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Daytime fatigue is a problem that affects many people, for a variety of different reasons. Combating sleepiness during the day is important for those who are employed or in school and need to be alert and focused during the afternoons. There are a few tips given by medical professionals to avoid exhaustion during the day.

The first tip is to make sure to get plenty of sleep every night. Most adults require the standard eight hours, but many do not give themselves enough hours of shut-eye. Those who suffer with insomnia may consider meditation, prescription or over the counter sleep aids, or relaxation techniques. The second tip is to start the day off with a good breakfast. This will help the body to begin the day properly. Eating smaller meals throughout the day can also increase energy levels, since a large afternoon meal can cause the brain to shut down.

Some may think that caffeine will help to fight the feelings of sleepiness, and will sip coffee or energy drinks all day. This can be a good option in moderation, but caffeine in large doses can actually cause the heart to race and eliminate good sleep habits. Depression can also be a cause of fatigue, so obtaining help from a licensed professional may help with this issue. Those who struggle with sleep apnea might not be getting enough sleep at night without even knowing that this is a problem, so getting treatment for this can be helpful.

Being tired all day every day is not normal. There are ways to fight this and enjoy plenty of hours of productivity all through the afternoons.

 

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As proof of how serious this has become, 60 percent of American adults admit to having sleep problems at least a couple nights a week. The majority of those who suffer from these sleep problems don’t realize it and therefore aren’t receiving treatment for them. What’s more at least a couple times a month 40 percent of American adults have incidents of sleepiness during the day hours that are so severe that it interferes with their daily routines and activities. For 20 percent of them, day-time sleepiness is a problem several days a week.

The amount of sleep an individual require varies from person to person. Generally it is found that the average healthy individual can be alert for 16 hours a day, needing 8 hours of sleep to maintain this level of energy.  In some cases there are those who suffer no sleepiness during the day requiring as little as 6 hours of sleep. On the other hand, many need as much as 10 hours of sleep if they expect to perform during the day at peak performance.

As a person gets older their need for sleep is as important as it is when they are younger, but they have difficulty sleeping for 6 to 8 hours at one time giving the impression that they don’t need the same amount of sleep. But that simply isn’t true.

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.

 

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People live increasingly hectic lives today. Between busy work schedules, long working hours, time lost commuting in heavy traffic, spending time with the family as well as on household chores, a person tends to get far too tired and stressed to sleep peacefully at night. People who lead such lifestyles often suffer from sleeplessness or insomnia.

Not getting enough sleep and rest eventually results in a person feeling drowsy during the day. Prolonged sleeplessness can lead to reduced focus and attention and even lapses in memory. Although there are several treatments that require people suffering from insomnia to take heavy medication, these often have several side-effects. Prolonged intake of such medication can lead a person to become dependent on them and develop an addiction. Here are some simple home-made remedies that can help you sleep better!

1. Increase your consumption of fruits and vegetables as these detoxify your system and prepare your body for better sleep.
2. Having a glass of cold or hot milk before going to bed calms your digestive system and is known to help induce sleep.
3. It is a popular myth that reading a book before going to bed help you sleep. On the contrary, reading stimulates your mind and reduces the quality of your sleep. So avoid reading or watching television just before you sleep!
4. Avoid taking long naps during the day. If your body is well rested during the day, you will have difficulty falling asleep at night.
5. Don’t have high sugar or caffeine rich foods like chocolates or coffee just before going to bed. These foods increase the energy level in your body and disturb sleep.

One of the easiest treatments for insomnia that is not medicinal in nature, are simple lifestyle changes.  There are different things one can try to induce relaxation such as meditation, breathing exercises and guided imagery.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of counseling that can help people understand why they are having insomnia.    It helps people deal with sleep issues and reduces disturbances in sleep cycles.  It deals with positive and healthy thinking.

Lifestyle changes can help such as keeping a normal, routine bedtime and wake time.   Avoiding caffeine at least three hours before bed is also a good idea.   Avoiding naps during the day will help insomnia as well.   Studies have proven that vigorous exercise not only helps with stress which may be causing the insomnia, but can also help induce a good night’s sleep.

When non medicinal methods don’t work it is sometimes necessary to take an over the counter or prescription drug to treat insomnia.  Doctors recommend these medications be used only occasionally.   The more sleep medications are used, the more chance there is of becoming dependent on them.  These types of medications can also cause withdrawal symptoms if they are used long term and usually become less effective the more they are used.   A person should never try someone else’s prescription sleep medication that has not been prescribed for them.

There are alternative natural sleep aids that can bought over the counter.  Melatonin is a natural sleep remedy that is sold in most discount chains and pharmacy.  Valerian is an herbal sleep remedy that improves sleep patterns over a one to two week period.

A person should never try someone else’s prescription sleep medication that has not been prescribed for them.

Symptoms

Teenagers with Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) may exhibit some signs of sleep deprivation. An extreme feeling of daytime fatigue with a low level of concentration is typical symptoms. High schoolers may shows signs of depression or other mood disorder due to a lack of restful sleep.

Causes

The factors that attribute to EDS in teenagers are organic and conditioned.Natural issues that contribute to daytime sleepiness include biological and emotional changes that appear during adolescence. Students may train their bodies to avoid sleep by keeping inconsistent bedtimes with heavy family, school and job demands.

Diagnosis

Sleep scientists diagnose EDS by speaking with the patient, using a sleep test or performing a sleep study. Doctors will discuss with the patient past and present sleep habits as a diagnostic tool. Sometimes a Multiple Sleep Latency Test is given to record the time it takes for sleep to begin. A polysomnogram or sleep study records a person’s brain and body activities while sleeping.

Consequence

Experts believe there is a correlation between sleep deprived teenagers and academic performance. Lack of a rejuvenating rest is known to alter the effectiveness of memory and attentiveness. The results of decreased cognitive abilities are reflected in low academic reports and assessment scores.

Treatment

Many options are available for students that suffer from EDS. Replacing poor sleep habits with good ones includes changing the bedroom to a “sleep friendly” environment and maintaining a consistent bedtime. Doctors can prescribe stimulants to prevent daytime sleepiness and antidepressants for mood disorders.

The Circadian Clock

Circadian rhythms regulate our mind, body and behavioral cues to work within a twenty-four hour day/night cycle. Other functions that circadian rhythms regulate include body temperature, release of hormones and mood disposition.

The body’s inner clock is affected by natural hormones and outside stimuli. The presence or absence of light starts the production of certain hormones to help maintain eating, sleeping and replenishing of cells.

Factors

Although all causes of circadian rhythm disorder are not known, scientist have found factors that correlate with the impairment. A chronic illness, surgery and trauma are known to alter the body’s inner clock. Lifestyle behaviors such as repeatedly staying up late, smoking and eating unhealthy foods can disturb natural rhythms.

Management

The area of sleep science has improved itself over the years on how to best care for faulty circadian rhythms. Chronotherapy is a treatment option that sleep and wake times are shifted in an attempt to reset the body’s normal clock. In light therapy, a specialized type of light given at specific times are used to reset the sleep/awake schedule. Behavioral modifications and medications are frequently used.

Summation

Those with Excessive Daytime Sleepiness may want to consider treatments used for circadian rhythm problems. Patients should speak with their physician if lack of sleep becomes a long term problem.

Sleep Study Candidate

Persons recommended for a sleep study are those with distinguishable characteristics. Obese persons that snore loudly, people who sleep but are never rested and those with severe fatigue should participate in a sleep study. Many times people are not aware that they have a sleeping problem.

Location and Professions

A sleep study is performed in a facility built for investigating sleep medicine. The structure can be located in a hospital facility or free-standing lab clinic. The sleep lab contains several small rooms for testing. A sleep lab employs the use of technicians. The sleep physician analyzes the findings of the study to create a report for the patient’s physician.

Procedure

A sleep study is a complex technology based session that records specific information while the patient sleeps. Multiple wires are attached to various places on the patient’s skin and records data on various channels. Brain and breathing activity, muscle activity and heart rate data are monitored and recorded during the study.

Benefits

PSG is beneficial due to the monitoring of various body systems recorded simultaneously. The large amount of data guides physicians to a clearer understanding causing sleep problems. A result from a study makes the diagnosis of a sleep disorder more precise. A sleep study can diagnose problems such as narcolepsy, periodic limb movement disorder and sleep apnea.

There are two types of sleep apnea.  The first kind is called obstructive sleep apnea.    This is the most common form of sleep apnea.  It is caused by a blockage in the airway.  It usually occurs when soft tissue collapses in the back of the throat during sleep.  The other type is called central sleep apnea.  This type occurs when the brain fails to signal the body to breath. This type is usually caused by instability in the respiratory control center.

Sleep apnea can occur at any age but is more common in males.  It is also more common in those over the age of 40.   Patient’s having a large neck, jaw, tonsils or tongues are more prone to sleep apnea.  So are those people who have a family history of it.  People with nasal obstruction due to conditions such as allergies, sinus or a deviated septum are more likely to develop sleep apnea.

If left untreated sleep apnea can contribute to stroke, diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, heart failure and heart attacks.

Sleep apnea can be treated several ways.  In mild cases lifestyle changes can be effective such as losing weight, sleeping on the side and quitting smoking.   Custom made mouth pieces can be used as well.  The mouth pieces allow the patients airway to stay open better.    Adults with severe sleep apnea are usually treated by using a CPAP machine.  This machine is used at night.  It is a mask that fits over the patient’s mouth and nose or just the nose.  The CPAP machine gently breaths oxygen into the patient’s airway at night.  CPAP settings are different for every patient and must be set by a professional.

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.

Most sleep labs have the patient check in during the early evening or arrive at the patient’s house at that time.   Patients should avoid alcohol, naps and caffeine the day of their study so the test is not compromised.

Patients are usually encouraged to wear their own pajamas, bring their own pillows and their own blankets if the study is being completed in a sleep lab.  Generally, anything the patient sleeps with (except a pet or partner) is brought to the sleep lab.

Sleep labs usually have a bed, bathroom and a television.  The equipment needed to perform the test is usually also in the room.

After the room is set up and the patient is ready for bed,  the technician will place electrodes on the face and scalp.  These electrodes allow an EEG to take place.  A snore microphone is usually taped to the neck, sticky pads on the patient’s chest to monitor the heart rate and rhythm, cloth belts will be placed across the stomach and chest to measure the patient’s breathing and a nasal cannula that measures airflow.  All of the wires are portable as they are contained in a small box.  The patient is still free to move around.

When the patient is drowsy they will signal the technician so the study can start.  Before the patient goes to sleep,  the technician will usually have them open and shut their eyes, snore, take breaths in and out and move arms and legs to the test the equipment.

The patient simply sleeps and the technician performs the study.  The next morning the patient simply gets dressed, checks out and goes home.  The patient usually will get their results in about a week after the physician that ordered the test is able to review it.

A sleep study is just what it sounds like.  It is a test to see what changes occur or do not occur when the patient is asleep. Sleep studies are used to diagnosis many different sleep disorders  or help with sleep problems such as insomnia (problems sleeping at night), narcolepsy (problems staying awake), sleep walking,  night terrors, bed wetting,  sleep apnea (when a patient stops breathing for ten seconds or longer during sleep) and periodic limb movement disorder (repeated muscle twitching during sleep).

The most common form of sleep test is called a polysmnogram.  This test involves recording different levels of body functions while the patient sleeps.  It records brain activity, eye movement, oxygen level, carbon dioxide level, heart rate and rhythm, breathing rate and rhythm, the flow of air through the mouth and nose, snoring, body muscle movements, chest and belly movement.

Another form of sleep study is multiple sleep latency. This study measures how long it takes a patient to fall asleep and determines if you enter REM sleep.

A maintenance of wakefulness study measures whether a patient can remain awake during a time period they should be staying awake.

If a physician suspects the patient may have a problem with their internal clock (circadian rhythm) they may order a study called actigraphy.  This test requires the patient to wear a device on their wrist like a watch.  It records the patient’s movement when they are both asleep and awake.  It helps a physician to determine what times of day the patient is active and what times they are asleep.

Sleep studies are usually performed at a hospital by a certified technician in a sleep lab.  In some cases they may be performed in a patient’s home with portable equipment.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea is a disorder that during sleep a person has short pauses of not breathing. The person with sleep apnea may wakeup several times during the night while struggling to breathe.

There are 3 main types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central and a combination of both. The most common form is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) that is characterized by blocked airflow due to relaxation of tissue in the throat. In OSA the obstruction of air results in the lungs receiving no air. Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) is when the brain does not send a signal to the body to breathe.

Symptoms

Excessive Daytime Sleeping (EDS) is the most common indicator of sleep apnea. Other symptoms include mood changes, irritability and loud snoring with short instances of silence. Although most people with sleep apnea fall asleep quickly, a few suffer from insomnia.

Risks

There are certain risks for people who have sleep apnea, but do not seek treatment. Heart failure and hypertension are the most urgent concerns regarding this sleep disorder. Obesity, heart attacks and slowed development in children are serious conditions connected with sleep apnea.

Diagnosis

A diagnosis of sleep apnea is accomplished by a discussion between patient-doctor and the analysis of a Polysomnography (PSD) or sleep study. During a sleep study, wires are attached to the skin to record information while the patient sleeps. The recorded data is analyzed to make a summary report and given to the patient’s physician.

Treatment

Sleep apnea is handled in different ways depending on health history and severity. Changes in lifestyle, prescribed medications and special pillows are the least restrictive treatment options. People with a more severe prognosis may need airway pressure machines or surgery.

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.

Restrict Stimulants

Limit the use of caffeine, alcohol and nicotine during the day. Coffee, tea and energy drinks contain stimulant ingredients. Stimulants are a type of drug that triggers the body to alert status.  The body can not prepare for sleep when in this intense wakeful state.

Create a Routine

Start a nightly pattern before sleeping that relaxes the mind and body. Include a bubble bath, a book or other practices to do nightly before bed. Keeping a routine trains your body to slow down and prepare for slumber.

Build the Right Atmosphere

The main activity in your bedroom should be sleeping, remove distractions. If a computer or television will keep you awake, then remove it. Add candles or potpourri that is calming to set the mood for sleep.

Make a Bedtime and Stick to It

Select a bedtime for yourself and follow it to assist in your sleep. Create a doable bed time for the weekend that works for your schedule. Soon your body will become adjusted to resting at that time. Feel free to adjust bedtimes when needed.

Talk to Your Doctor

Many people still have difficulty obtaining a restful sleep even after trying other methods. Discuss with your doctor treatment options related to daytime sleeping to help in reaching a deeper restoring slumber.

Record sleep details.

Start a sleep diary to record everything related to nightly slumber. Include feelings before and after, quality of sleep and length. Periodically, compare contributing factors that result in a restful sleep. Share information found from sleep diary to your doctor.

Loss of Thinking Skills

An associated condition felt by those with excessive sleepiness is cognitive deficiency. Decrease brain function results from having lack of restful sleep during the night. The human brain is affected when it can not rejuvenate itself during a normal sleep cycle.  Individuals experience increased irritability and impaired thought processing that disturbs daily life. The result is an easily annoyed person who can not think at a normal capacity. Both symptoms influence work and family relationships by making interpersonal relationships tense and temporary loss of informational knowledge.

Extreme Fatigue

Although patients with EDS may sleep at night, they experience intense fatigue during the day. People that experience fatigue have a feeling of a lingering lack of energy.  Excessive tiredness results in a reduction of activities previously enjoyed. Work performance is compromised when a feeling of alertness is not achieved during job duties.

Depression

Persons that go through increased periods of EDS can experience the onset of depression. Depression is a mood ailment of extreme sadness for an extended period that disturbs lives. Depression can be experienced when regular life activities are not continued from complications due to Excessive Daytime Sleeping. Increased feelings of sadness are felt as the number of Excessive Sleepiness occasions increase.

A Last Remark

Remember that minor ailments may occur due to Excessive Daytime Sleepiness. If you have instances of EDS, then you may exhibit impaired thinking, extreme fatigue and depression.  Consider how they influence your life and make adjustments to fit your needs. Knowing more about health-related sleep problems help sufferers cope with malady.

Sleep apnea can result in excessive daytime sleepiness. This disorder is a result of pauses in your breathing while sleeping at night. These abnormal pauses interrupt your sleep, lessening the quality of your sleep and leaving you feeling tired and accumulating a sleep deficit. And yet many people are completely unaware that they suffer from sleep apnea. They do not remember having any difficulty breathing during the night, or waking up as a result of this difficulty. It isn’t until another symptom, like excessive daytime sleepiness, presents itself that they might suspect a problem.

Another sleep disorder related condition that can cause excessive daytime sleepiness symptoms is restless leg syndrome(RLS). Restless leg syndrome is the compulsion to move or twitch one’s limbs (the disorder isn’t confined to only legs) in response to random uncomfortable sensations. For many people who suffer from restless legs syndrome, nightime is the most severe time for experiencing the symptoms. The loss of sufficient sleep caused by restless leg syndrome can be significant, especially over time. A person may feel that the loss of sleep they are accumulating is nominal, but weeks or months of poor sleep–even if RLS is only keeping him or her awake a little longer than usual–can result in excessive daytime sleepiness.

If you don’t know exactly what’s causing your excessive daytime sleepiness symptoms, it’s very important that you consult with a doctor on this issue. If you’re getting a solid night’s sleep every night, not drinking or indulging in recreational drugs, and know that your excessive daytime sleepiness is not the result of a prescription drug side effect, it’s important to identify the cause. Excessive daytime sleepiness can be a result of any number of more serious health problems that may need your and your doctor’s immediate attention.

And excessive daytime sleepiness itself can have serious consequences, so the cause needs to be addressed for that reason alone.

Clinical depression can be one cause of excessive daytime sleepiness. Many people are not fully aware that clinical depression can and does manifest with physical symptoms. But it does, and the uncontrollable compulsion to sleep at inappropriate times is one of the symptoms that may present themselves.

Anemia, or low levels of iron in the blood, can also result in excessive daytime sleepiness, as can other nutritional deficiencies.

Hormonal imbalances, blood glucose irregularities, and even growths and tumors can contribute to excessive daytime sleepiness as a symptom under certain conditions. All of these issues require medical attention and it is vital that you undergo a physical in order to find out what’s causing your EDS.

If you find yourself compelled to take naps at the most inappropriate times, and this desire is irresistible–or resisting it impairs your functionality to the point that it mimics intoxication–you suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness. This is a serious problem, and not one that should be overlooked. It should be discussed with your doctor as soon as possible because the consequences of ignoring this symptom can be severe, both for your health and your overall well-being and quality of life.

How can dozing off be such a serious issue?

Well, there’s the danger of falling asleep during a time when you may put your life or the lives of others at risk. For those who suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness, this is a real danger. It’s not simply that you feel sleepy; it is that you are so sleepy you give in to the desire to sleep no matter what else is happening. This could be while cooking a meal, leaving a fire to start in your own home. Or while driving a vehicle, or operating other heavy machinery. Falling asleep while supervising children can also lead to terrible consequences.

There are also effects on your life and relationships. Excessive daytime sleepiness could result in being fired from your job, if you are caught sleeping at work, or because of carelessness that results from your excessive sleepiness. It can also damage relationships, as your loved ones may feel you are ignoring them or that they aren’t important to you.

These times include any situation under which you wouldn’t normally find it okay to take a nap. For example, sitting at your desk at work, in the middle of a meal at home or in a restaurant, or during a conversation. For those who suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness, this is not an occasional occurrence. Excessive daytime sleepiness is a chronic condition, marked by the fact that it reoccurs frequently if not daily.

The compulsion to sleep and the attending sleepiness that results can be so strong that sufferers of excessive daytime sleepiness may even appear intoxicated as they attempt to resist the onset of sleep during their daily tasks.

Excessive daytime sleepiness is usually a symptom of something else–there are a number of causes that can contribute to this condition. Often excessive daytime sleepiness is related to another sleep disorder. The person with excessive daytime sleepiness symptoms may suffer from insomnia or sleep apnea, or some other nighttime sleep disorder that interferes with his or her ability to get a sufficient amount of sleep nightly.

But sleep disorders aren’t the only root causes of excessive daytime sleepiness. There are a host of other physical or psychological causes that can result in the manifestation of excessive daytime sleepiness. Physical causes can include hormone or nutrition imbalances, anemia, or even a brain tumor. Psychological causes, like clinical depression, can also be contributing factors. Certain medications are also culprits of excessive daytime sleepiness in some people.

Occasional sleepiness during the day is normal, something that everyone experiences at some time or another. But for some people, it is a chronic and serious problem, one that interferes with their ability to function and can take a toll on their quality of life. For these people, the need to sleep at inappropriate times is so strong that they might fall asleep during a conversation or meal, while driving, or during any other task.

The compulsion to sleep may at first be mild, but the longer they resist it the stronger it gets. Involuntarily falling asleep–or being so incapacitated by sleepiness that they appear drunk–becomes common.

There are many different causes associated with the symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness. Many of them relate to more serious health problems. The root cause could be as simple as insufficient nighttime sleep, although insomnia itself is not simple and may pose a challenge to cure. Other types of sleep disorders, like sleep apnea, can also contribute to excessive daytime sleepiness. And then there are other physical and mental health problems that can result in daytime sleepiness, like hormonal imbalances, anemia, nutritional problems, and clinical depression.

If you aren’t aware of a nighttime sleep disorder that is causing your excessive daytime sleepiness, it can be especially frightening. But excessive daytime sleepiness is a real symptom, a serious one, and you should seek help from your doctor to combat it. It can cause unforeseen consequences and even damage relationships when left unchecked; don’t wait to seek treatment.

A person with Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, or EDS, often has to take many naps throughout the day. The sleepiness can come on at any time, similar to narcolepsy. Many people with this disorder are often mistaken for being intoxicated because of the deep sleepiness it causes while doing daily activities.

There are a few ways that doctors determine if one has EDS. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is a questionnaire that asks many questions pertaining to the sleeping habits as well as the general feeling of wellness of a person. The results of this questionnaire range in number from zero to 24. Any score over a ten suggests that the patient consult a doctor on their problem.

Another test, which has been used since the 1970s is the Multiple Sleep Latency Test. This test measures the time in between a person taking a nap to when they start to experience excessive sleepiness.

EDS is considered a disorder, however many people think it is just a lack of motivation or willpower. Many family members and friends of a person afflicted with EDS have a hard time understanding what that person is going through. Oftentimes they just see someone that is constantly tired and usually come to the conclusion that the person should get more sleep or stop going out with peers.

There are many prescription medications that can be used to treat and help control the effects of EDS. With medication along with counseling, a person can overcome this disorder and go on to lead a normal life.

If you know someone that may be suffering from EDS, make sure you have them see a doctor to determine what the problem might be.

People with EDS are often mistaken for being intoxicated. They have a tired look about them and are often seen with drooping eyes and bobbing heads while trying to stay awake. A person’s job can definitely be affected as this can cause poor performance as well as the inability to operate heavy machinery, such as a car.

One of the causes of EDS is being overweight. Studies have found that if you lose even as little as five pounds, symptoms of EDS can lessen. If you are overweight and have found that you have EDS, then it may be time to put yourself on the right diet plan so that you can lead a normal lifestyle again with EDS in your life.

Some medications can also cause EDS, so if you are taking medicine and notice that you are always sleepy, consult your doctor about possibly changing your dosage or even putting you on a different medicine altogether so that you don’t suffer from the effects of EDS.

If your friends and family don’t seem to understand your condition, sit them down and talk to them about it. They may think you are just generally lazy and don’t want to do anything, when in fact you are suffering from a common disorder. Talk to them and give them literature to read that explains your condition. Let them know that you are doing everything you can in order to get treatment for yourself.

Nearly all of us can recall nodding off during a boring lecture at school. But sleepiness that affects your school work can cause impaired learning, memory, perceptual skills; all of which can result in poor school performance

It’s thought that excessive sleepiness is caused by the central nervous system and can be connected with either normal or extended sleep episodes of non-REM sleep.

What Can Be Done To Help With Excessive Sleepiness?

Sometimes medication therapy is a viable solution. Correcting your sleep hygiene so that the bedroom is only used for sleep and intimate episodes and getting eight hours of solid sleep a night is important. A Sleep Study may be prescribed by your doctor to find out if medical issues such as sleep apnea could be causing your problem. Alcohol should be avoided. Examination of the medications that you are taking can sometimes reveal a culprit behind excessive sleepiness. Shift work should be avoided. Caffeine should be eliminated from one’s diet. Making a bed time ritual of gradually winding down from the day and relaxing with reading or a bit of television and then going to bed as soon as drowsiness sets in is one of the best habits to follow.

Often times it doesn’t occur to people to talk to their doctors about their sleep because they aren’t aware of their movements and breathing during night time sleep. You should talk to your doctor if you are having problems during the day with sleepiness and if it’s becoming a problem in your life. Your partner can give important information about your nocturnal habits such as leg movement and snoring.

Sleep studies are used to diagnose:

Breathing disorders such as sleep apnea
Seizure disorders
Narcolepsy

After a full night’s sleep is recorded a technologist tabulates the data and it is presented by the overseeing physician for interpretation.

Important Questions to Ask Before Your Sleep Study

A sleep study can be conducted by an independent facility or they can be done in a hospital. Ask if the sleep lab is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). This accreditation shows that the facility adheres to the highest standards for patients with sleep disorders.

It may be important to be tested in a AASM accredited facility in order for your insurance to cover the cost of the test.

Also, be sure to ask if the technologist administering your study is a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT). A RPSGT is a fully trained specialist who has met rigorous requirements to gain his or her credentials.

Sleep apnea can result in excessive daytime sleepiness. This disorder is a result of pauses in your breathing while sleeping at night. These abnormal pauses interrupt your sleep, lessening the quality of your sleep and leaving you feeling tired and accumulating a sleep deficit. And yet many people are completely unaware that they suffer from sleep apnea. They do not remember having any difficulty breathing during the night, or waking up as a result of this difficulty. It isn’t until another symptom, like excessive daytime sleepiness, presents itself that they might suspect a problem.

Another sleep disorder related condition that can cause excessive daytime sleepiness symptoms is restless leg syndrome(RLS). Restless leg syndrome is the compulsion to move or twitch one’s limbs (the disorder isn’t confined to only legs) in response to random uncomfortable sensations. For many people who suffer from restless legs syndrome, nightime is the most severe time for experiencing the symptoms. The loss of sufficient sleep caused by restless leg syndrome can be significant, especially over time. A person may feel that the loss of sleep they are accumulating is nominal, but weeks or months of poor sleep–even if RLS is only keeping him or her awake a little longer than usual–can result in excessive daytime sleepiness.

If you don’t know exactly what’s causing your excessive daytime sleepiness symptoms, it’s very important that you consult with a doctor on this issue. If you’re getting a solid night’s sleep every night, not drinking or indulging in recreational drugs, and know that your excessive daytime sleepiness is not the result of a prescription drug side effect, it’s important to identify the cause. Excessive daytime sleepiness can be a result of any number of more serious health problems that may need your and your doctor’s immediate attention.

And excessive daytime sleepiness itself can have serious consequences, so the cause needs to be addressed for that reason alone.

Clinical depression can be one cause of excessive daytime sleepiness. Many people are not fully aware that clinical depression can and does manifest with physical symptoms. But it does, and the uncontrollable compulsion to sleep at inappropriate times is one of the symptoms that may present themselves.

Anemia, or low levels of iron in the blood, can also result in excessive daytime sleepiness, as can other nutritional deficiencies.

Hormonal imbalances, blood glucose irregularities, and even growths and tumors can contribute to excessive daytime sleepiness as a symptom under certain conditions. All of these issues require medical attention and it is vital that you undergo a physical in order to find out what’s causing your EDS.

If you find yourself compelled to take naps at the most inappropriate times, and this desire is irresistible–or resisting it impairs your functionality to the point that it mimics intoxication–you suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness. This is a serious problem, and not one that should be overlooked. It should be discussed with your doctor as soon as possible because the consequences of ignoring this symptom can be severe, both for your health and your overall well-being and quality of life.

How can dozing off be such a serious issue?

Well, there’s the danger of falling asleep during a time when you may put your life or the lives of others at risk. For those who suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness, this is a real danger. It’s not simply that you feel sleepy; it is that you are so sleepy you give in to the desire to sleep no matter what else is happening. This could be while cooking a meal, leaving a fire to start in your own home. Or while driving a vehicle, or operating other heavy machinery. Falling asleep while supervising children can also lead to terrible consequences.

There are also effects on your life and relationships. Excessive daytime sleepiness could result in being fired from your job, if you are caught sleeping at work, or because of carelessness that results from your excessive sleepiness. It can also damage relationships, as your loved ones may feel you are ignoring them or that they aren’t important to you.

These times include any situation under which you wouldn’t normally find it okay to take a nap. For example, sitting at your desk at work, in the middle of a meal at home or in a restaurant, or during a conversation. For those who suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness, this is not an occasional occurrence. Excessive daytime sleepiness is a chronic condition, marked by the fact that it reoccurs frequently if not daily.

The compulsion to sleep and the attending sleepiness that results can be so strong that sufferers of excessive daytime sleepiness may even appear intoxicated as they attempt to resist the onset of sleep during their daily tasks.

Excessive daytime sleepiness is usually a symptom of something else–there are a number of causes that can contribute to this condition. Often excessive daytime sleepiness is related to another sleep disorder. The person with excessive daytime sleepiness symptoms may suffer from insomnia or sleep apnea, or some other nighttime sleep disorder that interferes with his or her ability to get a sufficient amount of sleep nightly.

But sleep disorders aren’t the only root causes of excessive daytime sleepiness. There are a host of other physical or psychological causes that can result in the manifestation of excessive daytime sleepiness. Physical causes can include hormone or nutrition imbalances, anemia, or even a brain tumor. Psychological causes, like clinical depression, can also be contributing factors. Certain medications are also culprits of excessive daytime sleepiness in some people.

Occasional sleepiness during the day is normal, something that everyone experiences at some time or another. But for some people, it is a chronic and serious problem, one that interferes with their ability to function and can take a toll on their quality of life. For these people, the need to sleep at inappropriate times is so strong that they might fall asleep during a conversation or meal, while driving, or during any other task.

The compulsion to sleep may at first be mild, but the longer they resist it the stronger it gets. Involuntarily falling asleep–or being so incapacitated by sleepiness that they appear drunk–becomes common.

There are many different causes associated with the symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness. Many of them relate to more serious health problems. The root cause could be as simple as insufficient nighttime sleep, although insomnia itself is not simple and may pose a challenge to cure. Other types of sleep disorders, like sleep apnea, can also contribute to excessive daytime sleepiness. And then there are other physical and mental health problems that can result in daytime sleepiness, like hormonal imbalances, anemia, nutritional problems, and clinical depression.

If you aren’t aware of a nighttime sleep disorder that is causing your excessive daytime sleepiness, it can be especially frightening. But excessive daytime sleepiness is a real symptom, a serious one, and you should seek help from your doctor to combat it. It can cause unforeseen consequences and even damage relationships when left unchecked; don’t wait to seek treatment.

EDS can also be quite dangerous, as it can affect one’s ability to operate machinery because of the onset of sleepiness that occurs. EDS can even happen while driving a car, causing any number of different kinds of accidents.

EDS is caused by a number of different ailments, and being overweight is one of them. Smoking is also a known cause of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness as well as certain prescription medicines. If you are on medication and are always sleepy, your medicine may be causing EDS and it is important to talk to your doctor about these changes that are occurring.

Scientists believe that EDS is caused by the central nervous system. EDS normally starts to happen before a person turns age 25. A person with EDS will sleep for very long periods of time, however this happens gradually so that one may not notice a sudden change in their sleeping patterns. If any of these symptoms happen for a period of more than six months, then a person most likely has EDS.

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness can affect a person’s lifestyle greatly. It can harm progress at school, because one will become so tired during class that they have trouble concentrating. It will also affect the daily lifestyle. A person’s house can gradually become unkempt because they are too tired to do any chores around the house. Relationships with friends and family may suffer due to others not understanding this condition.

If you or someone you know may have Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, it is important that you go see a doctor to be diagnosed. You will then be able to get the medicine you need in order to control this condition.

If you have EDS, you might notice that it comes and goes. You may find yourself sleepy all the time for a week or two and then you notice that it seems to go away. Symptoms of EDS are different in each person. If you start marking down when EDS occurs, you may be able to pinpoint a pattern so that you are warned for the next time it happens.

If you have EDS, your doctor may put you on medication to control the disorder. However, while each person has a different reaction to medication, your body might not agree with the medicine you are on. If you have to stop taking your medicine, let your doctor know. He might try a different medicine on you, but might find that you are better off not taking anything at all.

If you have EDS, your friends and family may not understand this condition since it doesn’t affect many people. If you find that your family is having a problem with your disorder, sit them down and talk to them about it. Address any concerns they may have. Reassure them that this is indeed a real condition and that you are not sleepy every day because you were out late partying the night before.

Ask your friends and family for support, as this disorder may have a big affect on your daily lifestyle. You may be too sleepy to go to work, or you may even have performance issues while at work that can cause you to get in trouble.

Children with EDS often sleep a very long time at night, sometimes even 10 to 12 hours. They will awake groggy, which is not uncommon, but they may need to take a nap shortly thereafter.

Teachers at your child’s school may call you concerned that your child is sleepy and not paying attention in class. They may tell you that it is difficult to wake your child up in class. You child may not be able to form coherent sentences while in this sleepiness state. Your child may slur his words and might even look like he is intoxicated, while in fact he is suffering from Excessive Daytime Sleepiness.

You will notice that a child with EDS doesn’t have these sleepy episodes every day. They may have every other day or even a few times per week. You will soon see that your child’s sleep disorder is affecting his daily lifestyle. While other children want to go out and play, yours will want to stay in and sleep all the time. They will have no energy to do anything and may just want to lay around and rest all the time.

If you notice that your child has excessive sleepiness, you may want to take them to a doctor to get checked out. A doctor can determine exactly what is going on and may be able to give your child medication so that the sleep disorder can be controlled. You want to make sure you treat this condition as soon as possible so that it doesn’t control you or your child’s life.

People with EDS are often mistaken for being intoxicated. They have a tired look about them and are often seen with drooping eyes and bobbing heads while trying to stay awake. A person’s job can definitely be affected as this can cause poor performance as well as the inability to operate heavy machinery, such as a car.

One of the causes of EDS is being overweight. Studies have found that if you lose even as little as five pounds, symptoms of EDS can lessen. If you are overweight and have found that you have EDS, then it may be time to put yourself on the right diet plan so that you can lead a normal lifestyle again with EDS in your life.

Some medications can also cause EDS, so if you are taking medicine and notice that you are always sleepy, consult your doctor about possibly changing your dosage or even putting you on a different medicine altogether so that you don’t suffer from the effects of EDS.

If your friends and family don’t seem to understand your condition, sit them down and talk to them about it. They may think you are just generally lazy and don’t want to do anything, when in fact you are suffering from a common disorder. Talk to them and give them literature to read that explains your condition. Let them know that you are doing everything you can in order to get treatment for yourself.

With the advancements in medical sciences, there are many options for overweight people to reduce their weight. But the fact is that we can still see a large number of overweight people around us. That’s very unfortunate, because carrying around excess weight is hard on the body and can lead to both short-term and long-term health problems, some of which may not be curable. Losing weight is something that everyone can do, but for some it’s not as easy as it seems to be. While being overweight may not be completely genetic, genetics can still play a role by affecting how fast some people metabolize calories and how well they process the food that they eat.

People who have a slower metabolism will not lose weight as fast, and they are more likely to gain weight easily, provided they eat the same number of calories that other people do. In order to keep their weight off, they must be much more careful about what they eat and how much exercise they get to burn the calories. They can also take medications like Xenical in order to lose weight. Before you are able to purchase a In weight loss drug at a site like ukmedix online pharmacy, one must talk to the doctor first. The doctor may devise a complete personalized weight loss program incorporating the drug, diet and physical activities.

It is also vital to tell your doctor about any other medications or supplements that you’re taking, so you don’t end up with some kind of drug interaction that could have easily been avoided. Keep in mind, that weight loss drugs don’t mean you can eat whatever you want and sit on the couch all day. You still have to get exercise, and you still have to eat better (and often less) than you used to eat in the past. It’s important to understand that up front, so you don’t end up disappointed in what the drug is able to do.

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.

Hypersomnia is the most common type of excessive sleep disorder found in people.
Hypersomnia is characterized by unscheduled sleeping hours and too much of sleep at odd hours of the day. It makes a person drowsy to the extent that the person never realizes when she has fallen asleep. There are two different types of hypersomnia, primary hypersomnia and recurrent hypersomnia. These two have the same symptoms but are quite different in the way they take place. Diagnosing this disorder is very easy, the patient suffers from excessive daytime sleepliness. This sleep is not the usual kind of sleep and does not accompany fatigues as a cause. It just comes at any time. A person with this disorder can go to sleep between a conversation or even while eating. This can hit a person even after a good nights sleep at the breakfast table. Symptoms may also include slow and wrong thinking, decreased energy, increases irradiation, anxiety, irritation, absence of appetite which accompanies weight loss, difficulty to remember any thing small of even problems in recalling old memories, loss of touch with family and friends, mood fluctuations, etc. People with this disease can not be left alone to work or even go out because of their ability for fall asleep where ever they get a chance. The person suffering from hypersomnia will have recurring symptoms for about two to three years which might or might not fade away later on. But till it stays, it makes the person used to sleeping for long hours.

Hypersomnia may be because of an injury to the brain or any form of clinical depression such as fibromyalgia or uremia. Like any other mental disorders, this disease can also be because of the genes. A symptomatic treatment needs to be used to treat this disorder.

Getting around in an automobile is essential to Americans. This is not as much because we like to burn gas – although with one look into a truck filled parking lot thoughts of a nation geared toward fuel economy are blown to the wind – but because America is a large place. Our major cities are spread far apart, increasing the need for travel when one has business or a vacation taking place somewhere besides the home base. Even the suburbs are spread a good distance away from the downtown centers of employment, unlike in some cities where the residences are somewhat closer to the city’s heart. This often necessitates a vehicle to get at least as far as the train station to then head into the city.

With such a long and colorful history of vehicle usage for everything from sport, to transport, to war, the four wheeled worker seems to have earned its place in the hearts of Americans far and wide. And until someone invents a practical flying car alternative, its use seems likely to continue. From transporting people from the assisted living facility to the doctor’s office for a regular checkup, to bringing a piece of waylaid baggage from the airport to the house, the automobile has benefited virtually every member of society. Semi trucks, although large users of fuel, haul loads disproportionately large compared to their fuel needs. And without these, the true workhorses of the country, there would be bare shelves where food once rested.

We need to appreciate the automobile for what it has done for this country. While creating another national holiday to celebrate the automobile might seem like a good idea to many auto enthusiasts, it is a bit impractical. Perhaps this is one celebration that could be made into something discreet, such as a national ‘wash your car and change your oil’ day?

Do you feel sleepy in the day time even after a 10 hour sleep? Do you keep forgetting things and feel tired very often? Is your efficiency lower than other people? If the answer to these questions was yes, then you could be having a sleeping disorder known as Narcolepsy. Narcolepsy in a mental disorder that is characterized by chronic sleep. Excessive Daytime sleepiness is the major symptom where the individual feels stressed at all the times and needs to sleep at every instance of slowed activity around the person or any form of comfort. A child sleeping during class even after a full nights sleep might be because she is suffering from narcolepsy. These people also face insomnia at night because of too much sleep in the night time. They spend their nights walking around instead of sleeping and this can be because of the minds inability to calm down to the slow wave sleep stage. The person will get sleep at night too but only for a very short period of time and be fresh the next hour, later again this person will feel sleepy.

A drowsy feeling takes over the person and this person will be unable to do work or concentrate on any thing in particular. Even before a daytime nap, the person with narcolepsy will not be aware of him going into sleep. They will last for as short as 20 minutes to about 2 hour and will accompany hallucinations, and night mares in this short period of sleep. A person with narcolepsy will also exhibit automatic behavior, irritability, sleep paralysis, caraplexy and hypnagogic hallucinations. The cause for this not known but it has genetic connections. Treatment is through therapeutic processes and has to be tailored to the particular individual’s condition. Drugs such as nervous system stimulating drugs can be helpful in relieving symptoms.

There are two types of treatment are practiced. One is an artificial treatment where various therapies and drugs are uses, the other is the natural treatment where natural substances and medication is used. In artificial treatment, the whole process is based on obtaining a therapeutic response from the patient. The symptoms are noted and the medication altered to fit the effectiveness on the person. Drugs which stimulate the nervous system such as racemic, methylphenidate, dextro amphetamine, modafinil, and armo dafinil are the most commonly used drugs. Planned regular naps can reduce the need for drugs, but too much sleep frequently is not possible. In natural forms of treatment that are much less harmful to the human body, meditation is quite effective. There are also many psychoactive natural substances that raise the concentration level of the mind and avoid the person from going to sleep. It might seem that drugs will provide fast relief, but they will only end up damaging the nervous system, instead prefer natural drugs.

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.

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.

This is the most common type of sleep disorder that affects about one in 50 people. Many people do not realize they suffer from this disorder and go on with their lives. The most dangerous phase of Sleep apnea is during sleeping when breathing stops, it can lead to the death of a person. The time that the breathing stops can range between 10 secs to more than a minute. The person feels like he is being suffocated and wakes up trying to profusely breath. This causes the person to wake up from a deep sleep. It repeats a number of times every might causing the person to loose sleep completely. If this apnea continues for a longer period, the person might never wake up to breath. There is no struggling for breath or even any movement from the person’s reflex system. The respiratory system of a body goes to rest during cycles of apnea and hypoapnea. This process continues for years causing the individual to be accustomed to frequent sleep and excessive day time sleep. People with these symptoms of this disease are closely monitored while they are sleeping to see how bad the sleep apnea is. If a person does not breathe in a 10 second interval, then there is definitely possibility of this person having sleep apnea. People with this sleep disorder tend to be overweight, which has been connected with eating at night and reduced physical activity. Hence the person with sleep apnea has to be closely monitored so that she does not go into a coma or just dies.

There are a number of factors that control this pattern of sleep in women like lifestyle, health, illness, stress, the environment in which the women sleeps and other such external factors. But one internal factor that plays a major role in controlling sleep pattern in women are the hormonal levels. Women goes through hormonal changes every month is a cycle. The hormonal levels keep changing throughout the month. It is especially during pregnancies that the hormonal levels fluctuate violently. This causes unpredictable mood swings, irritability, depression and also sleep disorders. Hence women who have observed premenstrual disturbances in sleep should consult a doctor or should go for therapies which can help cure these diseases. Other forms of therapies and meditation can also help in a big way to cure them.

Sleeping disorders are known to be manifested because of hormonal changes. It is not a surprise that the hormonal changes that take place during pregnancies cause vibrant changes in sleeping patterns and give rise to sleeping disorders such as excessive day sleeping, vivid dreaming, sleep apnea, insomnia, restless leg syndrome and other such disorders. Among these the most common one is the restless leg syndrome, which occurs in more than a third of women. Insomnia is occurred because of a women worrying that her sleeping movements can cause the baby harm. A women also has to worry about going to the toiled frequently because of the pressure on the urine bladder because of the baby. The babies kicking also wakes a mother up. Excessive day sleeping is developed because of a variety of reasons. The less sleep at night forces a pregnant woman to sleep in the day time and the excess food and rest that accompany a pregnancy all help in the generation of a excessive day sleeping syndrome.

A pregnant woman needs to sleep more than an average person. About two or three more hours than usual is required for woman. This leads to excessive daytime sleeping among women who tend to develop many complications. Some of the complications faced are the possibility of a Cesarean section operation for the delivery of the baby. Women who do not get proper sleep are proved to be more prone to give birth by a cesarean section delivery. A research conducted among women showed that this is really the case among hundreds of women who do not get ample sleep during pregnancy end up with a caesarean section surgery. Another quite frequent health hazard of sleeping at wrong times is gestational diabetes along with gastro problems. These are because of development of unhealthy sleeping habits because of the excessive sleeping syndrome. Women tend to sleep after having food, this can cause imbalances in the blood sugar levels due to changes in the rhythm of the insulin production. This can turn into permanent diabetes, if not treated accordingly. Other problems are hypertension, longer labors, various illnesses and preeclampsia among other diseases and health implications on the growing baby.

People with excessive day time sleeping syndrome will have to face a lot of difficulty at work and in their social life. To top it off are the increasingly busy lives of people who are not able to get the required amount of sleep necessary every night. The work schedules come in the way of sleep and it makes it harder for people to find sleep. Even if they try to sleep with all the different things and pending work, they are not able to get them done on time and end up staying awake. But sleep lost somewhere has to catch up somehow. These people are now beginning a polyphasic sleep pattern. This sleep patter is common in people with an irregular sleep pattern. It is assumed that this is the way early humans slept because of fear of safety. It is how even children sleep in small gaps. There are two types of of sleep the rapid eye movement sleep and the non rapid eye movement sleep. Every eight hour sleep is accompanied by an hour or more of rapid eye movement sleeps which is not useful to the brain. It is only the one or two hour of non rapid eye movement sleep that is what counts. Hence in a polyphasic sleep, the person includes short phases of naps that are completely non rapid eye movement deep sleep.
There are different types of polyphasic sleep. There is the common monophasic and biphasic sleep where a person sleeps for eight complete hours or one seven hours and one, one hour nap respectively. These are the types of sleep that most people follow. The other types of sleeps are everyman, dymaxion and Uberman. These sleeps have different nap times which occur more than 4 to 6 times a day.

Sleeping patterns maintain series of orchestra of hormonal activities that follows a rhythm. These are not quite obvious to a person but when a person loses sleep or sleeps during the day time, the body feels this effect and gets confused. The quality and the proper schedule of a sleep have a variety of effects on the body’s digestive system which affect the persons appetite and other factors such as excretion and urination. Any disruption to the sleeping pattern has interesting but harmful changes to the body. The most important of these interesting changes is its effect on the health. Although it has been known that a number of hormones are released because of sleeping, it wasn’t known until recently the hormones concerned with food digestion and absorption are connected to sleep too. Many people must have experienced the feeling of being full and the absence of your appetite, this may be due to the loss of the body’s rhythm of hormonal secretion. Two hormones that play an important role in the development of the feeling of huger as associated with sleep are Leptin and Grehlin. The pattern of sleep sets up a particular time for the secretion of these hormones in the blood stream. Once a pattern is lost because of loss of sleep, it takes quite a while for the hormonal orchestra to start playing again, till this time your body keeps developing excess weight.

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.

People realize that the lack of sleep has many implications but few know the possible effects of over sleeping can have on the health. This is very important to stay active, to concentrate, to avoid irritation, to think properly, to have good reflexes, to do every other thin that you do when awake. But what about too much sleeping, does too much sleep increase all the before mentioned characteristics. Between two people if one person sleeps for 8 hours and the other sleeps for 12 hours, will the person who got more sleep be more active and more intelligent that the person who only slept for 8 hours?

People with the excessive sleeping disorder can sleep in excess of 14 hours a day. Even after they wake up from this marathon sleep they still feel like sleeping. This problem is spreading fast in young people and jobless people who have no social life. They also have the tendency to be able to sleep anywhere possible. During eating, working, studying, or even while excreting, it is not under the persons control to manage her sleep. Excessive sleeping has multiple effects on the body. It can cause obesity by making the hormone system of the body to berserk. It can even cause problems in concentrating and memory problems. People with this syndrome slowly lose their cognitive skills and go into a stage of dementia. Even after getting up from a good night’s sleep, the person has problem to concentrate and has little energy to do any work. Excessive sleeping can cause the muscles of the body to deteriorate because of reduced usage of these. The person with the excessive sleeping disorder will have hallucinations and dreams that make the separation of reality and truth very difficult. Other side effects include loss of facial muscles, wrinkles on the face, inability to speak properly, etc.

There are certain symptoms that can tell if a person really has excessive day time sleeping syndrome or not. It can be used to easily distinguish a person with the disorder and a person without this disorder. One common symptom is the difficulty to wake up even after a full night’s sleep. This is followed by another small nap and this is continued with another nap. Another sign of excessive night sleep is a sudden urge to sleep. The feeling is overwhelming and the person with excessive sleep disorder will look for a comfortable place to rest on. Even after a full night’s sleep, a person with excessive sleep disorder will feel tired his muscles will be tightened with fatigue. The patient withdraws himself away from his family and friends to get more involved in the one thing she enjoys, sleeping. These few symptoms are a sure sign of the person suffering from excessive sleeping syndrome. Consulting a doctor is the best option who can relive these symptoms.

Many sufferers of excessive daytime sleeping syndrome work in or have previously worked in night time shifts. This raises various sleeping disorders such as excessive sleep in the day time and insomnia at night. This makes excessive daytime sleepiness as of the leading sleeping disorders in America with potentially no cure. Also the findings showed that women are more prone to excessive sleeping than men. Most of the people with excessive daytime sleeping syndrome tend to get sleep in important meetings or when they have to complete important projects and assignments. This has increase symptoms related to sleep disorders such as depression, weakness, lower concentration and other such unrequired effects. Insomnia comes second followed by close third the sleep apnea disorder where people stop breathing while sleeping for long periods of time.

You are in an almost constant state of change. You move into your first dorm room and you may be shocked at how small it is. You know that you need to do a lot of things to make life in your new dorm comfortable. A new roommate will also usually accompany this space. You will find yourself doing a lot of things in this space: sleeping, studying and so on. Unfortunately, a separate sleep space is not usually part of dorm life. You will probably also find that you may experience intrusions and distractions by your roommate or other floor mates. Because your dorm room is a multi-purpose one, you may find sleeping may be difficult.

If you can find ways to make your dorm room the place you sleep, the better sleep you will get. Study at the library, entertain in the lounge, eat at the cafeteria and other options will maintain your room as the place for sleep.

Also don’t become overwhelmed by your new schedule. Even if your actual class schedule is light, you don’t want to become overextend through extracurricular activities such as sports and work. Make sure you schedule enough hours for proper sleep. Try to maintain a regular sleep schedule – go to bed and wake up at the same times each day. Sleep and rest is compromised if your sleep schedule is irregular.

Finals can be stressful and you may stay up longer hours to study. Keep in mind that regular sleep helps concentration and knowledge retention.

Making Meals with a Crock Pot

Not all recipes require your full attention. In fact, crock pots make it possible for you to cook meals even while you’re out of the house. The concept is simple: you put your ingredients in the crock pot before leaving home in the morning, it cooks your food slowly during the day, and your meal is ready when you get home.

Some of the basic crock pot recipes include stews, soups, and chili. Just about any recipe that calls for lots of liquid can cook in a crock pot. Don’t be afraid, though, to get a little more creative with your crock pot recipes. Crock pot macaroni and cheese, for example, is an easy way to make a delicious, filling meal for your family.

Making Meals Ahead of Time

There are also plenty of recipes that you can prepare ahead of time. Setting aside a few hours during the weekend could give you plenty of time to prepare meals for the rest of the week. For instance, fresh pesto only takes a few minutes and it freezes nicely. Store the pesto in small plastic containers and keep them in the freezer. Use them as needed with fresh pasta and grated cheese. It will taste like you spent lots of time prepping your homemade meal, but in truth it takes less than ten minutes.

Using your spare time to can or freeze soup also makes it easy to feed your family even during periods when your schedule becomes hectic.

–Drink lots of water or fluids and eat a heavy meal. A full bladder is a sure way to wake up in the middle of the night. Eating a heavy meal may cause you to lay away experiencing heartburn.

–Just lie there and deal with it if you can’t sleep. If this keeps happening you’ll start to think that your bed is a place for stress and anxiety. Instead, try something relaxing like reading.

–Your bedroom should be a multi-purpose recreation space. You do not want to fill your sleeping space with things that cause over stimulation such as computers, games, telephones and such. These things and activities do not assist in better sleep.

–Sleep in high or low temperatures or with a lot of noise. These situations will just over stimulate the brain and body and won’t allow you to fall asleep with ease.

–Take long naps during the day. Some people are not affected by daytime naps, but if you have trouble sleeping at night, don’t take naps as it diminishes the body’s ability to fall asleep at the proper time.

–If you are busy all you need to do is sleep less to get everything accomplished. Unfortunately with a lack of sleep, the activities and tasks that we try to accomplish during the day may not be completed in a satisfactory manner. In fact, you may achieve less due to sleepiness.

–Have a cocktail, coffee and smoke a cigarette before bed. Even though a before-bed cocktail is called a nightcap, it actually has an opposite effect. Alcohol disrupts the sleep cycle. Caffeinated drinks and chocolate act as a stimulant as does nicotine.

Stress can make you feel overwhelmed and out of control. It can affect your day-to-day wellness, such as making your sleep cycle go out of whack or other physical effects. You may not even realize how much your stress level is building up until you feel completely overwhelmed. You may wonder how you went from being relatively calm to feeling overstressed in a short time. And more importantly you want to be able to calm down just as quickly.

There are many options, many of them quite simple for alleviate this overwhelming level of stress.

Try talking a relaxing walk. As we know, any type of exercise relieves stress because it releases endorphins. A walk can also separate you from the stressful situation. It can also allow you some time to put that situation in to a different, more positive perspective.

Take a few minutes of attaining peace in your mind as a mental break. You can use such techniques as visualization and imagery to help you gain a calm state. Sometimes its hard to find a quiet place. If you could visit any relaxing place in the United States wouldn’t you want to experience the tranquil lifestyle of a Floridian? Use Florida vacation rentals for a hassle-free and quiet vacation.

Look at the situation from a different angle. Some situations are made more stressful because of the way we look at them or the way we approach them. Try looking at it from another perspective or from the viewpoint of another person. And don’t sabotage yourself by only thinking about the situation in a negative manner. The power of positive thinking can help you look at the situation differently.

A technique called progressive muscle relaxation can also be a great way to relieve your stress. This technique entails contraction and release of the different muscle groups of your body. After you have individually tensed and released each group of muscles, you will find that not only your body, but also your mind will be more relaxed.

Because you find yourself more relaxed after using any of these tips, your situations will seem much less stressful.

Many parents today allow their children every whim and let them eat unhealthy foods. May parents who do this rationalize this behavior by thinking that the children are young and they can worry about their health when they are grown. This may be wrong since a child will develop habits early in their development. So if a child has been raised eating junk food, it’s maybe harder for him or her to resist and change that habit.

Responsible parents should teach good health and eating habits to their children when they are young. These children will grow to eat well, which in turn will make a huge difference on how they look at their health and habits in adulthood.

For instance, children should learn that drink water is more beneficial than sugared and carbonated beverages. Drinking water has many heath benefits such as healthy skin and other positive wellness effects.

Teaching children the benefits of a well-balanced breakfast is also important. A child who eats a healthy breakfast will usually perform much better at his education.

Learning to wash their hands regularly will also teach good habits for the future. In addition, good habits like this will help keep them healthy because they are less likely to pick up germs and bacteria that can make them ill.

Make sure your children understand the importance of regular physical and doctor checkups. This can begin early on when your child needs his or her vaccinations and immunizations for school enrollment. ]]> http://www.daytimesleep.org/teach-children-early-about-good-health-and-wellness-habits.html/feed 0 http://www.daytimesleep.org/positive-health-habits-for-kids.html http://www.daytimesleep.org/positive-health-habits-for-kids.html#comments Thu, 07 Oct 2010 09:12:40 +0000 admin http://www.daytimesleep.org/?p=222 Read More]]>

Children of all ages should always eat a variety of foods. While the variety is important, it is integral that they consume lots of fresh vegetables and fruit. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that children consume at least five services of vegetables and fruits each day – two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables. The consumption of fruits and vegetables will reduce the likelihood of developing diseases such diabetes, heart or kidney disease, high blood pressure and many other conditions. Provide your children with healthy snacks such as raw vegetables and whole grains. Do not let your children drink a lot of drinks that contain sugar; have them drink water instead. Also avoid snacks with lots of sugar.

Encourage your children to maintain a high-level of activity and exercise. Playing video games all afternoon does not constitute exercise. Engage and support them in activities such as gymnastics, skiing, swimming or karate. Let them explore their options as far as exercise activities go. Play outside with your children. Play a game of catch or take the dog for a walk or to the park. Having the exercise and activities be family oriented will actually help everyone! You’ll probably end up become healthier as well.

Many experts in this field say the best thing to do is to go to a sleep clinic where you can get focused care. The University of Chicago‘s sleep clinic is one such institution where experts are researching on the causes and cure of sleep disorders.

There have been cases where people have not had a good night’s sleep for ages. These people found themselves nodding off at all times of day .Any Time they found themselves in a relaxed position, for example sitting in front of the office desk or in the car, they would nod odd. For them the situation was not only embarrassing but caused disruption in their work life.

It is estimated that nearly one third of the population in America are afflicted with some form of sleep disorder. Many of them go their family doctor who without ascertaining the cause of the sleep disorder prescribes some form of medication which is not really the cure.

In specialized places like The University of Chicago’s Sleep centre, the first thing the doctors do is find the cause before starting the treatment.  Many patients start off with a diagnostic test called a polysomnogram.  This test helps the doctor to zero on in why the patient has trouble sleeping and is then in a much better position to prescribe a cure.

Doctor’s here also concede that they cannot find a cure for every problem.  Some of the leading sleep researchers in the world are constantly trying to find ways to help more and more patients with sleep disorders.

If you have an acute sleep disorder, you might not be able to get help from your primary care provider. It is probably a good idea to go to an institute like The University of Chicago’s Sleep clinic. Unfortunately treatments in these kinds of institutions are very expensive. You will need help from many sources. Cash advances are a good source to tide over this expense. Sleep disorders can be very frustrating and getting a cure as quickly as possible is well worth it.

Here are a just a few tips that may help, alone or in combination with each other.

Don’t take naps during the day. Your body may reject sleeping at night since it thinks it already obtained sleep.

Keep the temperatures in the bedroom at a cool temperature.

Make sure you spend about 15 minutes each day outside in the sunlight. This is called retinal stimulation and this exposure to sunlight will help regulate your sleep cycle or circadian rhythm. Just a note of caution: Don’t look directly into the sun.

Don’t do activities in bed that should be done only during waking hours. These activities include laptop usage, texting, talking on the phone. Even watching television is not a good idea. You should associate your bed with sleeping. However, reading in bed can actually create a state of relaxation that can help induce sleep.

Make sure you try to go to bed at the same time each night. Experts agree that a regular, planned bedtime is best for alleviating sleep issues. You should also awake at the same time each day as well.

Don’t eat or eat stimulating food less than three hours before your appointed bedtime. Strenuous exercise will raise your heart rate, preventing relaxation. However, slow stretching can help. Spicy foods can cause heartburn or indigestion that will keep you awake.

These nightmares may cause distress, daytime sleepiness and produce other ill effects of sleep interruption. It is possible to determine the cause, thus reducing the occurrence of these nightmares.

Nightmares are vivid and realistic and can fully awaken you from a deep state of sleep. You may wake up feeling like your heart is pounding out of your chest. Nightmares usually take place during the dream state, or rapid eye movement (REM) state of sleep. While nightmares may differ from person to person, some common adult nightmares include falling or not being able to run from danger. If a person did experience something traumatic in reality, that experience can cause nightmares.

While adult nightmares are usually spontaneous, they can occur due to man factors and some disorders. Eating a late night snack, due to the increase in metabolism and brain activity, can cause nightmares. Medications may also cause an increase in nightmares. These medications are general those that affect the brain such as narcotics, antidepressants and some high blood pressure medications. Interestingly, withdrawal from substances, drugs and alcohol can trigger nightmares. If you think your medications are cause nightmares or a change in frequency of them, contact your doctor.

If you are not getting enough sleep you can experience nightmares. Adult nightmares can also be caused by depression and anxiety. Those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder can begin to experience recurring nightmares.

Sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome are other sleep disorders than can cause nightmares in adults. Sleep nightmares may also affect people with relatives who experience nightmares, suggesting a genetic or familial link.

According to a recent study chronic insomnia may be causing suffers to lose brain cells. Brain imaging was used as part of the study and showed that those with chronic insomnia had lower density in the areas of the brain that controls its ability to rest and make decisions. The study hopes that these results can produce new treatments that can help people who suffer from conditions that cause sleeplessness.

The study was conducted at the Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience. The lead author is Ellenmarijie Altena. Altena says that the findings foretell and indicated that these insomnia sufferers may have lowered capacities in the areas of the brain that evaluate stimulus. She continues to point out there could be consequences of this lower brain density, such as lowered cognitive processes, such as decision making.

The study was published in Biological Psychiatry and used 24 older insomniacs as subjects, as well as 13 normal sleepers. The subjects’ brains were compared for differences in both the white and gray matter volumes of their brains. The subjects were also studied for other mental and physical conditions that could cause alterations in the brain’s density.

Subjects with the most severe cases of insomnia showed the highest rate of loss of brain density. It didn’t seem to matter how long they had experienced the condition. However, the research could not verify whether the insomnia caused the loss of density or vice versa.

Research in the area of sleep disorders have always stated that sleep disorders disrupts the brain’s behavior and ability to function properly. Another researcher, Ronald Kramer from the Colorado Neurology Institute says that the study fits in with other research literature that affirms that lack of sleep affects the brain in a negative matter.

Both researchers hope that the results of this study and similar finding can have a positive effect on help people suffering from insomnia.

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.

However, you may want to first try some steps to help you get the proper amount of sleep you need to avoid daytime sleepiness. Obviously the first thing is: get enough sleep. It is surprising how many people do not get enough sleep. Adults are supposed to get about eight hours of sleep per night, but very few actually do. While eight hours is the norm, you may need more or less. With a bit of experimentation, you will be able to find your optimal sleep need. Here are a few tips to help you sleep:

–Do not allow distractions. This means turn off the television, no books or other things that may make it harder to sleep.

–Try to wake up every morning at the same time. Routines will help you with your sleepiness.

–Eat at regular times. A light meal in the evening is best, as heavy meals will interfere with your sleep. Eat heavy meals earlier in the day.

–Don’t take naps in the late day. Napping during the day makes it harder to sleep at night.

–Exercise regularly. Exercising has been shown to promote better sleep. Exercise will make you tired both physically and mentally.

–Do not imbibe in a nightcap. You may think they will help, but they don’t. Alcohol is actually considered a stimulant.

–Use a relaxation ritual before bed. Relaxation and meditation may help you sleep.

Do you feel sleepy during the day when you should be awake and fully functioning? Perhaps you are so drowsy that you fall asleep during times or situations where it may not be appropriate. Idoiphathic hypersomnia may be to blame. This is a condition where you experience sleepiness without a cause and can be considered a sleep disorder.

Stress, anxiety and even depression and boredom can cause this excess sleepiness. But more often than not, these conditions will cause apathy and fatigue. There are several causes, in addition to those mentioned, that can lead to sleepiness. Perhaps you are required to work different shifts such as night and weekend shifts or you engage in long work hours. Medications and medical conditions can be a cause. These conditions include hypthyroidism and hyponatremia (not having enough salt in your body fluids). You may also be experiencing a sleep disorder or quite possibly you are just not sleeping for long enough periods.

You can alleviate excessive daytime sleepiness by determining and treating the cause. First you should determine if you are experiencing fatigue due to stress, boredom or depression. It’s probably a good idea to speak with a health care professional to make this determination.

If you feel your sleepiness is due to medications you may be taking, again consult your physician to change or stop those medications. It is extremely important that you do not change your medications without a professional consultation.

If your condition is caused by a medical condition, your doctor can help you by prescribing medications or other therapies that will help your daytime sleepiness.

In most cases its best to consult your health care profession who can determine what the root cause of your sleepiness is. He or she may examine your sleep patterns or emotional state or other causes.

–If you got a bad night’s sleep, don’t try to oversleep or sleep in to regain that sleep. Try to awake at the same time each day, even if you didn’t sleep during the night before. Sleeping in will reset your internal clock causing more sleep issues.

–Use your internal clock. Use a bit of sunshine in the morning to reset this clock. Take a walk; get a few minutes of exercise. If it’s not sunny or there is bad weather, you can just turn on the lights. Do a few indoor-type activities. Your brain will also get more oxygen.

–Daily physical activity is very important. This is even more important if you’ve experienced a bad sleep night. Get more exercise the day following a bad night. Indications are that a higher level of exercise such as running or swimming later in the day seems to help achieve a good night’s sleep. Even just a few minutes of light activity helps.

–Napping is not advised. This is especially important the day after a bad night’s sleep. Instead of napping when you feel sleepy during the day, get some activity. During long work or study periods, make it a goal to get some activity about every 30 minutes or so. This activity will promote oxygen flow to the brain to increase your alertness.

–Go to bed the same time every night. Just like getting up the same time every morning, go to bed the same time every night. This will help promote a regular sleep routine. Avoid an earlier bedtime even if you are sleepy.

Good foods for promoting sleep include foods rich in chlorophyll. These included leafy green vegetables. Whole grains such as oats and whole wheat promote a calm and soothing affect that helps promote sleep. Other foods that can produce a calming effect include fruit (especially lemons and mulberries). Interestingly the spices basil and dill are also said to help promote sleep.

Sleep boosting serotonin in found carbohydrates is also recommended. Serotonin is a brain neurotransmitter that has been found to help sleep. We’ve all heard the theory that a cup of warm milk helps sleep. This is because of the tryptophan contained in milk. Tryptophan converts to seratonin within the body.

Lettuce has also been said to help with sleep. This is because lettuce contains hyoscyarnin that is an anti-cramping substance that is related to opium. So included lettuce in your dinner to help you get to sleep. Fish, poultry and legumes should also be included in a healthy sleep diet. The niacin contained in these foods also produces seratonin.

On the other hand, there are foods to avoid to achieve that good night’s sleep this includes caffeine. However, caffeine’s effects can very from person to person. Some people may not be able to tolerate the small amounts of caffeine in decaffeinated drinks or chocolate.

Alcohol also impairs sleep. Alcohol releases adrenaline into the body. It also impairs tryptophan getting to the brain. The brain needs the tryptophan to produce sleep-inducing seratonin. .

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.

If you are having trouble falling asleep you might want to look into using Melatonin as a sleep aid. This is a naturally occurring hormone secreted by the pineal gland located in the center of the brain. This hormone assists in sleep cycle regulation. This cycle is also known as circadian rhythm, which is the body’s 24 hour time cycle that controls the time we sleep and when we are awake.

When it is dark melatonin is released and suppressed when it is light. Studies show that while we continue to produce melatonin throughout our lives, the production may slow as we get older. This accounts for why younger people have fewer problems with sleep.

Melatonin is also available in a laboratory produced synthetic form. You can purchase melatonin sleep aids and supplements in drug stores and health food outlets with out a prescription. The FDA allows the sale of melatonin supplements as a dietary supplement due to the fact that melatonin is also found to naturally occur in some foods.

While melatonin has been found to be very effective in treating sleep delays, it can also be used to alleviate and prevent sleep issues due to jet lag.

Melatonin doses will vary from individual to individual and come in a variety of doses. It is suggest that you start with the smallest amount and increase should it be needed. This supplement should be taken at night, about 30 minutes before bedtime.

While it is an over-the-counter supplement and has been on the market for many years, no governmental regulatory body has confirmed its safety. Most concerning is that there is no information about any kind of interaction that may occur with other medications.

Melatonin should be used by adults only. Pregnant or breast-feeding women, or anyone some other medical issues such as epilepsy and diabetes should also avoid melatonin. If you are unsure, contact a medical professional.

You have already tried all the usual sleep tricks such as a regular bedtime every night. You are exercising and avoiding caffeinated drinks and naps. You have been watching your stress level, and yet there you are, lying awake, trying to sleep. If this has been an on-going issue from a few weeks, it’s a good idea to contact your physician to make sure there are no underlying medical conditions causing your sleeplessness.

You can consider an over-the-counter aid for those occasional restless nights. But keep in mind that this is a temporary solution and the drugs become less effective the more often they are taken. There is also the possibility that this sleep aids will leaving you feeling a bit groggy the next morning.

Most of these OTC aids contain antihistamines. Antihistamines are the ingredients that cause drowsiness. Sleep aids, regardless of the brand — store brand or brand name — contain the same ingredients. And they carry the same benefits and risks. The store brand may have the benefit of being less expensive.

Some common sleep aid ingredients are diphenydramine and are found in labels such as Benadryl and Tylenol PM. The brand name Unisom contains doxylamine. Herbal and natural sleep aids include melatonin and valerian. Melatonin is known to help regulate the body’s sleep cycle. Valerian is a plant-based remedy that helps reduce the time it takes to fall asleep.

Sleep aids should not be taken by women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. Other side effects of these sleep aids can include, headache, irritability and so on. More serious effects can include heart problems and asthma. Be sure to contact your physician immediately should you experience any of these side effects.

Excessive daytime sleepiness is defined as a neurological disorder. Patients and suffers of this disorder experience an uncontrollable desire to sleep. This excessive daytime sleepiness is also known as narcolepsy.

There are several conditions that are associated with narcolepsy or excessive daytime sleep, including:

–The sudden loss of muscle tone during periods of strong emotions (anger, surprise, fear). This condition is called cataplexy. A person will experience sudden weakness and may actually collapse.

–Pre-sleep dreams called hypnogogic hallucinations. This occurs in the transitional state of drowsiness experienced before sleep.

–Sleep paralysis, which causes a person’s body to become immobile during the transition between wakefulness and sleep. It is apparently caused by a disconnect between the body and the brain.

Research numbers indicate that more than 100,000 people in American suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness. There are no lines of demarcation as this condition afflicts both women and men and all ethnic groups.

Symptoms of narcolepsy and excessive daytime sleepiness usually start to appear in people when they are in their teens and early 20s. The severity of the condition can vary from person to person. Some people only experience a mild form or may only experience cataplexy less than once a week. In those afflicted with a moderate level will have less than one episode per day and will experience a moderate level of sleepiness. Those with a severe form of the disease may experience cataplexy more than twice a day and may also have occurrences of severe sleeplessness.

The causes of this disorder are not yet known. What is known is that the condition can be dangerous. For instance, a person with narcolepsy may fall asleep during activities than can prove fatal, such as driving.

The condition is generally treated with medications such as those to heighten levels of alertness as well as anti-depressants to help counteract the cataplexy.

Again, women often say their lifestyles are the cause of this fatigue and sleepiness. This sleepiness can affect many areas of their lives including productivity and safety, and may be an indicator of other medical issues. Women need to speak to medical professionals about these conditions if they become persistent.

Professionals in the medical field define these conditions:

–Fatigue that is considered a state of sustained exhaustion. A person will also be less able to perform work- both physical and mental. This fatigue does not dissipate even after rest.

–EDS or excessive daytime sleepiness is defined by the inability to remain awake. A person will simply fall asleep. This may occur at dangerous times such as driving.

Causes of excessive daytime sleep can also be considered a symptom of other disorders, such as narcolepsy. The symptoms of include uncontrollable attacks of sleeping, sudden paralysis or muscle weakness, hallucinations or nighttime sleep fragments.

Sleep apnea presents with symptoms of gasping for breath or excessive snoring.

Another condition is restless leg syndrome. A person experience this will feel creepy sensations in the legs, which may be in addition to non-voluntary leg movements. This involuntary movement may also indicate periodic limb movement disorder.

If you work at a non-traditional time such as the night shift, this may disrupt your body’s normal sleep or circadian rhythm. Travel across multiple time zones may also affect your sleep cycle.

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.

Many Americans have trouble sleeping. There are problems with sleeping too much, sleeping too little, feeling sleepy during the day and feeling alert at night. As part of a healthy life, it is crucial to get the right amount of sleep each night.

Medical conditions can often cause problems with a person’s sleep patterns. While there are medicines available to address and correct sleep related problems, they can also cause problems, so it is crucial they be used correctly. Sleeping pills, which can help a person sleep, are psychoactive drugs that will put a person to sleep, or at least make them sleepy. For people who have trouble falling asleep, these medicines are very helpful. However, it is easy to develop a reliance on these drugs. This reliance can turn into an addiction if not kept under control, where the user will believe there is no way they could ever sleep without the pills. If this happens, the person should seek the assistance of a drug treatment center or speak with a doctor.

People who always feel sleepy may have EDS, which stands for excessive daytime sleepiness. This disorder can be just as serious a problem as being unable to sleep. Being excessively tired can lower a person’s ability to make good decisions and could put them and others in danger (imagine a sleepy bus driver or airport security guard). Sometimes the solution is a simple old-fashioned nap during the day; 15 or 30 minutes of light sleep can refresh and energize a person for the remainder of the day. Setting up a sleep pattern can also correct daytime drowsiness. However, sometimes medical treatment is needed to address sleep problems that arise from mental issues or physical ailments.

When someone is dealing with erratic sleep patterns or has concerns about their sleeping habits, the best thing to do is to consult a medical authority.

Sleep is essential for health and general wellness. It is also good for our mental acuity as well as helping our stress levels. Most of us, unfortunately, do not get enough sleep on a regular basis to take advantages of all that sleep can do for us. And lack of sleep can be dangerous. Some studies indicate that those lacking sleep may be at a risk three times higher than others of being in an automobile accident.

Following is a quick look at sleep deprivation and stress; as well as some tips to help you sleep.

Many of us cannot leave work at the workplace and subsequently we end up trying to solve work’s problems while at home when we should be relaxing. This does not just affect those of us who work at a traditional workplace, but students and those who work at home. You will make sleep difficult to achieve if your mind is still filled with the day’s work issues.

Interestingly, people who are under stress consume more caffeine to achieve an added energy level to get them going or to keep them going. However, caffeine can increase stress, and will then affect your sleep.

A stress hormone called cortisol is also known to effect sleep. This hormone is also known for the “fight or flight” response and is released when you are stressed. Unfortunately too much cortisol will affect healthy sleep.

Just like not leaving your work at work and over thinking, anxiety can lead to problems falling or staying asleep. Your mind remains active and unable to relax if you are anxious and preoccupied. This may also increase your cortisol levels, making sleep even hard to come by.

Over scheduling activities can also reduce sleep. If you try to put too many activities on your schedule, you will find yourself reducing the number of hours available for sleep.

Quitting smoking, in many respects, is harder than quitting any other drug. For one it is legally available in almost every place all over the world. While there is a social stigma that follows smoking it is not nearly the kind of stigma that follows the users of other drugs and there is still advertising that supports the use of smoking. But there are far greater factors at work making the task of quitting smoking a daunting one.

It’s not just that there is the constant view of cigarettes, it’s that once a smoker quits his or her body goes through a withdrawal that takes an effect on them. Luckily there are smoking alternatives to help them ease their pain, but still sometimes other symptoms persist that cause big health problems.

Another drug that is hard for people to quit but is rarely thought about is caffeine. There have been studies over the years that show that not only is caffeine one of the most addictive drugs on the planet but it is also one of the most dangerous for long term use and it’s withdrawal can be as punishing as any other drug.

Those who quit using caffeine (which is hard, as caffeine is found in millions of over the counter drugs, drinks, and foods) may find that they suffer from enormous headaches and that they have trouble staying awake. Caffeine used to take the place of the natural chemicals in the human body that kept people awake so there may be a feeling of sleepiness. However, that doesn’t mean that this feeling will last forever. As a matter of fact there are many studies that say those who kick the awful dependency on caffeine will actually see many great improvements in their personal health which make quitting a must.

When you sleep, how you sleep and at what time of day or night can matters just as much as how much sleep you get. Keep that in mind, because some people assume that going to bed in the wee hours of the morning and sleeping until noon is just as good as going to sleep at ten o’clock at night and getting up at six or seven in the morning. Studies have shown, though, that it’s not as healthy to stay up late and sleep in as it is to go to bed and get up at what’s considered to be a more normal time.

It’s not entirely clear why that’s the case, but it does through off the body’s natural rhythm, which can lead to health problems. That doesn’t mean it’s not all right to stay up late occasionally. Most people do that from time to time, and it doesn’t hurt anything. It’s only the people who stay up late and sleep late for years, all the time, that can eventually harm their long-term health. Why take chances, though? Make sure that you’re getting the right kind of sleep so you have the best chance of remaining healthy over the long-term.

Some health problems are simply not preventable, but you want to do as much as you can in order to make sure that you’re protecting your health. Getting the right kind of sleep should be something you do just like exercising, eating right, not smoking, and not drinking too excess. That way, you’ll control your chance at a long, healthy life as much as you can. Don’t worry too much about the factors that you can’t control. That will just make you anxious and unhappy. Instead, focus on the things you have control over in your life, and work to make them the best and healthiest that they can be.

Even the best best cell phone plans can not help you stay connected, if you aren’t even connected to what you really want in life. Maybe you are of the “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” camp, and want to just charge your way through life until you burn out in the tradition of James Dean and Bruce Lee. While that might be a very sexy way to think about your life, it really isn’t that good of an idea long term. After all, what good will it do you to become wildly successful and make tons of money, if you end up not being able to live long enough to enjoy it?

At some point, you have to strike a balance. One sleep method that has been proven effective by some workaholics is called polyphasic sleeping. Basically, you take a 20 minute nap every four hours. The down side is that you spend a few weeks walking around as if you are in a heavy fog, as your mind adapts to not having tons of time to get into REM sleep cycles. But once you adjust, you will find that you can get a lot more done, and be well rested.

Whether your child is just a baby, or whether he or she is a little older, naps are still important. Some older children even nap after school, especially if they don’t sleep well at night. There are discussions indicating that children are being forced to get up too early to go to school, and that it’s difficult for them to do this. If school started later, they may even do better academically. Some schools have adjusted their start times to help children with this. In areas where this hasn’t been done, getting your child to take a short nap after school might be one of the best things you can do for his or her health.

A quiet place to rest helps to encourage a child to take a nap. Draw the curtains, play quiet music, or even sing a lullaby – depending on the age and particular temperament of your child. You might have to experiment a bit to find what works, but don’t give up. Some children take naps much more easily than others, but almost all children will take naps, at least occasionally, up until school age – and some will take naps even into their teenage years. Let your child do what’s right for him or her, but encourage short naps if your child seems cranky or has trouble staying awake during the day.

Somnolence, or what’s usually called drowsiness, is a pretty serious deal. Needing a nap is one thing, snoozing behind the wheel is quite another. However, insomnia, the inability to sleep, is a serious deal too. The medicines that are prescribed for insomnia can cause somnolence. Zolpidem, one of the more well-known insomnia drugs, is a prescription medication that brings on drowsiness almost immediately. Taking Zolpidem means lying down immediately or risk falling over and getting hurt. In this manner, someone suffering from insomnia can begin to suffer from somnolence instead.

Humans aren’t the only mammals with sleeping serious problems. Dogs can spend all night lying awake staring at the ceiling, too. Both extreme sleepiness (sometimes even narcolepsy) and hyper alertness have been observed in dogs. Dogs can get stressed out too, so sometimes all that’s keeping them up is a stressful event, a new person in their life, or a change in their living area. This is also true of people. Stresses or worries can keep their mind going through the entire night. Meditation and non-medication based approaches can direct the mind and body toward sleep. However, sometimes medicine is needed to encourage and restore regular circadian rhythms (sleep patterns). People can visit and consult with doctors to see if a sleeping aid needs to be prescribed, like Zolpidem. Veterinarians can check your dog and give you a good idea on how to proceed. They can help you figure out whether Sparky is just concerned about his pillow being in the laundry room now, or if he has actual medical problems. Doctors are always on hand to assist you as needed, and both human and pet insurance will help with the cost of prescriptions. That will help you and Sparky sleep easy at night.

Over-the-counter medications to promote sleep aren’t as strong as the ones your doctor can offer you, but you should try them first. You want to use as little medication as possible to help you fall asleep. The more you use the higher the chance of addiction, so take only the minimum amount, and for the shortest number of nights possible. Some people only take a sleep aid for one night once in a while, and that’s probably the best use of these medications for the majority of people out there. There are some people with more chronic sleep problems, but there aren’t that many of them.

If over-the-counter medications don’t work, see your doctor. He or she can help you by prescribing something that’s stronger and that can help you get the sleep that you’re missing out on. These medications can also make you feel groggy and tired during the day, so take them with caution and only in the dosage prescribed. If they don’t help you to fall asleep, don’t take more assuming that will work. That can be very dangerous, and is something that should always be avoided.

You should only drink water or something that’s very light and that contains no caffeine. If you drink decaffeinated beverages and go easy on the sugar, you’ll be more likely to fall asleep more easily. Also, consider the time of day when you exercise. Evenings are not the best time. Exercising tends to wake you up, so you should do it earlier in the day so it doesn’t interfere with your sleep.

You can also consider avoiding TV in the bedroom. It can keep you awake quite easily. You’ll get interested in a program, and before you know it it’s much later than you expected. By that time you might not feel as tired as you were earlier in the evening, so you end up staying up even later. The next morning you’re tired and drug out, but you repeat the same pattern the next night. Shutting off the TV – or removing it from the bedroom entirely – can help with that. It will take you a few nights to adjust to the dark and quiet, but it’ll be worth it in the long run, since you’ll be rewarded with better sleep.

If you’re patient for a few nights, your sleep schedule will straighten itself out and you’ll feel better. Some people have a bigger problem with their sleep patterns, though, and they really do need medication to help them correct it. Even sleep aids that are supposed to be non-addictive should be taken in moderation and only for as long as absolutely necessary. If you develop an addiction to them you won’t be able to sleep without them, which will just make the problem worse. Over time you’ll need larger doses of these medications just to fall asleep – and larger doses can mean more significant side effects.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about any sleep problems that you’re having. That way, you’ll get a diagnosis and the best recommendation possible about what you should do. It might be that some simple lifestyle changes will be enough to allow you to sleep well again and you won’t need medication. That works for some people, so it’s worth talking over with your doctor. If it isn’t enough for you, medications might be necessary. When taken under a doctor’s care, you can minimize the risk of addiction and help to keep yourself safe.

Our bodies aren’t designed to be nocturnal. If left alone, people sleep at night and are awake during the day for the most part. That’s important to remember, because it shows that there is a set rhythm that people follow and that there’s probably a reason for that. Messing with that rhythm over the long-term can be problematic and lead to higher incidences of chronic health problems. The immune system is also affected, making these night-shift workers more prone to colds, flu, and other bugs that people commonly catch. If you work nights and have small children, you could more easily catch all those ‘at school’ germs that they seem to bring home each year.

Often, it’s not possible to just change shifts. You have to work the job you’re trained for and the shift that the company needs you to work. That doesn’t mean you can’t start moving toward something better, though. Make your desires for a day or evening shift known, in a very non-confrontational way, and then do the best job you can. You can get yourself first in line for a promotion or shift-change that way, when one becomes available.

That could lead to another nap and a repeat of the sleep problem the following night. Of course, not everyone reacts to a nap this way. Some people take a nap and feel great about it – and then they sleep just fine that night. Largely, it depends on the length of the nap. A shorter nap – around 30 minutes – doesn’t seem to bother nighttime sleep too much. When you take a long nap, though, such as one that lasts several hours, your body isn’t really tired just a few short hours later when it’s time to go to bed.

Messing with your sleep schedule can be annoying, and it can take a long time to get straightened out. That’s especially true if you’re off work for a few days and keep taking naps because you aren’t sleeping well at night. To avoid problems like that, limit the length of your nap. If you nap too long and don’t sleep well that night, don’t take another nap the next day. You might be a little tired, but you’ll get through it and you should be able to get to sleep quickly that night. That will help you get back on schedule faster and with less aggravation.

People who don’t sleep well and/or don’t get enough sleep for extended periods of time, though, make themselves more susceptible to colds, flu, and more serious diseases. Some studies even show that people who don’t get enough sleep increase their risk of dying sooner because their bodies just aren’t as healthy. They raise their risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other serious and chronic illnesses. It can be difficult to get enough sleep in today’s fast-paced society, but it’s something you can do if you discipline yourself a little bit more. Just make sure that you get to bed earlier. That TV program can wait, of course – it’ll be on again another time, or you can record it.

For a while you’ll find it difficult to get to sleep early. That’s mostly because your body isn’t used to the new bedtime. With a little patience, you’ll find that you can get to sleep at an earlier time and start catching up on the sleep you’re missing. Don’t just try to catch up on weekends. That helps, but it’s not really enough to take care of the sleep deficit you’ve created or avoid health problems caused by lack of sleep in the long-term.

That’s important, no matter what your age, gender, occupation, or other factors. Studies have shown that people who don’t get enough sleep are at risk for more health problems than people who get the proper amount of sleep for their bodies. The quality of sleep matters, too, not just how many hours you spend slumbering between the sheets. If you’re getting eight hours but the quality is poor, you’re actually getting much less sleep than you think you are. Reevaluate what you’re doing so you can find out why you’re not sleeping well.

You may even need to talk with your doctor about a sleep aid, but that should be a last resort. With some white noise and a few relaxation techniques, as well as the elimination of distractions, you should be able to get a better sleep schedule that you can be comfortable with and that’s better for your health. Missing a night or two of good sleep isn’t going to hurt you, but a chronic, long-term sleep problem could eventually weaken your immune system and harm your health in other ways. White noise can often help you reduce your sleep problems.

When you have a child who has trouble sleeping, you want to help him so he’ll feel better. That’s true if he’s a toddler, and true if he’s a teenager – and every age in between. What you have to remember, though, is that a child’s body is not the same as an adult’s. Kids can have stronger reactions to things like medication, and adult medications aren’t meant for them. Don’t give your little one something that you take for sleep – especially if it’s prescription. For a child with sleep problems, you should try other avenues before you consider medication.

A change in bedtime, white noise, a small snack before sleep, and other things can be tried. Sometimes, none of these will work and you’ll have to consider a medication. Take your child to the doctor and have him checked out, to make sure that there isn’t something else causing the problem. It’s possible that a medical problem is to blame. If so, you’ll want to have it treated. If your doctor can’t find anything physically wrong, consider an emotional issue like anxiety or depression. If those have also been ruled out and no specific cause can be found, a sleep medication may be the answer to helping your child get enough sleep.

Any medication that your doctor prescribes or recommends should be one that you feel comfortable with. Don’t be afraid to ask questions so you can determine if there are any risks you’re not willing to take. Also make sure that you’re giving the correct dosage and follow your doctor’s instructions exactly. You don’t want to make a dosing mistake that could harm your child in any way. If the medication doesn’t help you can consult your doctor for something different, but never give your child more than the recommended dosage of any sleep aid you’re using.

Another reason people feel that way is simply because they don’t get enough sleep at night. When they only get a few hours, they tend to do all right for a little while, then start to get tired again. That feeling usually settles in after lunch. Later they get their ‘second wind,’ and they keep going until their work day is done. Getting to bed earlier so that they get more sleep at night could help alleviate the sleepy feeling during the day, but a lot of people don’t want to go to bed early, so they just live their lives tired.

If you live in a climate where it’s very hot, that could also be contributing to how sleepy you feel. The early to mid-afternoon is the hottest part of the day, so it’s not entirely surprising that it also makes some people sleepy. Even if you’re in an air-conditioned building, the press of the sun on the windows is difficult to ignore. It’s not something you can really control, so you may have to learn simply to deal with it. If you’re getting enough sleep at night and eating light at lunchtime, you’re doing most of what you can to curb that afternoon sleepy feeling.