May
23

The Treatment of Narcolepsy

By | Health, Medication, Sleep Disorders

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Everyone has been there: the eyelids are drooping, the head is bobbing up and down softly and repetitively as the tired person drops in and out of sleep. At each dropping of the head, some unconscious reflex jerks the head upright again. It’s as if the person in question is guilty of sleeping somewhere and they know they shouldn’t be doing so. This is all fine and normal behavior, especially after a long night. However, one might wonder if they’re napping too often, or if that napping habit could spell serious trouble. It’s when one’s napping becomes unpredictable that it’s time to worry – the habit could be a sign of narcolepsy.

As you might imagine, narcolepsy has incredibly dangerous implications for its sufferers. Dozing off at unpredictable times is unsafe at almost any point in the day. Whether operating a vehicle or riding a bike down a hill, there are few times in the typical day where it is actually safe to fall asleep at random. Neurologists, which are some of the highest paying jobs, can help treat Narcolepsy.

Getting the problem fixed is important. It is the way to advance all aspects of one’s life. Sleep medicine specialists or neurologists are the ones to talk to about getting this problem fixed and returning to normal functioning. With their experience and training, they have the best chances of helping you deal with the issue. Otherwise, try to find a clinician willing to expend the time and energy in helping you deal with this area, even though it may be out of the realm of their expertise.

 

Mar
07

Taking Ambien for Sleep

By | Medication, Sleepiness

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Ambien is a prescription drug, prescribed by a doctor to help a patient get a good night’s sleep.  Ambien is also known as zolpidem.  Ambien is classified as a sedative, also known as a hypnotic.  It is usually considered a solution to short term insomnia.  Ambien helps the patient to relax, fall asleep and stay asleep.

Patients should never take Ambien during awake hours.  It should only be taken when the patient has seven or eight hours available for sleep.  It should not be used for naps.  Ambien should not be given to patient’s under 18 as a general rule.  If a patient thinks they may be pregnant they should inform their doctor of this possibility.

Ambien is taken about an hour before the patient is ready to go to sleep.  Patients should never attempt to drive or operate machinery after taking Ambien.   Patients should not consume alcohol while taking this drug.

Ambien should only be taken by the patient for whom it is prescribed.  Ambien should never be taken by someone who has a history of addiction.  It can be habit forming.  It should never be shared.  Ambien should be kept in a locked medicine cabinet where only the patient has access to it.

As with any drug, Ambien may have certain side effects.   These may include swelling of the face, lips or throat and hives.  If any of these side effects occur the patient should stop taking Ambien and inform their doctor.

Adults have taken Ambien and have driven, ate or made phone calls with no recollection of the events.  If this happens patients should immediately call their physician and cease the medication.

Ambien should only be purchased from a licensed pharmacist with a prescription.   Patients should ignore internet ads promising cheap forms of Ambien.  Ambien obtained over the internet has, in some cases, been shown to contain Haldol.  Haldol is an antipsychotic drug and may cause serious side effects for  those who take it and don’t have a prescription for it.

Feb
08

Melatonin for Sleepiness

By | Medication, Sleepiness

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Let’s face it, people lead stressful lives and are on the go now more than ever.  No wonder the majority of people experience periods of sleepiness.    Almost everyone experiences periods of time where they have trouble sleeping.   Usually if these periods are infrequent and do not occur on a regular basis prescription sleep aides are not needed.  A dose of natural Melatonin can usually help people experiencing a disturbance in their sleep patterns can help get people back on the right path and more rest.

Melatonin is naturally made in the body by the pineal gland.  Melatonin helps create sleep and wake cycles.  If the body doesn’t produce enough Melatonin this results in interruption of sleep patterns. Melatonin should rise in the mid to late evening, remain high most of the night and then drop in the early morning.  Light effects how much Melatonin the body makes so shorter winter days can affect Melatonin levels.   Studies have found Melatonin levels drop with age so older people may have more disturbances in their sleep patterns.

Using Melatonin which can be bought over the counter without a prescription can help restore sleep patterns to a normal rate.  It can be obtained at health food stores, pharmacies and online.  The effective dosage will vary depending on each person.  Dosages can vary between .2 and 20 mg.

Melatonin takes time to build up in the body so immediate relief is not available.  Taking Melatonin at night over a week time period can help the body get back to normal sleep patterns.  Melatonin is also sometimes used to treat jet lag.

Melatonin can produce side effects such as headaches, vivid dreams and lower body temperature.  These side effects usually subside after regular use or will subside when the Melatonin dosage is lowered or ceased.  Pregnant and nursing women should not take Melatonin. Children should only take it with a doctor’s approval.

Dec
07

Power Nap to Energize Yourself

By | Health, Medication, Sleep Disorders, Sleepiness

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Power naps are small instances of sleep which have the ability to freshen up in the same way that a good nights sleep can. A short sleep which is not let to go into the slow wave sleep phase is known as a power nap. Most people do not get time to even sleep in the night and their productivity slowly comes down. These types of naps are very important to get in the day time between extreme work loads to get in tune with the body. The body needs more than 7 hours of sleep daily to stay in shape. But today’s work loads prohibit people from getting full nights sleep, then there are also the nightclubs which stay open till 4 am in the morning and beyond that. Working with all this is impossible and the mind has to recharge.

A power nap has multiple benefits. It is like a massage to the brain that calms the nerves of the brain. It has the potential to reduce stress load, depression, increase a persons reaction and reflexes, increases efficiency and learning ability and many other factors. If a person sleeps for 9 hours, his chances of getting into a car accident double than usual. A small 30 min power nap can restore the reflexes of the mind to levels which are at the 8 hour sleep stage. If one keep shortening her hours of sleep, she will keep building a sleep deficit which will only cause problems such as bad and blurry vision, reduced performance, reduced physical ability, reduced reaction times, bad judgments, short term memory and even problems in processing information i.e understanding important things. Hence a small power sleep during work periods can reduce the stress levels and increase productivity of a person to satisfactory levels. That is one very good way to energize yourself quickly and effectively.

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Nov
21

Common Drugs to Treat EDS

By | Medication

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Picture taken by myself of my Adderall prescri...
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If you are diagnosed with Excessive Sleep Disorder, and the EDS isn’t found to be caused by some underlying condition, your doctor may prescribe one of the following pharmaceutical drugs to help you cope with the symptoms during your day to day life.

Modafinil

A tablet that is taken once per day to promote wakefulness. Can be taken with or without food, and should be taken the same time each day. Must continue to be taken even if you feel more awake after a few days; taking it gives you the risk of becoming dependent, however, so take only the exact dose prescribed.

Gamma-hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB)

GHB is an oral solution (liquid form) medication made from a form of salt that occurs naturally in the bodies of most animals, as well as the human central nervous system. This drug promotes feelings of relaxation and drowsiness and the effects feel similar to being intoxicated with alcohol. This is good for EDS because it is used at night to prevent cataplexy (sleep paralysis) episodes.

Ritalin

Known best for treating Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Ritalin is also commonly prescribed to help with narcolepsy and daytime sleepiness. This drug is a psychostimulant, promoting wakefulness. It can be taken in pill form or, more recently, in a patch similar to the nicotine patches used to quit cigarettes.

Adderall

Another psychostimulant. Adderall increases dopamine amounts in the brain, thereby increasing alertness, mood, concentration and libido and ridding your days of fatigue. Adderall has a higher risk of dependency than many other EDS treatments due to its effects on the reward part of your brain. Taken in instant-release tablet form.

Desoxyn

A tablet form drug useful for treating ADHD and obesity as well as narcolepsy. Absorbs faster than other stimulants, but has a high risk of addiction—do not take more than the prescribed dosage. Has few side effects.

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Nov
20

Natural Cures For EDS

By | Medication, Sleep Disorders, Sleepiness

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People who consult doctors for cures to excessive daytime sleepiness only be given harsh cocktail of drugs which will cause more harm than good. These drugs will have long lasting effects on the body and also have various side effects; some may be bad, other may be really bad. These drugs also can be very addictive to the body causing the abuse of these substances in the same way that other addicts use drugs. On top of that these drugs will not cure any symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness just will cause other problems to escalate.

The best type of treatment known among people who have overcome excessive daytime sleepiness is to go for natural cures instead of artificial therapies which still have a long way to go to become as effective as other treatments. One of the major causes of excessive daytime sleepiness is because of sleep deficiency at night. Hence before opting for any cure, make sure that you are actually suffering from excessive daytime sleepiness syndrome. You couldn’t be getting sleep at night because of stress or depression or deep thinking, hence avoid thinking at night and sleep tight. Yoga and deep meditation have known to be very effective at curing many forms of excessive daytime sleepiness. Yoga and meditation relax the muscles and makes sure you stay heath mentally and physically. Even good exercise is necessary for a sound and healthy sleep. Jobs today are more dependent on the mind rather than the body, they cause over exercising of the mind and the body idle. This has unknown effects in different people, and bad sleep is one of the major causes. The Chinese acupuncture has also been proven effective at making sleep more sound and avoid excessive daytime sleepiness syndrome. And most importantly, stick to your sleeping schedule.

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Nov
01

Warding off Sleep

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Having an excessive daytime sleeping syndrome makes the small task of staying awake in a conference a big issue. These people feel stressed even after a full eight hours of night sleep and have problems staying awake at work or dinner or even in toilets. There are different types of sleeping syndromes like hypersomnia, narcolepsy, etc. Since one can not afford to drowse off at office hours, there are a few techniques that can be followed so that you stay awake despite having these syndrome and the incredible urge to stay awake.

Walking around is a very effective way to stay awake. It keeps one awake by pumping more blood into the brain and keeping it awake. A small 10 minute walk in open air can do the trick. It this is combines with a little snack, this will be more effective at keeping you awake. If you really cannot manage to stay awake, then try to take a 15 minute nap with an alarm clock close by to wake you up. Taking naps too close to sleeping time is not recommended and taking too long naps can easily spoil you night sleep. Even if you do not sleep, keeping your eyes shut for 10 minutes and thinking of nothing will do the trick of refreshing you up. Eyes tend to get tired before the mind; hence they need to be rested. So if you are working continuously on a computer screen, give your eyes some paper work to handle. If you are feeling tired, it might be because of reduction in calories. This can be repaired by having an energy filled snack that can refresh up a slowing mind and increase productivity. Other small techniques such as talking to someone, increasing the brightness of a room or even deep breathing can be helpful in keeping one awake.

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Sep
28

What is Excessive Sleepiness?

By | Health, Medication

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Do you find yourself experiencing daytime sleepiness for many days on end? All of us experience this every once in a while, but if your experience is a constant one you may have a problem called excessive daytime sleepiness. The definition of this condition is experiencing excessive sleepiness during the hours that you should normally feel awake. You may also experience the inability to stay awake. People with excessive daytime sleepiness may also sleep for long periods during the night and have issues with trying to wake up in the morning. You may also feel like your sleep did not refresh you. It is most often seen in teenagers and within the 15-30 year age group.

Other names for this condition include hypersomnia, dysomnia, sleeplessness and wakefulness. Symptoms include low energy, anxiety, weight fluxuations, drowsiness, hallucinations, reduced memory or mental functions, mood changes and irritability. Excessive sleepiness can also be considered a symptom of other sleep disorders.

There are many things that can cause excessive sleepiness including a genetic predisposition, drug or alcohol use or abuse, anxiety, stress or medical conditions including depression, epilepsy and obesity.

While mild cases of excessive daytime sleepiness may not require treatment, chronic conditions should be addressed. These treatments and remedies can include:

–Herbal supplements such as valerian, lavender or ginseng
–Relaxation treatment
–Prescription medications including Modafinil, Ritalin, Adderall, Cylert and others.

Basically, the first line of defense is getting enough sleep during the night. Many people do not get the proper amount of sleep. For instance, adults are generally advised to get 8 hours of sleep but some may require more. You may need to experiment with the amount of sleep you require to avoid excessive sleepiness during the day.

If you find yourself experiencing excessive sleepiness for long periods, consult a healthcare professional for help.

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Sep
14

Growing Chamomile

By | Health, Medication

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German chamomile (Matricaria recutita).
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Chamomile tea is probably best known as an herbal remedy to help people sleep. Many of us suffer from time to time with sleeplessness. This can lead to sleepiness the next day and may affect our health and wellness should our sleeplessness extend over long periods. In addition to being used as a sleep aid, chamomile tea is often used to alleviate stomach discomfort.

This tea has a faint herbal aroma and taste and there are two types of the plant that are commonly planted. The first is Roman Chamomile, which is a tiny perennial plant. The other is the German chamomile plant, which is an annual that will reach a height of up to two feet. If you want to grow your own chamomile tea, you will want to cultivate is the German Chamomile plant because it produces lots of the flowers. Here are a few tips on growing your chamomile.

You will want to plant the seedlings in the spring. This is after all frost danger has passed. Choose a well-draining spot with full sun. Seedlings are available through your local nursery or from online resources. A single German Chamomile plant can produce up to six cups of dried flowers.

The plant will start blooming about the middle of the summer and will continue to produce flowers well into the autumn. Harvest the blossoms as soon as they are open because the younger, the flower the better the flavor. Bring these flowers inside and allow them to dry on craft paper.

When the blossoms are fully dry they will crumble easily. Place them either in a brown paper bag or a lidded jar. You can store dried chamomile in a cool, dark spot for about a year.

Use about 2 tablespoons of chamomile per 8 ounces of boiling water to prepare your tea. Allow to steep for about five minutes and enjoy.

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Sep
04

Strategies for Better Sleep

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Getting the right amount of sleep helps all of us maintain our health and wellness. Sometimes sleep is not so easy to come by because of busy, full lives. Did you know that most of us need six or more hours of sleep, and most of us are not attaining that goal? Here’s some tips to help not only for falling asleep but for ensure that it is a good quality sleep.

You can achieve restful sleep as well as other benefits such as stress relief by engaging in exercise. Evening seems to fit a lot of schedules as the best time for exercise, so engage in light exercise so as not to over stimulate your body. Try walking or yoga.

Listening to music can relax your mind. Some people use it as a therapy tool. It can help you relax and wind down, as well as relieve tension and stress.

Interestingly, doing a few chores and de-cluttering can help you rest. Knowing that you will be waking up to a clean home will help you rest.

Try playing relaxing games instead of watching television. These games should be a distraction from the reality and stress of the day. Make sure that these games don’t elevate excitation and stress.

Taking a bubble bath is always a great way to feel pampered and stress free. Use a little aromatherapy for additional relaxation. In addition, massage is also a great way to relax. A massage before bedtime can loosen up your muscles and let sleep come more easily.

Many people use various forms of meditation before bed. Meditation can actually take you into sleep by relaxing your mind and eliminating stress.

Writing in a journal or diary is also a great stress relief. It can help you process emotions, solve problems and clear your mind of clutter. It can also help you plan your next day by letting you plan and organize your thoughts.

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