Sleep disorders Archives - Healthhype

7 Ways To Help Your Baby Sleep Better And Longer

Dr. Chris — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 16:31:21 +0000

Getting an infant to sleep is not an easy task. A baby can be well fed, have a clean diaper and be gently rocked for long periods but may still not sleep. It often proves to be frustrating for both parents and caregivers but can be much worse if the baby cries non-stop during the time awake. Parents may be at their wit’s end trying to find the reason why a baby is not having a good quality sleep but sometimes the most obvious problems are missed. It is always important to speak to a pediatrician – your baby could be unwell even though there are no otherwise obvious symptoms. The basics may be obvious to most parents – feed regularly, change the diaper, make sure they are tucked in, a short lullaby and some gentle rocking. But it is not always a fool proof formula. All too often babies are labeled as being ‘colicky’ when the exact reason why he/she is not sleeping cannot be identified. But sometimes it is the simplest of measures that can make all the difference and help baby sleep soundly for at least a few hours. Burp Baby After Feed Burping, or breaking wind, [...]

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Sleep Deprivation Effects and Symptoms

Dr. Chris — Mon, 26 May 2014 00:39:24 +0000

Sleep deprivation is a relatively common problem yet many people are not familiar with it. Most of us think of interrogation techniques and other serious medical problems where a person has not slept for days when we hear the term sleep deprivation. But missing even one night’s sleep can have a host of effects on the body. In fact these effects due to a lack of sleep has been cited among the most common causes of road traffic accidents across the globe. But it is impacting on many people everyday, even off the road, and contributes to work, family and health problems. How much sleep is enough? You may feel that you can manage well on just 4 to 5 hours of sleep but this is actually too little sleep for your body. The average adult requires about 7 to 9 hours and young children may need to sleep even longer. You could probably cope well on as little as 6 hours of sleep but it is not sufficient in the long run. The daily quantity of sleep is so significant that long term insomnia has been linked to an increased risk of depression, strokes, hypertension and other medical ailments. [...]

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What are Night Terrors and Nightmares?

Dr. Chris — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:12:10 +0000

Night terrors (sleep terror or pavor nocturnus) are a sleep disorder characterized by sudden crying, screaming, sweating, apparent fear and hysteria while asleep. A person experiencing a night terror is not awake and may often go back to sleep without recollecting the events. However a sufferer may awaken and continue to display the symptoms of a night terror for a few minutes after waking. Night terrors often occur in the non-REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage of sleep. A night terror differs from a nightmare and can affect any age group (infants, toddlers, young children, teens and adults) although it is more common in children under 5 years of age. Nightmares are scary and disturbing dreams or ‘bad dreams’ that may induce symptoms similar to night terrors. Many sufferers can recall the nightmare and are aware that they had a nightmare upon waking. A nightmare occurs during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage of sleep or ‘deep sleep’ and will usually end immediately upon waking. Parasomnia : Night Terror (Sleep Terror/Pavor Nocturnus) Disorder Night terrors or sleep terrors are disorders categorized as a parasomnia. Usually in sleep, the body’s ‘sleep chemicals’ cause muscle atonia meaning that the body cannot move or act [...]

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Sleep Behavior Disorder – Types of NREM & REM Parasomnia

Dr. Chris — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:40:57 +0000

Parasomnia is a category of sleep related / sleep behavior disorders characterized by disturbance of sleep. Parasomnias usually involve sleep experiences that affect physical or verbal behavior. Parasomnia sleep behavior disorders may involve any abnormal movement, behavior, emotion, perception and dream (nightmares) during sleep. Parasomnia can occur in any stage of sleep or the transition between sleep-wake stage. NREM & REM Sleep Stages The experience of sleep can be divided into two phases – NREM (Non Rapid Eye Movement) or REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. Parasomnia disorders can occur in either of these two phases. NREM sleep is the transition phase, from wakefulness to ‘deep sleep’ and then into the dream stages of sleep (REM sleep). NREM sleep and has 4 distinct stages known as stage 1 to stage 4. and is then followed REM sleep which is the period during which dreams and nightmares may occur. A natural sleep cycle consists of many episodes of NREM sleep followed my REM sleep in a single night’s sleep. Types of Sleep Behavior Disorders – NREM & REM Parasomnias Parasomnias include a wide range of sleep related behavior occurring at different stages of NREM and REM sleep. Night terror disorder (sleep terrors [...]

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Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Dr. Chris — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 20:04:01 +0000

We all sometimes feel sleepy during the day especially in the late afternoon as we wind up a tiring day at work. Even intense boredom can cause sleepiness as does long hours of studying. These episodes of daytime sleepiness are not common and not abnormal. It happens every now and then and is usually a result of the exertion that precedes it. However, for some people this feeling of sleepiness throughout the day never stops even after a relatively good night’s sleep. It can be a sign of a medical problem. What is Excessive Daytime Sleepiness? Excessive daytime sleepiness is a condition where a person feels sudden and uncontrollable urge sleep and may sometimes even fall asleep despite trying to stay awake. It can affect various aspects of a person’s life especially if it is persistent and long-standing. It is among the more common sleep disorders and affects up to 20% of the American population. Although the exact cause is not always clear it is mainly related to inadequate sleep at night. Even a short nap can help a person feel refreshed for a period of time thereafter. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness vs Narcolepsy Excessive daytime sleepiness should not be confused [...]

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5 Signs of Insomnia (Sleep Problems)

Dr. Chris — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 23:47:02 +0000

About 1 in 3 American adults have experienced sleep-related problems iin the past year and about 10% of the U.S. population have chronic or severe insomnia. It often remains untreated for long periods of time and insomnia can be serious. Insomnia can impact on work functions, daily chores, child rearing and even relationships. It can affect a person’s physical, mental and emotional health. Some studies have shown that the risk of certain life-threatening diseases like heart attacks and strokes increase with chronic insomnia. Do I have insomnia? This is a common question that many people ask to themselves after a few nights of difficulty sleeping. Insomnia is a broad term to describe various different types of sleep disturbances. For some people it is a problem falling asleep, for others it is a problem staying asleep and waking up too early, and may also include severe sleepiness during the day. It is only considered as insomnia if it persists for more than a month. It is possible that a person can have insomnia and not even realize it. Instead the insomnia manifests with other symptoms which may be concerning. This includes difficulty concentrating, poor memory, impaired coordination, sensitivity to light and sound, [...]

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Eating at Night – Causes of Night Eating Before and Between Sleep

Dr. Chris — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 22:21:34 +0000

Late night eating and midnight snacks may not seem like a likely cause of health problems but can have various adverse effects on the body and sleep. There has been some debate over the link between late night eating and weight gain. However, even beyond weight gain there is sufficient evidence to suggest that late night eating and midnight snacks should be avoided. What is Late Night Eating? Late night eating is broad term to describe eating after dinner, before bedtime and even awaking at night to eat. It is not uncommon for most of us to indulge in this behavior occasionally. This is usually not a cause for concern, especially when it occurs as a result of being awake at night due to work or social activities. However, for some people this late night eating is a daily occurrence and has a host of effects on nutrition, sleep and even health. Should we eat at night? Appetite ensures that food is consumed at regular intervals to maintain a constant supply of energy to the body. The concept of three square meals daily is outdated and it is now accepted that smaller meals more frequently is a better approach. Collectively, [...]

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7 Signs of Lack of Sleep and When Is Sleep Not Enough

Dr. Chris — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 23:44:31 +0000

We all experience lack of sleep at some point in our lives. For some people, it is an almost daily occurrence caused by long working hours, a crying baby or environmental disturbances. In these cases the lack of sleep is due to external factors. However, there are times where lack of sleep occurs for no clearly identifiable external reason. Instead the problem lies with a person’s sleep cycle and often with the nervous system that is unable to “shutdown” to allow for sufficient rest. Defining Lack of Sleep Sleep is a crucial part of daily life to maintain health and wellbeing. Insufficient sleep can have serious effects, some of which can be life threatening. However, there is some degree of variation in the amount of sleep that is required among individuals. A lack of sleep refers to sleeping for less than the required duration that is restful and rejuvenating. Read more on insufficient sleep. Although duration is important, the quality of sleep is equally important. The general rule is that adults require approximately 8 hours of sleep daily. This is globally accepted as the ideal duration, give or take 1 hour. Some adults may find that 6 hours of sleep [...]

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Sleeping Pills (Tablets) Types, Addiction Risk, Side Effects

Dr. Chris — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 23:25:20 +0000

Sleeping pills are widely used for the treatment of sleep-related disorders. However, it is not the first approach recommended for treating sleeping problems by many medical authorities. Non-pharmacological intervention, including cognitive behavioral therapy, patient education about sleep hygiene and relaxation techniques, are the first measures that should be considered before drugs are prescribed. Sleeping pills do have distinct benefits but should always be taken with caution. While these drugs are effective, it can also have side effects and there is the risk of addiction. There are many different types of sleep disorders. Insomnia is a broad term for any problem involving difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep for a sufficient period for a person to feel refreshed upon waking. The number of hours that each person requires to sleep in order to feel refreshed varies among individuals. Most adults require around 7 to 8 hours per day. Some can manage on as few as 6 hours while others need 9 hours. However, it is generally agreed that sleeping less than 6 hours is insufficient while sleeping more than 9 hours is excessive. The odd night of difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep for a sufficient period of time is not [...]

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Sleepiness After Waking Up – Causes and Disorders

Dr. Chris — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 22:09:41 +0000

Sleepiness and tiredness are two feelings that we often refer to interchangeably. However, there is a difference. We all experience that sleepy feeling as night approaches. This is due to our biological clock that increases sleep hormones when it is time to rest. It correlates with a tired feeling which also tends to arise after a long day or with strenuous physical activity. These two feelings correlate because our body needs rest at certain times within a 24 hour cycle (sleep) and particularly when overworked and needs to rejuvenate (tiredness). Sleeping should resolve these sensations. This means that we no longer feel sleepy after sufficient sleep. Similarly the tired feeling should also cease after sleeping for a suitable period of time. Waking Up Feeling Tired or Sleepy Although not every person is a ‘morning person, energy levels and alertness should be higher during the day. Tiredness and sleepiness sets in by the later parts of the day, usually by late afternoon or early evening. It is therefore considered to be abnormal to feel sleepy in the morning, after a sufficiently long sleep. There are instances where we all wake up feeling tired or sleepy. It occurs after a late night, [...]

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