Posts Tagged ‘difficulty sleeping’
Scientists Finding Out What Losing Sleep Does to a Body
Beyond leaving people bleary-eyed, clutching a Starbucks cup and dozing off at afternoon meetings, failing to get enough sleep or sleeping at odd hours heightens the risk for a variety of major illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity, recent studies indicate.
“We’re shifting to a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week society, and as a result we’re increasingly not sleeping like we used to,” said Najib T. Ayas of the University of British Columbia. “We’re really only now starting to understand how that is affecting health, and it appears to be significant.”
A large, new study, for example, provides the latest in a flurry of evidence suggesting that the nation’s obesity epidemic is being driven, at least in part, by a corresponding decrease in the average number of hours that Americans are sleeping, possibly by disrupting hormones that regulate appetite. The analysis of a nationally representative sample of nearly 10,000 adults found that those between the ages of 32 and 49 who sleep less than seven hours a night are significantly more likely to be obese.
Sleep problems and sleeplessness -
using hypnosis tapes/CDs for sleeplessness
Hypnosis tapes and CDs can be very helpful in dealing with sleeplessness in several ways. They can be used to keep one’s mind occupied and focused on sleep in a much more practical fashion than is typical of the thinking that usually goes on when one lays awake trying to sleep. They may be able to suggest acceptable ideas about relaxing and setting problems aside for the night so that sleep can come. They may also be able to offer suggestions about letting one’s self relax that amount to a new skill being learned that can be utilized on other occasions without the aid of the tape/CD. Hypnosis tapes/CDs provide a set of hypnotic interventions that can be accessed and utilized at any hour, day or night. They allow for a greater sense of control and an opportunity to “get to know” what messages are being delivered to the listener. Unlike a session with a therapist or hypnotist, tapes and CDs allow one to experience the session with whatever level of anxiousness about the experience that one feels a need for — and then allows the listener to listen again, more relaxed because there are going to be no surprises.
The most helpful elements of hypnosis tapes, MP3s and CDs for sleeplessness will foster a temporary soothing of frayed nerves and distresses (your brain will not want to risk forgetting stresses for more than the night), and will focus on imagery and suggestions that foster direct or indirect control over the things that seem to get in the way of falling asleep and staying asleep.
Parenting: Sleeping Through the Night
Sleep problems are a common occurrence in early childhood, affecting about 25% of all young children. Difficulty going to sleep at bedtime, nighttime waking, and early morning waking are the three most common sleep problems. If I have a sleep problem, you may already have a strategy that works well. But if I have a sleep problem for which you have not found a satisfactory solution, you should change my sleep pattern and/or start sleep training. Whether I currently sleep through the night or you need to teach me to do so, you need to ensure that I am safe when I sleep.
Safety Notes [ Top ]
Sleep Position for Infants The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that healthy babies be placed on their back for sleeping in order to reduce the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). However, the Academy states that certain babies should still be placed on their stomach (prone) for sleep: For premature infants with respiratory distress, for infants with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (spitting up), or with certain upper airway anomalies, and perhaps for some other reasons, prone may well be the position of choice. Always ask my doctor which position is best for me when sleeping. Remember that I should spend some time playing on my stomach during awake times (unless instructed otherwise by my doctor).
Insomnia (Difficulty Sleeping) Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment on
Insomnia
Medical Author: Siamak Nabili, MD, MPH
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
- What is insomnia?
- What causes insomnia?
- What are other causes of insomnia?
- What are the risk factors for insomnia?
- What are the symptoms of insomnia?
- When should I call the doctor about insomnia?
- How is insomnia diagnosed?
- How is insomnia treated?
- What are non-medical treatments for insomnia?
- What is sleep hygiene?
- How can stimulus control help with insomnia?
- What is sleep restriction?
- What medications are used to treat insomnia?
- What is the outlook for insomnia?
- Insomnia At A Glance
- Patient Discussions: Insomnia – Describe Your Treatment
- Find a local Sleep Specialist in your town
Tips for Getting to Sleep While Under Stress
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stoppler, MD
Medical Editor: Jay W. Marks, MD
Sleep aid tips & insomnia cures page about Infants and Children
Insomnia In Infants and Children Sleep aid tips about insomnia cures & sleeping disorder remedies
Sleep aids and natural sleep aid tips for infants sleeping about insomnia cures for kids Sleeping disorders natural therapies for healthy childrens sleeping habits information and remedies for your child’s better sleep which may also cure any mild sleep disorder you may want natural sleep insomnia cures for better baby sleeping aids and kids herbal remedies.
Aids for Infants to Sleep Naturally
Lack of sleep are some of the most common problems parents face with their kids. Getting and keeping a child asleep at night is a major concern. Not only is the little one uncomfortable, but so are their mothers. Anyone who has ever had a young child or baby in the house is well aware of the misery that follows a sleepless night. Infants under a month old and some older babies often appreciate being swaddled. They should be snugly wrapped in a blanket for warmth and security. It can help calm a baby down and may keep her from being awakened by her own “startle reflex” at night. Establishing a predictable bedtime routine is one of the best ways to ensure that everyone in the house will get a good night’s rest. With very young infants, the process will take time and they still need middle of the night feedings. It is very helpful that young babies establish a feeding schedule in the night. Once the nighttime feedings become a thing of the past, a great baby sleep aid is to warm a bottle or breastfeed right before the baby is laid down. Being fed and comforted with the warmth of a mother, a baby usually will help them settle in for the night. Children at such a young age need their sleep in order to grow healthy and have the energy their little bodies need.
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5 ways to sleep better
There is not much that will ruin your day more than not getting a good night’s sleep the night before. Sleep is not a luxury–it is a necessity. A lack of sleep will affect your ability to focus and your ability to concentrate. A lack of sleep will also have an adverse effect on your performance. You will not do your best job if you are running on little or no sleep.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as “catching up” on sleep. Once you have lost sleep, it is gone forever. Extended periods of sleep deprivation will eventually affect your health. The concept of beauty sleep, however, is not a myth. Getting sufficient sleep each night is one of the best (and most inexpensive) beauty aids on the market.
Last, but not least, a lack of sleep will make you cranky and irritable. So, do yourself and those around you a favor, and get a good night’s sleep.
If you are having difficulty sleeping, here are five tips to help you sleep better:
Insomnia definition
Our Insomnia Main Article provides a comprehensive look at the who, what, when and how of Insomnia Definition of Insomnia
Insomnia: The perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep because of one or more of the following: difficulty falling asleep; waking up frequently during the night with difficulty returning to sleep; waking up too early in the morning; or unrefreshing sleep. Insomnia is not defined by the number of hours of sleep a person gets or how long it takes to fall asleep. Individuals vary normally in their need for, and their satisfaction with, sleep. Insomnia may cause problems during the day, such as tiredness, a lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, and irritability.
Types of Insomnia: Insomnia can be classified as transient (short term), intermittent (on and off), and chronic (constant). Insomnia lasting from a single night to a few weeks is referred to as transient. If episodes of transient insomnia occur from time to time, the insomnia is said to be intermittent. Insomnia is considered to be chronic if it occurs on most nights and lasts a month or more.
Menopause and Its Effect on Your Sleep
Many women going through menopause experience difficulties in sleeping. Some women have trouble falling sleep, while others fall asleep but cannot stay asleep. As many as 61% of menopausal women report have insomnia. Studies show that 75-85% of menopausal women experience hot flashes. Hot flashes can cause difficulty in sleeping. This is a normal side effect of menopause. Menopausal women have trouble sleeping due to lack of estrogen. When estrogen levels go down this causes a decrease in serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that creates melatonin. Melatonin is a sleep hormone. Another sleep disturbance that also occurs with menopausal women is restless leg syndrome. Restless Leg Syndrome is a condition with an irresistible urge to move your body to stop uncomfortable or odd sensations.
Difficulty sleeping can lead to other problems such as daytime drowsiness. The body needs rest. If you do not get the proper amount of rest, your body will suffer both mentally and physically. Anxiety and depression may also occur from lack of sleep. Without sleep, a person is at a higher risk of obesity.
Learning To Fall Back To Sleep
It is so rewarding to rock our little ones to sleep. The feeling of closeness we get from holding them in our arms as they drift off is, for many parents, the pot of gold at the end of a multi-colored rainbow. It’s very hard to give that up. At the same time, it is not particularly rewarding when it happens 4 or 5 times a night! For many parents, this is the dilemma. We want to rock them to sleep when it is good for us, but we want them to fall asleep on their own most of the time. It sounds like you have come to the place where you are ready to give up rocking him to sleep altogether. I am sure this must be difficult for you. I know both you and Nicholas will miss this truly intimate time. Giving up rocking Nicholas to sleep is necessary in order to teach him to fall asleep on his own.