Facts About Insomnia
Your guide to insomnia - its causes, symptoms and treatments.

Archive for: November 2008



November 30, 2008

Sleep Problems In Children - Addressing A Serious Issue

Filed under: General Information - 30 Nov 2008

Sleep is important to a child’s wellbeing because the body produces more of the hormone that stimulates growth during the night. Recent research has shown that children of all ages are not getting enough sleep and that can result in poor school achievement and behavioral problems. In this article, we’ll explore common sleep problems in children and detail techniques that you can use to help your child sleep better.

New parents are often very concerned about how much sleep their baby is getting. Newborn infants have irregular sleep cycles and sleep an average of 16 to 17 hours per day. However, they may only sleep 1 or 2 hours at a time. As children get older, the total number of hours they need for sleep decreases. A pre-school child may still need to sleep 10 to 12 hours each day, whereas a school aged child sleeps about 10 hours each day. It is important to remember that each child’s sleeping pattern will be different.

It is well known that a child who has a sleep problem will also develop behavioral and attention problems in school. A recent study reported that 37% of school aged children experience significant, nocturnal sleeping issues. Problems may include a reluctance to go to sleep, disrupted sleep, nightmares and sleepwalking. In older children, bedwetting can also become a challenge. Sleep problems are also common in kids with ADHD. It is important to try and figure out if these issues, especially if your child has difficulty falling asleep, are a side effect of any ADHD medication he or she might be taking.

Sleep problems in children can no doubt be thwarted if a regular sleep schedule is followed to ensure that your child gets enough rest. Start by establishing a quiet time before bed. This is a good time to take a bath and read a story. By winding down, your child will be able to fall asleep quicker. Once the body adjusts to a set schedule, he or she is more likely to be sleepy at the same time every night. If your child suffers from night terrors or nightmares, then make him more comfortable by turning on a night light in the room and allowing him to sleep with a favorite toy. Physical comfort, such as a firm sleep foundation is also key to a good night of sleep, as well as roomy and cozy pajamas.

Sleep problems in children can be a learned behavior. If you have a family of night owls, then there might be a connection to your child’s bad sleeping habits. If you’re really concerned, then visit a sleep disorder center - especially if you suspect that depression or other anxiety disorders may be behind your child’s sleepless nights. It’s important to remember that different people need different amounts of sleep at different ages. If your child is not tired during the day, then don’t worry! Sometimes a simple bout of insomnia is nothing to lose sleep over.

Sleep disorders can impact a person’s day to day living. They do not go through the right sleep cycles and their day to day lives begin to suffer from the deficiency of restful sleep. The conditions has the ability to be dangerous. Sleep apnea is a medical condition where the individual actually stops breathing they sleep. It is extremely arrests and life threatening if not treated properly. You don’t have to keep enduring. Even in the event that snoring is a problem, there are instruments to help you get a good nights sleep as well as feel rested in the morning. Go here for additional information:

Pregnancy And Insomnia as well as Allegra D And Insomnia also head on over to Sleep Disorder Clinic


Coping With And Dealing With Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Filed under: General Information - 30 Nov 2008

Introduction To The Sleep Lab - Sleep Apnea Diagnosis

If your loud snoring is disturbing either you or your partner, then it may be time to see a doctor about apnea. Sleep apnea syndrome is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when breathing frequently stops for brief periods throughout the night. Not only does this condition reduce the quality of your sleep, but it can also lead to other serious health conditions. In this article, we’ll wake you up to the symptoms of sleep apnea and the treatments available.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of apnea and is due to an obstruction in the throat during sleep. The narrowing of the upper airway can be a result of several factors including inherent physical characteristics, excess weight, and alcohol consumption before sleep. Central sleep apnea is caused by a delay in the signal from the brain to breath. With both obstructive and central apnea you must wake up briefly to breathe, sometimes hundreds of times during the night. Usually there is no memory of these brief awakenings.

The most common symptoms seen in patients suffering from sleep apnea syndrome are loud snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, headaches, waking up at night with a choking sensation, night sweats, frequent trips to the bathroom during the night, insomnia and problems staying asleep. Apneas can be accompanied by a variety of other conditions like high blood pressure, depression, difficulty concentrating and reduced libido. More severe cases can be a life-threatening condition that may require immediate medical attention. The risks of undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea include heart attacks, strokes, irregular heartbeat and heart disease. In addition, obstructive sleep apnea causes daytime sleepiness that can result in accidents, lost productivity and interpersonal relationship problems. The severity of the symptoms may be mild, moderate or severe.

A sleep test, called polysomnography is usually done in a sleep disorder center to diagnose sleep apnea. Mild cases of sleep apnea syndrome are usually treated by some behavioral changes like losing weight or sleeping on your side. There are also mouth devices that can help keep the airway open by bringing the jaw forward, elevating the soft palate or preventing the tongue from falling back into the airway and blocking breathing. Moderate to severe sleep apnea is usually treated with a CPAP mask and a CPAP machine. This machine blows air into your nose via a nose mask, keeping the airway open and unobstructed. Some people have facial deformities that may cause the sleep apnea. There are several other surgical apnea treatments like removing excess tissue to clear the airway, moving the tongue forward, and moving the upper and lower jaw forward.

Sleep apnea syndrome is a progressive condition that gets worse as you age, so it’s important to take it seriously. The symptoms of sleep apnea can be made worse by obesity and alcohol consumption, so lifestyle changes should supplement the treatments that your doctor recommends. Taking care of this sleep disorder will allow you to live a healthier - and more restful - life.

Sleep is absolutely essential for the human body to function properly. The lack sleep can begin affecting daily functions and the thought process. For some going to bed to sleep is a time to be apprehensive about because they never actually feel rested. They sleep unsoundly, have difficulties breathing and sometimes even stop breathing more than once times each night. They snore and disturb their partners therefore end up effecting their relationships. Work begins to become hurt as they continually lose focus and have the ability to concentrate. There is some hope though. There are devices and procedures that can finally provide them a better quality of sleep and at last triumph over their sleep disorders. Click here for more information:

Insomnia Treatment and more information at Anxiety Sleep Disorder and certainly try Insomnia Treatment


November 27, 2008

Sleep Apnea Treatment - Learning About An Effective Useful Sleep Treatment

Filed under: General Information - 27 Nov 2008

Sleep apnea treatment is surprisingly simple and painless, but many patients often fail to follow the advice of their doctor. This decision is one that can prove dangerous - even deadly. Sleep apnea is a progressive illness that worsens over time and can lead to extremely serious medical illnesses. In this article, we’ll talk about each of the treatments that doctors usually recommend and how they can simply become a part of your life.

There currently is no proven sleep medicine for sleep apnea. However, there are four basic approaches to treatment. Firstly, doctors recommend changing the circumstances which may be causing the apnea. This would include suggesting that the patient lose weight, quit smoking and avoid alcohol and sedative drugs. The sufferer should also get into a regular sleeping schedule and try to sleep only on their side. The second and most common treatment option is in using Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) in the upper airway to support and hold the airway open. This involves wearing a CPAP mask over the nose. The mask provides a supply of continuously flowing air via a flexible plastic hose from a CPAP machine.

The third treatment option is the use of a dental splint. One of the reasons for the upper airway to become narrowed at night is because the tongue falls posteriorly. Using a dental splint at night prevents the jaw and tongue from moving back. However, oral devices have not proven to be as effective, as CPAP and the appliances can be uncomfortable. The fourth and most extreme form of apnea treatment is surgery. This kind of procedure increases the size of the upper airway. It usually involves removal of the part of the soft palate that hangs down in the back of the throat, as well as the tonsils if present, and other soft tissue if it is felt to be excessive. This procedure is usually reserved for patients with severe sleep apnea.

Once you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, it’s important that you pursue treatment immediately. Failing to do so could result in further serious medical conditions like high blood pressure, depression, diabetes and heart disease. It’s also important to follow your prescribed treatment faithfully. While wearing a dental splint or a CPAP mask may seem uncomfortable at first, you’ll soon get used to it. A few nights of discomfort will be worth it once you see how continually getting a restful night of sleep is improving your overall health. People who have undergone sleep apnea treatment have reported fewer headaches, clearer thinking, improved performance at work and better moods.

Sleep apnea treatment will improve both your sleep and your quality of life, so it’s important to seek help as soon as you can. You’ll immediately notice that you feel healthier and more rested. If you have any problems with your treatment, then contact your doctor or your sleep specialist. He or she can give you advice that will make your treatment a simple part of your day that you can’t live without.

Sleep disorders can impact a person’s day to day living. They do not go through the right sleep cycles as well as their day to day lives start to be harmed from the deficiency of sleep that is. The conditions has the ability to be dangerous. Sleep apnea is a medical condition where the person actually arrests breathing during the persons sleep. It is extremely arrests and life threatening if not dealt with properly. You don’t have to keep enduring. Even in the event that snoring has become a problem, there are devices to assist you get a quality nights sleep as well as feel well rested in the morning hours. Go here for additional information:

Insomnia Hypnosis and more information at Hypnosis For Insomnia and certainly try Sleep Disorder Treatments


November 26, 2008

Proper Bed For A Proper Sleep

Filed under: General Information - 26 Nov 2008

Do you know how we spend around a third of our lifetime, which on average equals between 20 and 25 years?  Well, it is none other than sleeping.  But that is not all - your waking hours can also suffer as a result of poor sleep.Bad quality sleep is bad for all aspects of your life, and the root of the problem is the quality of your bed.  A good bed is one in which you feel good.  It is important to avoid mattresses that are too soft as they will not support your spine properly.Too hard a mattress often makes one uncomfortable.If you have a bad back, choose one that is harder over the softer type as the harder type gives better support for your back.

There are some rules here that you need to observe.Woolen type of mattresses need high maintenance as they need to be turned once a week.  If you prefer foam mattresses, choose a good quality one, in natural latex if possible and at least 20cm (8 inches) thick.If you decide to pick a mattress with springs, then be sure to check and see how many springs there are.The more spring there is the more effective the support is.The range can be of anywhere between 200 and 2000 different brands.

Priority should be given to when choosing a base that has interconnecting slats.  This design is the most comfortable and efficient option.It can easily adapt to the shape of your body and your movement suring sleep.Do not sleep with your head too elevated too.  It can damage your cervical vertebrate.  Ergonomic pillows that are specially designed to protect your spine are now widely available and it is at an affordable price.

Now, go get a proper bed that will give you the good quality sleep.  No more sleepless nights


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