Ever felt sleepy after waking in the morning? Does a full night sleep not invigorate you? Morning fatigue, as it is known, may be a symptom of several medical conditions. Sleep is a period of rest where the body can recover from the daily stresses and strains it endures. It is a way of “switching off” and allowing your “batteries to recharge” so to speak. In an ideal world you should wake up full of energy after a good night’s sleep. But this is not always the case.

We all need a few minutes to “get started” in the morning. For some people it may be just a few minutes while others may need a good half an hour or so until they are active. This is not morning fatigue. The body has just come out of a short state of hibernation of sorts and naturally would need a period of time to reach its peak performances. Furthermore many of us are not enthusiastic to head off to work in the morning, so part of the slowness and tiredness may just be psychological in nature.

continue reading 5 Common Reasons for Morning Fatigue (Tired After Sleeping)

Falling asleep may seem like an easy task for many but not every person can easily do something that seems so natural. About 1 out of 3 American adults have experienced some difficult in falling asleep and remaining asleep in the past year. As many as 1 out 10 people have chronic insomnia yet only 5% of these people actually seek medical assistance. Sleep problems have a wide array of effects. Not only do you feel tired and less productive but chronic sleep problems can affect every aspect of a person’s life from work to academics and even interpersonal relationships. Difficulty sleeping is a medical problem that can be a sign of some underlying disease. Yet not every person who experiences a sleeping problem has a medical condition that could be causing this disturbance.

There is no denying that modern life has many stresses – physical, mental and emotional – which have a major role to play in sleeping problems. These days money worries and relationship problems are some of the more common mental and emotional stresses that can affect sleep. But not every person with these same stressful factors experience sleeping problems. The question is often “why can’t I asleep” rather than asking “how can I sleep”. As the hours wile away and you are staring at the ceiling until sunrise, try to look at constructive ways not to experience another sleepless night. Simple measures can make a big difference and each person is different. Understanding your body and sleep habits is important to get a good night’s sleep.

continue reading Tips to Fall Asleep and Stay Sleeping at Night

Moving the position of your legs is a normal habit when one is sitting for long periods, or even when standing. In fact it helps with blood circulation in the legs and feet when stationary or we may find that our legs ‘fall asleep’ so to speak. However, there is certain disorders where leg movements are considered uncharacteristic and abnormal. It can reach a point where it affects normal sleeping patterns and negatively impact on a person’s life.

What is restless leg syndrome?

Restless leg syndrome, often simply referred to as RLS, is a condition where a person finds it difficult to not move their legs when sitting or lying down. In other words, a person with RLS has to move their legs or they experience an uncomfortable sensation in the legs. This prompts a person to stand up, move around or just change position and sometimes kick around during sleep. Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a type of nerve disorder associated with muscle movement and since it persists during sleep, often disturbing normal sleep patterns, it is also known as a parasomnia.

continue reading Restless Leg Syndrome (Constant Urge to Move Legs)

The pineal gland does not receive much attention in medicine because there are no significant diseases or lesions that solely affect it apart from tumors. Even then, a pineal tumor referred to as a pineoloma is a rare occurrence in comparison to diseases affecting surrounding tissues and glands. For as long as the pineal gland was known to have existed, there has been much debate about its function with some ascribing it to being the “seat of the soul” which earned the pineal gland the term of “third eye”. However, the pineal gland is now well understood and its functions in humans and other animals have been ascertained.

continue reading Pineal Gland Anatomy (Parts), Function and Pinealoma (Tumor)

The sleep process is not just a single continuous period of unconsciousness from which a person can awaken. It is a dynamic and active process with various stages of sleep alternating through a single sleep cycle. There are broadly two stages of sleep :

1. Slow wave sleep (non-REM)
2. REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement)

There are four stages in slow-wave sleep often resulting in REM sleep being labeled as the fifth stage. Sleep related disorders, known as parasomnia, can occur in both non-REM and REM sleep. This is discussed further under types of parasomnia.

continue reading Sleep Cycle and Stages of Sleep