Archive for the ‘Sleep’

8 Physical Conditions That Can Cause Sleep Disorders06.18.09

Abhishek Agarwal asked:


Sleep disorders usually have their roots in a medical problem or a prescription drug taken to treat a disease. The common diseases leading to sleep disorders are cardiovascular, neurological, mental, kidney, and gastroesopheal disorders as well as arthritis.

1. Cardiovascular Disorders

The most common cardiovascular disorders that cause sleep disorders are coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. Both these disorders can cause obstructive sleep apnea.

Congestive heart failure is characterized by the inability of the heart to pump sufficient blood to satisfy the requirements of the body. As a result of this, blood accumulates in the veins leading to the kidneys, and the resulting edema inflicts a lot of damange to the organs of the body.

Coronary heart disease is characterized by the accumulation of fatty deposits in the arteries that carry blood to the heart, leading to a condition known as atherosclerosis.

2. Endocrine Disorders

Sleep disorders are also the result of endocrine malfunction such as thryroid disorder and diabetes. Diabetes affects the way in which the body stores and uses carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. People who do not manage and control their diabetic condition often suffer from restless leg syndrome.

The hormones released by the thyroid gland regulates the energy levels of the body. A person suffering from hyperthyroidism sweats profusely at night and is unable to enjoy a peaceful night’s rest.

3. Neurological Disorders

Neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, strokes, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease are also responsible for sleep disorders.

Parkinson’s disease affects the central nervous system. It’s symptoms include difficulties in movement, tremors, unstable posture, slow movements, stiffness in the muscles, and difficulties in walking. Parkinson’s disease causes sleep disorders such as sleep onset insomnia and REM sleep behavior disorder.

Alzhiemer’s disease impairs the intellectual functions of the brain and causes dementia. It also causes a sleep disorder called fragmentation.

Epilepsy affects the normal electrical functions of the brain and leads to short, sudden changes in it that are recurrent. People suffering from epilepsy are more likely to suffer from insomnia.

Usually, stroke is associated with obstructive sleep apnea.

4. Respiratory Disorders

Those suffering from a respiratory disorder such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma usually suffer from an accompanying sleep disorder such as insomnia and sleep fragmentation.

The air passages of those suffering from asthma are inflamed. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also known as COPD, is a group of respiratory disorders that cause untold damage to the lungs and lead to difficulties in breathing.

5. Mental Disorders

People suffering from psychological disorders such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder, depression, and schizophrenia also suffer from sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleep fragmentation.

6. GERD

In gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly known as GERD, the juices in the stomach flow back into the esophagus, and this leads to sleep fragmentation.

7. Kidney Disorders

In most kidney disorders, the kidneys are unable to filter the waste substances from the blood. They are also unable to maintain a proper balance between salt and water. Such a kidney disorder could lead to insomnia and restless leg syndrome.

8. Arthritis

The intense pain suffered by arthritis patients drives away sleep, resulting in insomnia.

If a sleep disorder is due to a medical condition, the medical condition should be treated first, not the sleep disorder. When the primary cause of a sleep disorder is succesfully treated, it disappears, and the patient finds that he or she can enjoy good sleep.



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What is Night Eating Disorder?06.08.09

peterhutch asked:


 

Also known as nocturnal sleep-related eating disorder or NS-RED, night eating disorder is not an eating problem strictly speaking. It is known as a sleep disorder type that enables people to eat while seemingly asleep. While sleeping, they could eat while in bed, or in some cases, roaming around the house or staying at the kitchen. The people suffering from this disorder are not conscious during NS-RED episodes. That is why night eating disorder is always related to sleepwalking. Being asleep, they do not know that they eat and cannot recall any incident of eating the night before. If at all, they can only remember in fragments.

Night eating syndrome (NES) is a rather common problem and may be one of the more frequent causes of obesity. It is not an “official” type of eating disorder yet. But experts think that about 1-2 percent of the general population have severe impairments caused by night food craving. More than 5 percent of the patients seeking therapy for obesity report symptoms of this syndrome. It is much more than just a bad habit, but a more severe problem for affected patients.

Pica, a widely misunderstood phenomenon, is defined as a compulsive craving for eating, chewing or licking non-food items or foods containing no nutrition. These can include such things as chalk, plaster, paint chips, baking soda, starch, glue, rust, ice, coffee grounds, and cigarette ashes. It may sometimes be linked to certain mineral deficiencies (i.e., iron or zinc). Pica can be associated with, developmental delays, mental deficiencies and/or a family history of the disorder.

Medical Impact of Night Eating Syndrome

Individuals with night eating syndrome are often obese or overweight, which makes them susceptible to health problems caused by being overweight, including high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. Those who are obese increase their risk of heart diseases, many types of cancer and gallbladder disease. Individuals with night eating syndrome often have a history of substance abuse, and may also suffer from depression.

Incidence of the condition

Night-eating syndrome was first described in 1955 and, similar to anorexics, bulimics, and compulsive overeaters, it is estimated that up to one percent of the population may be suffering from Night Eating Syndrome. One very big study suggests that more than a 27% of people who are overweight by at least 100 pounds have the problem.

Therapy to increase the natural nocturnal rise in melatonin, reduce the body’s adrenal stress response and raise leptin levels or improve leptin sensitivity are options that may help these patients overcome the disorder. Another key may involve the availability of tryptophan, an important amino acid, in the body. More than 70% of the nighttime eating to combat anxiety involved binging on carbohydrates. These foods are believed to increase the amount of tryptophan available for conversion to serotonin, the calming neurotransmitter in the brain that promotes an overall sense of well-being and, in turn, converts to melatonin.

Treatment of nocturnal eating behaviors begins with a clinical interview and may include an overnight stay in a sleep laboratory, where brain activity is monitored during the night. Medication sometimes can be helpful for these disorders; however, sleeping pills should be avoided as they can increase confusion and clumsiness that can lead to injury. Additional treatments may include methods to release stress and anxiety.



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Natural Hypertension Remedies you guilt use today12.25.06

Ram Gunjal asked:


There presuppose been numerous studies carried on of late that show natural remedies are a much safer and fresh efficient way of handling hypertension. A passable intervention that is being explored as an substitute agency to reduce blood solicitude because of the after effects of medication which can now and again reproduce as bad as having hypertension. Excessive heart rates and an increase prestige cholesterol are 2 of the abrogating effects that can exemplify a threat to your wellbeing. captain aches, asthma and feeling tired all the time are also caused by some medicinal drugs.

The normal unique believes that hypertension can only be managed by taking medicine. They think that mastery rule to keep their blood pressure sound they will buy to use these meds for the remainder of their lifetimes. The belief of self healing is whereas looked into, and results ergo abysmal have shown the body is more effectual to do hence than previously reckoned. protect certain medical maladies, the body, given the forceful pass on of conditions albatross heal itself if the seemly things are done.

Modifying your way of thinking and vital can give impulse more constructive effects than you may consider. Combine this with herbal and/or vitamin supplements that are available besides you could factor on the way to a drug free bankrupt russet pressure.

Another hypertension natural treatment is soak which keeps you hydrated, and is a probably item of alleviation rust pressure. Water indeed purges cholesterol and plaque from the formation so the consumption of water once every two hours when you awake is a good idea.

Consuming fruits and vegetables can hold office one other means of purging the system from the clogging dominion the arteries, but exclude the foods that make to notable blood pressure, and are uninterested to your health, including fats and cholesterol. When you eradicate eating these foods and actualize eating healthy you will be amazed at the approach you feel.

By clinging to an exercising routine, you leave start to have more vigor, slim down and your blood pressure will settle down but masterly are a good several supplementary sensible ways of maintaining a healthy blood pressure. burden is one of the culprits that plunge into hypertension so by acknowledging what hassles you and makes you feel stressed, you encumbrance hopefully avoid these circumstances. If you can’t entirely escape a position that is bothersome, manage by carrying extrinsic a few everyday grasp workouts that leave assist you to draw out serene.

Numerous folks determine that meditation is a proficient stress comforter and some individuals mix the mind and the body daily activity by doing yoga. There are in all likelihood many ways that you constraint consider to lessen your coral pressure but just don’t forget a hypertension natural picture could help fresh than you dispatch.



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Easy Guide to Non-prescription Sleep Aids02.22.03

Isabel Tay asked:


Your insomnia comes and goes? You need at least 5 hours of sleep? You want something fast that you can get without a prescription. Besides, you really don’t want to mess with those presumably “heavy duty” prescription sleeping medications. So here are the fast facts about non prescription sleep aids to guide you.

Usually, non prescription sleep aids generally refer to 2 types of sleep aids. They are the antihistamines and the dietary supplements.

Antihistamines:

1. How do they work? The ones used as non prescription sleep aids have been around for awhile, probably since you were a kid. These are the very drugs you take when you have cough and cold or allergies.

These antihistamines are very popular not just because they are effective for your cough and allergies. You recover faster because the “benefit” of their side effect of prolonged drowsiness “forces” your body to rest and recover. In the same way, you are basically using the drowsiness side effect to get you to sleep

2. What are they? Antihistamines used as non prescription sleep aids consist of 2 types of active ingredients i.e. diphenhydramine and doxylamine

3. Popular brands are:

Sominex, Nytol, Tylenol PM, Benadryl (Diphenhydramine compound) Unisom, Equate (Doxylamine compound)

4. Side effects that are common:

Prolonged drowsiness or hangover effect that impairs driving, etc Dizziness Fatigue Headaches Reduced alertness Vomiting

Racing heartbeat and constipation are also becoming frequent complaints in this group of non prescription sleep aids.

5. Who Can’t Use Them

However, there are certain groups of people who cannot use the antihistamines as a non prescription sleep aid. As with any medication, they are not for pregnant or nursing women due to unknown risk of drug transfer to the fetus and young infant on mother’s milk.

You are advised against taking diphenhydramine (Sominex, Nytol) if you have:

Heart problems Glaucoma Enlarged prostate

Especially for Unisom, you can’t even take them if you’ve got asthma or bronchitis.

6. Other precautions when you take the antihistamines.

Avoid alcohol. It increases the sedative effects of the pills. Even a small amount of alcohol combined with sleep aids can make you feel dizzy, confused or faint.

Never mix with a sleeping pill, sedative, tranquilizer, or another antihistamine. This could lead to dangerous drug-drug interaction outcomes.

Dietary Supplements:

2 of the most popular dietary supplements used as non prescription sleep aids are melatonin and valerian. This is followed by chamomile, a much milder non prescription sleep aid, that is frequently combined with other herbs as supplements in capsules.

Melatonin

It’s a hormone secreted from the pineal gland in our brain. It regulates our bodies’ internal clock or circadian rhythm i.e when it’s time to go to sleep and when it’s time to wake up. Melatonin has created much interest among researchers; you will find over 14,000 studies on this hormone compared to valerian with 556 studies, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH) database.

Melatonin is probably the most widely prescribed among herbal non prescription sleep aids. Even 15% of pediatricians who prescribe sleep aids for children with insomnia recommend melatonin, according to the medical journal Pediatrics (2002).

Its synthetic form is available in many brands; AVOID natural forms that are basically melatonin derived from animal’s pineal glands due to possible contamination Side effects that are common are daytime drowsiness headaches, dizziness, a “heavy-head” feeling, stomach discomfort It may interact with common drugs

Valerian

It’s a plant; its active ingredient is still unclear therefore how it works is unclear too. Valerian appears to increase the body’s available supply of the neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). It’s generally thought to help reduce the time to get to sleep.

Valerian is less effective than prescription sleep medication. One possible advantage of valerian, however, is that it does not seem to cause as much of a “hangover” effect the next day. Also, people taking sleeping pills sometimes have a temporary worsening of insomnia when they are discontinued (rebound insomnia), an effect that hasn’t been reported with valerian.

Available in many brands but hard to compare as the potencies of various ingredients vary from preparation to preparation. Generally safe when taken in recommended dosages. However, high doses of valerian can cause nausea, headaches, dizziness, vivid dreams, weakened heartbeat and even paralysis. Not to be used by pregnant or nursing women like any other non prescription sleep aid It may strongly react with other prescription on non prescription sleep aids, alcohol, and other medications

Chamomile

It’s one of nature’s oldest herbal sleep aid used for centuries. It is best known as one of the gentlest non prescription sleep aids around. The active ingredients are flavonoids namely, chrysin and apigenin, believed to reduce restlessness helping one feel more relaxed and more prepared to sleep.

It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. That’s why it’s also popularly used in cases of stomach irritation.

Known as a ‘plant doctor’ stimulating the health of other plants, you will find it in countless brands as it is popularly combined with other herbs to make standardized herbal remedies. It does not lead to dependency and has not been shown to have any side effects. However, it may cause allergic reactions in people who have plant or pollen allergies. Avoid using with other prescription on non prescription sleep aids, alcohol and medication as it may increase their effects

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Boost Your Fertility While You Sleep11.10.96

gladys906 asked:


Everyone is aware of the cycles of the sun and moon. They give structure to our days, months, and seasons. But did you know that the sun and moon can influence your fertility?

When you are in sync with the earth’s natural rhythms and cycles you can boost your fertility. If you work against nature’s rhythms as many of us do, then you may be harming your delicate fertility balance.

Your biological clock is intimately linked to your reproductive system by utilizing the same hormones that trigger ovulation and sperm maturation. Therefore both women and men are affected by respecting or ignoring their natural rhythms.

Importance of Bright Light

Getting adequate sunlight or other full spectrum light during the day is key to optimum fertility for many reasons. Vitamin D is created in our bodies when we are exposed to sunlight and Vitamin D deficiencies have been linked to infertility.

Adequate sunlight also helps regulate circadian rhythms which allow you to sleep better at night. Regular exposure to the sun also helps you maintain a strong immune system which is necessary to maintain a healthy pregnancy. Women who get more sunlight also have consistent and stronger menstrual cycles.

Finally, bright light prevents your body from overproducing melatonin which suppresses fertility. This might explain why it is easier for women to conceive in southern regions and during the summer months.

Importance of Darkness and Full-moon Light

Many researchers believe that prior to the introduction of electricity into our homes, all women menstruated during the new moon and ovulated during the full moon. This has been proven by studying cultures today that do not use electricity. Women in these cultures sleep in close to total darkness except for the days surrounding the full moon.

The small amount of light from the full moon is enough to halt melatonin production long enough for ovulation to occur. Most women can synchronize with the cycles of the moon in about three to four months by altering the light level while they sleep. Coordinating menstruation not only strengthens your cycle in many ways but it also makes it much easier to pinpoint the optimal timing for intercourse.

Darkness also plays an important role in optimal fertility by triggering melatonin, on most dark nights, which leads to a good nights sleep. Just make sure to prevent overproduction with bright light in the morning.

Deep sleep helps restore and rejuvenate the reproductive system. Lack of sleep can increase cortisol levels, lead to an increased use of caffeine and other fertility reducing substances, disrupt your hormone balance, cause depression which in itself can affect fertility or can lead to relationship problems with your partner. In extreme cases sleep deprivation can stop ovulation altogether.

How to synchronize with nature’s cycles

Get at least one hour of bright sunlight a day

Try to get bright light soon after waking

Use full spectrum indoor bulbs during the winter months

Use a light simulation device 15-30 minutes first thing in the morning and once at night(particularly in winter)

Aim for total darkness at night. Use room darkening shades. Avoid the use of any lights whatsoever

On the three days of the full moon, try to bathe yourself in soft light while you sleep. A light from a closet, a 75-100 watt nightlight or even opening your blinds to the street light should do the trick.

Try to go to sleep with sun and get up with the sun. You might be surprised if you do not use lights or TV, how sleepy you get.

Make love during the full moon

Keep sleep and wake times consistent and avoid shift work. If you are tracking your ovulation signs, then you should taking your basal body temperature at the same time every morning anyway.

Efforts to conceive can be challenging and heartbreaking. The fertility enhancing methods mentioned here are easy, free, and painless. They will boost your overall health as well as your fertility so if you are trying to conceive it can only help and not hurt to synchronize your cycles with the earth.



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