there's a logic for its use in promoting relaxation, which results in a better quality of sleep. In China acupuncture has been used successfully for thousands of years to treat sleep problems, though this effect has not been sufficiently studied in controlled trials in Western medicine. In my own practice, I use acupuncture as part of a comprehensive approach to insomnia.
And If Those Don't Work...
While lifestyle adjustments such as proper diet, exercise, and stress control are most important in improving sleep, nutritional supplements can provide a helpful nondrug transitional aid to improve sleep until you can make those changes. Just check with your doctor first.
Melatonin
It's the master hormone for regulation of the sleep cycle. Melatonin levels in the body rise just before you fall asleep and decline through the night, hitting a low point about two hours before you wake. (Melatonin is also a powerful antioxidant that enhances the reparative function of sleep.) Studies show that ingesting the hormone as a supplement can help reset the body clock, which is why it's used to alleviate jet lag. Melatonin can also gradually help insomniacs feel sleepy at an earlier hour: Take 1 to 3 milligrams two to three hours before the desired sleep time. Remember: While melatonin can help normalize sleep patterns, it is not a sleeping pill.
Valerian (Valeriana Officinalis)
A flowering plant, valerian is the closest you can get to an herbal sleeping pill—its sedative powers far outperform chamomile. Research suggests that components of valerian root affect enzyme systems that control neurotransmitter levels responsible for sleepiness. (Due to its sedative effect, valerian should not be taken before driving or operating machinery.) Try 400 to 600 milligrams an hour or two before bedtime.
L-Theanine
This amino acid, which you can find in most supplement stores, helps reduce tension and stress. I commonly recommend L-theanine in conjunction with other treatments for insomnia. Typical dosage is 300 milligrams a day.
MY THOUGHTS
I'm pretty sure the light and the dark therapy will work. I've been getting a lot of sun in the mornings and my sleeping habits have improved. Not having TV in the bedroom does the trick, too. It takes willpower and some amount of getting used to. But it works.
Monday, April 11, 2011
SLEEP APNEA
OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA
from the article '4 Sleep Disorders Solved'
By Stephanie Schorow, Special to Lifescript
Published April 26, 2010
Obstructive sleep apnea
What it is: It's a breathing disorder that causes loud snoring and pauses in breathing that last about 10-30 seconds, sometimes longer.
It occurs when certain airway muscles relax during sleep, causing soft tissue in the back of the throat to collapse and block the upper airway.
Apnea results in fragmented or poor quality sleep. More ominously, it’s also associated with high blood pressure, heart problems, memory problems and headaches. It may lead to poor job performance and even motor vehicle crashes among sleep-deprived drivers.
In fact, the National Transportation Safety Board has urged commercial truck and bus drivers and merchant ship pilots to be screened for the condition.
What causes sleep apnea: It can be weight-related. As weight accumulates, fatty tissue can further block the air passage, making sleep apnea worse.
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, about 9% of women and 24% of men have obstructive sleep apnea. Not all, however, report daytime sleepiness as a result.
As women age and go through menopause, they tend to report more sleep apnea. Weight gain and hormone changes may be the cause.
How to treat sleep apnea: Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and changing sleeping position, may help. (Apnea tends to be worse when sleeping on the back.)
More severe cases may be treated with a Continuous Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP) mask that gently blows air into the throat during sleep. The masks are considered quite effective, but wearing it can take some getting used to.
Another option: surgery to widen the breathing passages. This involves removing, shrinking or stiffening excess tissue in the throat.
MY THOUGHTS
I wonder if partners, of people with sleep apnea, get enough sleep. I'm sure it's bothersome in the beginning - just like any other habits you were not aware of. It would take some getting used to but I know of several people who have learned to live with the sleep apnea of their partners.
from the article '4 Sleep Disorders Solved'
By Stephanie Schorow, Special to Lifescript
Published April 26, 2010
Obstructive sleep apnea
What it is: It's a breathing disorder that causes loud snoring and pauses in breathing that last about 10-30 seconds, sometimes longer.
It occurs when certain airway muscles relax during sleep, causing soft tissue in the back of the throat to collapse and block the upper airway.
Apnea results in fragmented or poor quality sleep. More ominously, it’s also associated with high blood pressure, heart problems, memory problems and headaches. It may lead to poor job performance and even motor vehicle crashes among sleep-deprived drivers.
In fact, the National Transportation Safety Board has urged commercial truck and bus drivers and merchant ship pilots to be screened for the condition.
What causes sleep apnea: It can be weight-related. As weight accumulates, fatty tissue can further block the air passage, making sleep apnea worse.
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, about 9% of women and 24% of men have obstructive sleep apnea. Not all, however, report daytime sleepiness as a result.
As women age and go through menopause, they tend to report more sleep apnea. Weight gain and hormone changes may be the cause.
How to treat sleep apnea: Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and changing sleeping position, may help. (Apnea tends to be worse when sleeping on the back.)
More severe cases may be treated with a Continuous Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP) mask that gently blows air into the throat during sleep. The masks are considered quite effective, but wearing it can take some getting used to.
Another option: surgery to widen the breathing passages. This involves removing, shrinking or stiffening excess tissue in the throat.
MY THOUGHTS
I wonder if partners, of people with sleep apnea, get enough sleep. I'm sure it's bothersome in the beginning - just like any other habits you were not aware of. It would take some getting used to but I know of several people who have learned to live with the sleep apnea of their partners.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME
RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME
from the article 4 Sleep Disorders Solved
By Stephanie Schorow, Special to Lifescript
Published April 26, 2010
Restless leg syndrome (RLS)
What it is: It's a neurological disorder characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable urge to move when resting or sleeping.
Some people describe it as an “odd” feeling in their legs or an inability to sit still. Others describe a sensation of burning, creeping, tugging or even insects crawling inside the legs.
Women are nearly twice as likely to suffer from RLS than men, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Causes of RLS: Its cause is unclear, but it seems to be related to iron and/or dopamine deficiencies in the body, says Schulman of Emory’s sleep lab. Women may be particularly affected because menstruation tends to deplete iron.
How to treat RLS: Treatment depends on the severity of symptoms. For less serious cases, a doctor may recommend hot or cold showers, using heating pads, exercising or massage therapy – all relax the muscles.
Severe cases may warrant anti-seizure medications and drugs that mimic dopamine, says Brigham’s Kirsch. Another effective option is iron supplements.
Several medications can aggravate RLS symptoms, including antidepressants, tranquilizers and non-prescription allergy and cold medications with antihistamines.
MY THOUGHTS
I cannot imagine it. RLS doesn't seem to be the usual numbness we feel when our legs stayed cramped in one position for a period of time. But if you have the slightest suspicion that you might have RLS, check with your doctor for an RLS specialist. Sounds serious to me.
from the article 4 Sleep Disorders Solved
By Stephanie Schorow, Special to Lifescript
Published April 26, 2010
Restless leg syndrome (RLS)
What it is: It's a neurological disorder characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable urge to move when resting or sleeping.
Some people describe it as an “odd” feeling in their legs or an inability to sit still. Others describe a sensation of burning, creeping, tugging or even insects crawling inside the legs.
Women are nearly twice as likely to suffer from RLS than men, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Causes of RLS: Its cause is unclear, but it seems to be related to iron and/or dopamine deficiencies in the body, says Schulman of Emory’s sleep lab. Women may be particularly affected because menstruation tends to deplete iron.
How to treat RLS: Treatment depends on the severity of symptoms. For less serious cases, a doctor may recommend hot or cold showers, using heating pads, exercising or massage therapy – all relax the muscles.
Severe cases may warrant anti-seizure medications and drugs that mimic dopamine, says Brigham’s Kirsch. Another effective option is iron supplements.
Several medications can aggravate RLS symptoms, including antidepressants, tranquilizers and non-prescription allergy and cold medications with antihistamines.
MY THOUGHTS
I cannot imagine it. RLS doesn't seem to be the usual numbness we feel when our legs stayed cramped in one position for a period of time. But if you have the slightest suspicion that you might have RLS, check with your doctor for an RLS specialist. Sounds serious to me.
DEAL WITH INSOMNIA
DEAL WITH INSOMNIA
from the article '4 Sleep Disorders Solved'
By Stephanie Schorow, Special to Lifescript
Published April 26, 2010
Insomnia
What it is: Do you have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep? It could be insomnia. Most people have the occasional sleepless night, usually during stressful times. However, about 10% of American adults report chronic insomnia. Women are more likely than men to report ongoing problems, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
One reason is hormones: Pregnancy and menopause can trigger insomnia, probably due to shifts in estrogen levels. In fact, a 2007 National Sleep Foundation poll found that 30% of pregnant women and 42% of post-partum women say they rarely or never get a good night’s sleep, compared to 15% of all women.
Causes of insomnia: A few sleepless nights, particularly during a period of stress or major life change, is no cause for alarm. Such “reactive insomnia” often goes away on its own, says Schulman of the Emory Sleep Disorders Laboratory.
But if those sleepless nights pile up, it can set the stage for chronic insomnia. Going to bed becomes an exercise in anxiety because “you can’t get sleep off your mind, so you can’t sleep,” Schulman says. Simply put, you psych yourself out.
Women are more likely than men to see their lack of sleep as a sign of an impending health disaster, says Gregg D. Jacobs, M.D., an insomnia specialist at the Sleep Disorders Center at the University of Massachusetts and author of Say Goodnight to Insomnia (Holt).
This only serves to reinforce patterns of sleeplessness, he says.
Depression and anxiety can also be underlying causes of insomnia. That’s why you should discuss long-term insomnia with a health care professional.
How to treat insomnia: If you have trouble sleeping, your instinct might be to reach for a sleeping aid. That may be OK for a few nights, but experts caution against using sleeping pills for more than a month.
Sleep medications have side effects, including drowsiness and memory loss, and they can become psychologically, if not physically, addicting, Jacobs says. (If you’re pregnant, talk to your doctor before taking any sort of sleeping aid.)
The best way to overcome insomnia is to take inventory of your bedtime routines and sleeping habits. Most of the time, small changes can make a difference.
Start by cutting back on caffeine. Make your room dark and cool. And try to adhere to a consistent sleep schedule by waking up and going to bed at the same time every day, even on weekends.
MY THOUGHTS
Avoid sleeping during the day. You want to be really tired and sleepy in the evenings. And take out the TV from your bedroom. Contrary to popular belief, TV keeps you awake.
from the article '4 Sleep Disorders Solved'
By Stephanie Schorow, Special to Lifescript
Published April 26, 2010
Insomnia
What it is: Do you have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep? It could be insomnia. Most people have the occasional sleepless night, usually during stressful times. However, about 10% of American adults report chronic insomnia. Women are more likely than men to report ongoing problems, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
One reason is hormones: Pregnancy and menopause can trigger insomnia, probably due to shifts in estrogen levels. In fact, a 2007 National Sleep Foundation poll found that 30% of pregnant women and 42% of post-partum women say they rarely or never get a good night’s sleep, compared to 15% of all women.
Causes of insomnia: A few sleepless nights, particularly during a period of stress or major life change, is no cause for alarm. Such “reactive insomnia” often goes away on its own, says Schulman of the Emory Sleep Disorders Laboratory.
But if those sleepless nights pile up, it can set the stage for chronic insomnia. Going to bed becomes an exercise in anxiety because “you can’t get sleep off your mind, so you can’t sleep,” Schulman says. Simply put, you psych yourself out.
Women are more likely than men to see their lack of sleep as a sign of an impending health disaster, says Gregg D. Jacobs, M.D., an insomnia specialist at the Sleep Disorders Center at the University of Massachusetts and author of Say Goodnight to Insomnia (Holt).
This only serves to reinforce patterns of sleeplessness, he says.
Depression and anxiety can also be underlying causes of insomnia. That’s why you should discuss long-term insomnia with a health care professional.
How to treat insomnia: If you have trouble sleeping, your instinct might be to reach for a sleeping aid. That may be OK for a few nights, but experts caution against using sleeping pills for more than a month.
Sleep medications have side effects, including drowsiness and memory loss, and they can become psychologically, if not physically, addicting, Jacobs says. (If you’re pregnant, talk to your doctor before taking any sort of sleeping aid.)
The best way to overcome insomnia is to take inventory of your bedtime routines and sleeping habits. Most of the time, small changes can make a difference.
Start by cutting back on caffeine. Make your room dark and cool. And try to adhere to a consistent sleep schedule by waking up and going to bed at the same time every day, even on weekends.
MY THOUGHTS
Avoid sleeping during the day. You want to be really tired and sleepy in the evenings. And take out the TV from your bedroom. Contrary to popular belief, TV keeps you awake.
Friday, April 8, 2011
SOLVING SLEEP DISORDERS
SOLVING SLEEP DISORDERS
FROM THE ARTICLE '4 Sleep Disorders Solved'
By Stephanie Schorow, Special to Lifescript
Published April 26, 2010
Do you toss and turn at night or wake up feeling exhausted? You could have a sleep disorder that’s keeping you from getting the zzz’s you need. Find out what causes these 4 common sleep woes and how to banish them for good. Plus, test your sleep IQ with our quiz…
Sleep: New moms dream about it. Night-shift workers rarely get enough. But they’re not the only ones not getting adequate pillow time. Most women don't either.
Adults need about 7-9 hours of sleep per night, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Yet most women age 30-60 years old are getting less – six hours and 41 minutes to be exact.
Unfortunately, it’s not just the resulting dark circles women have to worry about. Lack of sleep can trigger a host of problems, including:
* Daytime sleepiness
* Problems concentrating
* Poor performance on the job or at school
* Irritability
* Increased likelihood of illness
* Weight gain
“The more common the sleep loss, the worse the problems get,” says Douglas Kirsch, M.D., a sleep specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Experts agree that most people who boast about getting by on five or six hours of sleep are kidding themselves.
“They don’t realize how much better they would be with seven to eight hours,” says David Schulman, M.D., director of the Emory Sleep Disorders Laboratory in Atlanta.
Here are 4 common problems that get in the way of slumber and what to do about them:
1. Insomnia
2. Restless leg syndrome (RLS)
3. Obstructive sleep apnea
4. Narcolepsy
MY THOUGHTS
I have to cut this article because it's too long. Will be posting the suggested cure for the 4 sleep disorders in separate blogs - including how to get a good night's sleep.
FROM THE ARTICLE '4 Sleep Disorders Solved'
By Stephanie Schorow, Special to Lifescript
Published April 26, 2010
Do you toss and turn at night or wake up feeling exhausted? You could have a sleep disorder that’s keeping you from getting the zzz’s you need. Find out what causes these 4 common sleep woes and how to banish them for good. Plus, test your sleep IQ with our quiz…
Sleep: New moms dream about it. Night-shift workers rarely get enough. But they’re not the only ones not getting adequate pillow time. Most women don't either.
Adults need about 7-9 hours of sleep per night, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Yet most women age 30-60 years old are getting less – six hours and 41 minutes to be exact.
Unfortunately, it’s not just the resulting dark circles women have to worry about. Lack of sleep can trigger a host of problems, including:
* Daytime sleepiness
* Problems concentrating
* Poor performance on the job or at school
* Irritability
* Increased likelihood of illness
* Weight gain
“The more common the sleep loss, the worse the problems get,” says Douglas Kirsch, M.D., a sleep specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Experts agree that most people who boast about getting by on five or six hours of sleep are kidding themselves.
“They don’t realize how much better they would be with seven to eight hours,” says David Schulman, M.D., director of the Emory Sleep Disorders Laboratory in Atlanta.
Here are 4 common problems that get in the way of slumber and what to do about them:
1. Insomnia
2. Restless leg syndrome (RLS)
3. Obstructive sleep apnea
4. Narcolepsy
MY THOUGHTS
I have to cut this article because it's too long. Will be posting the suggested cure for the 4 sleep disorders in separate blogs - including how to get a good night's sleep.
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