Illness

Pain and discomfort from illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, and others can understandably cause sleeplessness. Many people in this situation will reach for relief in the form of medication and may forget that in some cases, side effects may cause further aggravation of their insomnia.

Hormonal Imbalance

Lack of the hormone melatonine causes dysruption in the body’s circadian rhythm and can lead to difficulty falling and staying asleep. Night sweats, another effect of hormonal imbalance may also cause sleep interruption.

Lifestyle Sleeplessness Causes:

New Baby

This is an obvious one!  Newborns have their own sleeping schedules, and those may not coincide with the sleeping schedules of the rest of the world.  The result:  sleep-deprived parents.

Hyperexcitation

If there’s a lot happening in your world during the day, you may find it difficult to put the brakes on at night.  Winding down before going to bed should be part of your sleep-prep regimen.

Stress & Worry

Preoccupation with the challenges that are a part of daily living can sometimes get the better of you — and your restful sleep. Learn how to shed the day’s emotional and psychological “load”, and leave it at the bedroom door before turning in. You can always pick up the “load” in the morning, after you’ve had a good night’s rest.

Pets

You adore your cat… or your dog… but he jumps on the bed at the most inopportune time, causing you to wake up, and stay awake… for hours.  Set boundaries with your favorite pet. Your mind and body will thank you for it.

There are many factors that can cause sleeplessness. Causes for this condition will dictate the appropriate solution.

Sleeplessness: Causes & Solutions is a post from: If You Have Trouble Falling Asleep...

In some cases, inadequate sleep may just be a result of packing your calendar so tight that you find yourself working past your usual bedtime. If this is the case, getting a good night’s sleep is just a matter of trimming list of  to-do’s for each day so you can get to bed early enough to give your mind and body the restful sleep they deserve.

There may also be other factors that can cause you to have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep.

Here’s a partial checklist that may help provide some clues:

Poor Sleeping Environment

• Light: There may be too much light streaming in from a window or from a television or computer screen.  It is believed that the body can sense light, even when the eyes are closed or even when an eye mask is worn.  Try to find the level of lighting that is comfortable enough to allow you to sleep.  This level is different from one person to the other, so it may take a bit of experimentation to find your ideal lighting level.  You may be one of those who need total darkness to sleep, and if this is the case, you may want to look at room darkening window shades.
• Sounds: Some people can sleep through the sounds of a jackhammer, and others will waken at the sound of a pin dropping.  Where do you fit in?  Snoring sleep partners is a common cause of lack of sleep, especially among women.  Barking dogs, noisy neighbors and sounds of outside traffic are also culprits in our quest for good sleep.  There are many products available that can help:  quality earplugs, double and triple-glazed windows… or if the sounds around you are impossible to completely eliminate, you might consider using a white sound machine to provide a pleasant sound distraction that can cover up the noise.
• Air quality: If there is a high count of air contaminants or pollution in your sleeping quarters, coughing spells or breathing difficulty may be triggered, all interfering with your sleep. Depending on the quality of outside air in your area, you may decide to leave a window slightly open, or close all windows and run an air filter or cleaner in your bedroom.
• Poor layout of sleeping area. If the last thing you set your eyes on before you sleep is a room packed with clutter, the scene may register in your brain and prevent you from having a blissful sleep.  Keeping your bedroom free of distracting views — your work area, piles of books or clothing — may create an uncomfortable feeling of things left undone, preventing you from benefiting from a restful night’s sleep.

Sleeping Positions

When You Have Trouble Falling Asleep is a post from: If You Have Trouble Falling Asleep...

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• Published on : 26 December 09
• Posted in : Health
• Comments : 0 Comments

Tags : fitness, health, nutrition, sleep-snoring, sport, supplements

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Healthy Slides » Melatrol Is An Efficient Cure for Insomnia

Healthy Slides » Melatrol Is An Efficient Cure For Insomnia is a post from: If You Have Trouble Falling Asleep...

From childhood we are conditioned to sleep throughout the night and work throughout the day, programming a natural rhythm in the body.  According to research from the Harvard/Brigham and Women’s Hospital, working hours that contradict this rhythm increase the risk of Diabetes and obesity.  More than eight and a half million Americans work a night shift, including hospital workers; fire fighters; pilots; policemen and factory workers.

Circadian rhythm (the body’s biological clock) is influenced by working a night shift, resulting in a tendency for blood sugar spikes similar to that of Diabetes; and an increase in insulin levels without a reduction in blood sugar levels; low Leptin levels (the hormone that produces a satisfied appetite); poor sleeping habits and high blood pressure.

Frank Scheer, an instructor of medicine in the department of sleep medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston says: “In the long run, the physiological impact of shift work on several markers involved in the regulation of body weight – leptin; insulin; cortisol – seems to contribute to the increased risk for the development of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity.”

Even more worrying, studies of animals have shown that a long term exposure to such sleeping habits can cause a premature death and the risk seems to be connected with the level of schedule alteration.  Therefore, it may be concluded that people who work more night shifts might be more vulnerable to health disorders and diseases than those who work fewer night shifts.  Those with sleep disorders such as sleep apnea (or OSD – Obstructive Sleep Disorder) who are already at a greater risk of Diabetes than those who are free of sleep apnea, will be even more susceptible.

This research bears out that it is imperative to be assessed for sleep disorder, especially if you work a night shift or work in an environment that demands sleep interruption.  There is a marked connection between an increase in the levels of insulin and lack of sleep.  The relationship between Diabetes and sleep patterns have been established and it is therefore advisable to be tested for sleep disorder if you are one of the eight and a half million Americans that work a night duty.  Sleep apnea is suffered by around eighteen million Americans but diagnosed in only ten per cent of that group.  It is time to be tested!

Living With the Night Shift and an Increased Risk of Diabetes is a post from: If You Have Trouble Falling Asleep...

The home sleep apnea study shows that about 4% of men and 2% of women suffer from the problem of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a breathing problem that occurs in the night while sleeping and a person tends to suffer from breath loss. In Sleep Apnea, the tissues at the back of the throat tend to collapse thus breaking the rhythm of breathing (commonly referred as Obstructive Sleep Apnea). The blockage in the airway causes an imbalance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood thus making it necessary for the brain to send signals to the other body parts. Thus a patient of Sleep Apnea tends to suffer from disturbed sleep resulting into daytime drowsiness.

Some of the common symptoms of Sleep Apnea are snoring, choking, gasping, breathlessness etc. Home sleep apnea study is possible by going trying to get hold of one’s breathing pattern. This is not possible without the help of your bed mate who can give you detailed information about the number of times you tend to face problems with your breathing. You can also get a sleep test done at your doctor’s clinic and it has been often seen that the doctor provides an equipment to be taken home. This is to enable a person note real time readings during the night’s sleep. People suffering from Sleep Apnea feel like not having a sound sleep during the night. If this thing continues then it is imperative to visit the doctor for a diagnosis. Home sleep Apnea Study does not provide clear indication, but it is enough to send a warning signal to you.

Click Stop Snoring Natural Ways and Sleep Apnea Threatmen for SECRET tips you didn’t know before.

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Have you been told that you have sleep apnea and need a sleep apnea machine? If so, you are not alone. More and more people are being diagnosed with this disorder, something that years ago was completely unheard of. Everyone has someone in their family who snores like crazy and keeps everyone awake at night, but sleep apnea is a little more than just a loud snoring sound.

When you are told that you need a sleep apnea machine, it means that not only are you snoring, but you are doing so because you are not getting enough air while you are sleeping. It is not unusual for people with sleep apnea to stop breathing for as much as a minute while they are sound asleep. This is obviously not healthy and the reduced air intake causes its own problems. When the sufferer breathes again, he or she usually does so with a loud snort or snore that wakes them up, so they are usually suffering from some sort of sleep deprivation as well.

A sleep apnea machine works to force air into the lungs through the use of an air tank and mask that is worn over the nose and mouth. Obviously, this is not comfortable and many people who have to wear this type of mask will stop wearing it after only a few nights, eliminating any chance for success.

Those that do stick with the mask find that they have other problems that go along with it. They may be forced to sleep sitting up, or suffer from sinus and nasal problems the next day. This is, however, the price you would pay for having to use this kind of machine. Sleep apnea is potentially fatal and can also cause major health problems, so it is essential that you get treatment.

For more information on sleep apnea go to http://sleepapnea-infoblog.com/wp

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There are over 3 million cases of narcolepsy and is estimated by medical reports that 200,000 Americans, but just under 50,000 are actually officially diagnosed by a doctor. It has been said that it’s widespread like the neurological disease Parkinson’s disorder. This condition is usually recognized in both men and women at any age, yet the symptoms are usually first noticed in teenagers and younger age adults usually in their 20s and early 30s.

It’s been noted that there is a 15-year between the onset and actual diagnosis of the problem, which has contributed to the debilitating features of this particular disorder. Those who deal with narcolepsy have a plethora of cognitive, educational, occupational, and psychological issues that can arise from this problem. The presence of narcolepsy is 1 in 2000 people and is also found in people with diagnosed learning disabilities and currently the treatment options are very limited.

The studies that were conducted for this concluded that this problem is constantly under diagnosed in the general population in society. Some narcoleptics don’t show any signs visibly and the severity of the condition varies from person to person.

This is where medical science has its blunders because of the fact that this condition is so under diagnosed that it’s hard to really get a grasp of the severity of this problem, because it varies in levels from noticeable to barely obvious.

Polysonogram and Multiple Sleep Latency exams are the two tests that are done to give a formal and correct diagnostic approach to the condition and usually this is where the diagnosis presents the level of severity so that it’s properly noted by a specialist to ensure a proper treatment plan for that person. Tests are conducted in two-hour increments to allow the person to sleep and usually the polysonogram test does a continuous test of brain activity when it’s in REM sleep mode when sleep happens at night.

Usually most narcoleptics fall asleep in nighttime sleep mode fairly quickly. There are several methods of treatments for people with narcolepsy and usually it consists of anti-depressants and planned short-timed naps have also been helpful to lower the dependence on medicinal treatments and allowing the body to do what it should be doing naturally. Retraining the body to sleep at a reasonable time has helped those with narcolepsy to recognize sleeping at night and taking short naps during the day so that their body stays alert because a lot of narcoleptics have been putting themselves and others at risk when they fall asleep during their normal work day or even driving or operating machinery.

With the new wave of holistic medicine being readily available to help people with conditions from skin to psychological issues. Narcoleptics can also work with a treatment plan that includes a change in diet and incorporating exercise and taking nutritional supplements and formulas to give someone added nutrition if they’re not getting enough from the food they eat.

Narcolepsy is manageable if you follow the doctor’s instructions and taking medications when you’re supposed to and following therapy plans that are designed for that person to follow to the last detail.

Some Information About Narcolepsy is a post from: If You Have Trouble Falling Asleep...

A lot of effort would be required to deal with insomnia, that’s why preventing it to develop is important. It would be much easier to prevent a symptom than making it disappear. Preventing insomnia from developing requires knowledge on the possible factors that could cause insomnia. In order to be prepared, one should know what to prepare for.

Knowledge of the causes of insomnia is necessary to prevent insomnia from developing. For example, if you are expecting a really busy week at work, you may also expect to be stressed out and stress is considered as one of the causes of insomnia. If you have good coping skills when it comes to stress, most likely you will develop mild insomnia or you may not develop it at all. Learning how to cope with the psychological causes of insomnia may prevent insomnia from developing.

Insomnia does not develop from psychological causes alone though. Physical factors, drugs, and current events can also cause insomnia. Most physical causes cannot be prevented. Unlike psychological causes, they require more than just good coping skills. Some physical causes are serious medical conditions which require serious and long term treatment or treatments. Lifestyle causes and events that could contribute to insomnia are even much harder to prevent since some ways of living and most events are inevitable. If you have a job which requires extra shifts from time to time, you most won’t likely to even have a sleep pattern. That is one factor you cannot avoid. Jet lags, which are also inevitable, are found to cause brief bouts of insomnia.

The key to prevent insomnia from developing is to know the causes. If you know the cause or causes that could possibly affect you considering a specific place, event, or condition, and if you are smart enough; you will find ways to minimize its effect or effects on you decreasing the possibility that insomnia will develop.

Sleep is crucial. Insomnia is a gross feeder. It will nourish itself on any kind of thinking; including thinking about not thinking. Get rid of your insomnia now and have control over your sleep.

How to Prevent Insomnia from Developing-An Introduction is a post from: If You Have Trouble Falling Asleep...

Sleep problems affect half of people who have anxiety and panic symptoms. Sleep disorders affect more than a third of adults. Insomnia is by far the most common sleep disorder and is the inability to sleep. Insomnia can vary in severity and in frequency.

There are a wide range of reasons for sleeplessness; stress, emotional trauma and health conditions are just a few. Chronic insomnia affects more people who have an existing mental disorder. Anxiety sufferers who experience constant thoughts of worry and apprehension are likely to experience sleep troubles.  

They might experience restlessness, anxious and worrying thoughts and feel tense and unable to relax. Common nighttime anxiety and panic symptoms include sweating, tingling sensations and a pounding heart. Moreover ten percent of people with anxiety disorders experience panic attacks during sleep.

Totally unpredictable they can be tremendously frightening. Having panic attacks at night can feel much more intense than having them in the day. Panic attacks at night are highly disorientating and startling for the sufferer. Attacks can feel like heart attacks and feel like near death experiences.

Emotional and physical panic symptoms feel magnified during the night. Attacks can last for a few minutes or more but the memory of the attack stays with the sufferer. Sufferers start to fear sleep because of panic symptoms and attacks.

Unable to sleep properly their daytime mood and energy decreases. They begin to associate bedtime with feelings of apprehension and anxiety. This only feeds the cycle of fear and anxiety and makes their sleep and anxiety disorder worse. Unfortunately the cause of nighttime panic attacks is still unknown.

Nightmares can wake a person but scientists have proven that it is not what causes panic attacks. A person’s lifestyle can have a negative and positive effect on anxiety symptoms. The accumulation of stress in the day can cause unwanted tension and increase feelings of anxiety.

Readying yourself mentally and physically for bed can reduce panic symptoms. Relax through meditation, a hot bath or a bedtime drink. To unwind watch a comedy TV show or something light. Avoid stimulants such as alcohol and caffeine as these can trigger.

Some people dread bedtime and going to the bedroom so make your bedroom comfortable and inviting. Why not listen to something calming to help you fall into sleep. What’s important is not to worry if panic attacks occur during sleep. Keep in mind that whatever happens, you’ve will get through it.

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