It cannot be said that we all sleep like logs all through the year. There are times when we lose sleep over professional or personal matters. Illnesses and changes in routine may also cause temporary disturbances in the sleep pattern. Such instances that may last a few days or a few weeks at most are considered normal however, suffering from sleeplessness for months together, implies a serious problem.
In such cases you need urgent help for insomnia. Once your sleep problems attain a chronic status, you stand the risk of developing related health problems like, headaches, high blood pressure and greater vulnerability to heart attacks and strokes. In the short run you could have immense difficulty focusing and concentrating on any work that you do. With loss of mental clarity you could even have trouble on the work front. Lack of sleep is known to cause emotional and psychological imbalances and could lead to depression if left untreated.
It is very crucial therefore to get timely help for insomnia or it could lead to grave consequences. You need help for the disease in case you have trouble going to sleep, or staying asleep or tend to wake up too early. Often simple lifestyle changes are enough help for insomnia problems that you may be facing.
All that you need to do is inculcate a healthy eating habit and and make nutritious food your friend for life, follow an regular exercise schedule and adhere to a daily routine that is conducive to normal sleep patterns. Make sure not to stay up working late at night, and definitely avoid having heavy meals before going to bed. At the same time, it must be kept in mind that while exercise is good, it must not be done late in the evening or it will interfere with your sleep. Following such changes should be enough to help you conquer insomnia and return to normal sleep patterns.
It is quite possible that even after making the necessary changes in your lifestyle the problem may persist, in which case you will need medical help for insomnia treatment. It has been found that there are certain natural sleep aids that are highly effective in curing sleeplessness. These could be herbs, vitamins or minerals. Some of these natural remedies are considered to be comparable to and similar in action to sleeping pills and other aids.
However, there are times when even these prove to be ineffective. Under such circumstances you need to consult a doctor to investigate whether you suffer from related problems like, sleep apnoea, restless leg syndrome or narcolepsy that are also major reasons behind insomnia. Medical intervention is the best help for insomnia in such cases.
It must be understood that sleep is when the body repairs and restores itself. Sleep deprivation therefore, directly affects the health. So, once you find yourself tossing and turning in bed at night for a long period of time, recognize the symptoms and seek help for insomnia.
Rohit Chopra has written several useful articles on health and wellness topics like Insomnia, Taking ativan for Insomnia, Clonazepam Insomnia,Insomnia Cure, etc. Get more useful information on Insomnia at http://www.ailmentcontrol.com/
Friday, February 1, 2008
What Is Sleep Apnea
THE DEFINITION OF SLEEP APNEA
Sleep apnea is a disorder that prevents the body from getting a
sufficient amount of oxygen during sleep. During times of sleep,
the sleep apnea victim or patient literally stops breathing for
small periods of time, creating an extremely dangerous
situation. Over 12 million Americans have been diagnosed with
sleep apnea and that figure includes women, men, and children
though most of victims are older male adults. Sleep apnea is
also known as obstructive sleep apnea and it's the most common
form. Throat blockage, mostly from the tongue or palate, is what
gives obstructive sleep apnea its name - but it's only one form.
Two other forms are central sleep apnea and mixed sleep apnea.
CAUSES OF SLEEP APNEA
There are several causes, however tongue or palate blockage is
the main culprit. Basically, anything that prevents the lungs
from getting enough air to the brain is at fault, thus almost
all breathing problems have been blamed. From smoking and asthma
to being overweight to snoring, sleep apnea is now thought to
play a role in developing diabetes, heart attacks, and even
death. According to a recent study, 30% of sleep apnea victims
dies within four to five years after being diagnosed with one of
its most severe forms.
SLEEP APENEA TREATMENT
Most treatments for sleep apnea involve the CPAP machine
(continuous positive airway pressure). This machine works to
supply the body (lungs and brain) with enough oxygen while the
patient is sleeping. Some machines use nasal masks that cover
the mouth and nose to send air, while others use a
tube-connected mouth or nose piece to deliver air. The idea with
either method is to keep the airway open so that a patient gets
sufficient air through regular breathing.
Since the CPAP machine is a medical device, it requires a
prescription from a neurologist and an polysomnogram (sleep
study) examination.
Depending on the severity of the sleep apnea, a CPAP machine
may not be needed. Some people have found relieve through
natural methods simply by losing weight, cutting out certain
foods from a diet, reducing alcohol consumption, or even
avoiding certain medications under a doctor's advice. Others
have found help from the intake of specific vitamins and
minerals.
Ingesting vitamins and minerals without doctor consent can be
dangerous however since a recent report disclosed that taking
too many supplements (or the wrong ones) can cause problems
rather than relieve them. The best supplements to ask a doctor
about are the ones that stimulate circulation, reduce
cholesterol, regulate metabolism.
Herbal remedies should be avoided because they may interfere
with medications that a patient may already take. Herbs are a
form of medication themselves, and mixing them with prescribed
medications without proper knowledge of their effects is
extremely dangerous. Under no circumstance, should a patient
take a sleeping aid as a way to thwart sleep apnea. Sleeping
aids are designed to deepen sleep, while sleep apnea treatments
are designed to increase airflow. Both treatments solve
completely different problems.
About The Author: http://www.naturalherbalism.com
Sleep apnea is a disorder that prevents the body from getting a
sufficient amount of oxygen during sleep. During times of sleep,
the sleep apnea victim or patient literally stops breathing for
small periods of time, creating an extremely dangerous
situation. Over 12 million Americans have been diagnosed with
sleep apnea and that figure includes women, men, and children
though most of victims are older male adults. Sleep apnea is
also known as obstructive sleep apnea and it's the most common
form. Throat blockage, mostly from the tongue or palate, is what
gives obstructive sleep apnea its name - but it's only one form.
Two other forms are central sleep apnea and mixed sleep apnea.
CAUSES OF SLEEP APNEA
There are several causes, however tongue or palate blockage is
the main culprit. Basically, anything that prevents the lungs
from getting enough air to the brain is at fault, thus almost
all breathing problems have been blamed. From smoking and asthma
to being overweight to snoring, sleep apnea is now thought to
play a role in developing diabetes, heart attacks, and even
death. According to a recent study, 30% of sleep apnea victims
dies within four to five years after being diagnosed with one of
its most severe forms.
SLEEP APENEA TREATMENT
Most treatments for sleep apnea involve the CPAP machine
(continuous positive airway pressure). This machine works to
supply the body (lungs and brain) with enough oxygen while the
patient is sleeping. Some machines use nasal masks that cover
the mouth and nose to send air, while others use a
tube-connected mouth or nose piece to deliver air. The idea with
either method is to keep the airway open so that a patient gets
sufficient air through regular breathing.
Since the CPAP machine is a medical device, it requires a
prescription from a neurologist and an polysomnogram (sleep
study) examination.
Depending on the severity of the sleep apnea, a CPAP machine
may not be needed. Some people have found relieve through
natural methods simply by losing weight, cutting out certain
foods from a diet, reducing alcohol consumption, or even
avoiding certain medications under a doctor's advice. Others
have found help from the intake of specific vitamins and
minerals.
Ingesting vitamins and minerals without doctor consent can be
dangerous however since a recent report disclosed that taking
too many supplements (or the wrong ones) can cause problems
rather than relieve them. The best supplements to ask a doctor
about are the ones that stimulate circulation, reduce
cholesterol, regulate metabolism.
Herbal remedies should be avoided because they may interfere
with medications that a patient may already take. Herbs are a
form of medication themselves, and mixing them with prescribed
medications without proper knowledge of their effects is
extremely dangerous. Under no circumstance, should a patient
take a sleeping aid as a way to thwart sleep apnea. Sleeping
aids are designed to deepen sleep, while sleep apnea treatments
are designed to increase airflow. Both treatments solve
completely different problems.
About The Author: http://www.naturalh
Warning: Don't Use This Mattress as Flotation Device
Continue reading ...
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Title: Children's Nightmares Less Common
Category: Health News
Created: 1/7/2008
Last Editorial Review: 1/7/2008 Continue reading ...
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Title: Study Links Snoring to Chronic Bronchitis
Category: Health News
Created: 1/29/2008 2:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 1/29/2008 Continue reading ...
Do you or someone you love suffer from nightmares? Keep reading to learn more about the most common causes of nightmares and how you can stop them. Continue reading ...
Title: Children's Nightmares Less Common
Category: Health News
Created: 1/7/2008
Last Editorial Review: 1/7/2008 Continue reading ...
Drugs and sleep deprivation go hand in hand. Keep reading to learn more about drugs that cause sleep deprivation. Continue reading ...
Teens suffer from sleep deprivation more than most. Keep reading to find out the causes of teen sleep problems and to find out how many hours of sleep a teen requires. Continue reading ...
Title: Study Links Snoring to Chronic Bronchitis
Category: Health News
Created: 1/29/2008 2:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 1/29/2008 Continue reading ...
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