Snoring is a common and annoying problem. The nature of the problem varies from person to person, and it is therefore important to find an anti snoring device that works for you. Continue reading
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Category Archives: Sleep Disorders
Two Types of Stress Experienced by Children
We are worried about so many things—work, finances, health problems, etc. But do you know that even children experienced stress? Not only adults become stressed about our worldly problems and activities. Children experiences stress and are more susceptible to a lot of forms of stress due to their age. Many people think that children are never stressed and only love to have fun and play but the truth is that even children become worried about many things and also become physically stressed in school and play. Continue reading
What to Remember When Purchasing Safety Bed Rails?
Many kids are brought to emergency departments due to falls from beds. Babies, toddlers and even young kids can be at risk for falls and may require supervision from parents and caregivers during ambulation, playtime and even sleeping. Your child could be at risk for falls even while he or she is sleeping because nobody remains complete still during sleep. Also, kids often times play in their bedrooms. Safety of your kids should always come first. Bed side rails have been popular ever since because installation of these furnitures provide safety and security in most households. Continue reading
A Closer Look at Neurofibromyalgia
When a disease is idiopathic or has no definite cause, treatment is very difficult. The symptoms may be varied and these can be very confusing. One such condition is neurofibromyalgia. If you are diagnosed with neurofibromyalgia, you must go to a doctor who is capable and willing to help you with your symptoms. You could go straight to a neurologist for proper treatment.
Baby Fever Due to Teething: An Urban Legend?
Your infant baby suddenly became fuzzy, seems to be all red in the face and cannot sleep. He seems restless and drools a lot. The first thing you did was to touch your baby and you found out that he seems a bit hot than the usual. “Oh no! My baby is having a fever!†You scream to yourself. Continue reading
37 Week Fetus and Pregnancy
Congratulations! Oh mother, your baby is now considered a full term baby, even though your due date is three weeks away.  Only five percent of babies are born on their due date. Most babies won’t be coming for three to five more weeks for first time mothers but if your baby decides to come out now, his lungs will most likely be ready to breathe on his own outside the womb. The baby has already passed the 6th month of gestation wherein the lungs become mature enough to produce surfactant—the fluid that prevents tension in the lungs. The baby is now very much welcome to the world. Hush, because the baby may be ready to come out anytime soon. A little patience will do the trick. Continue reading
Acute insomnia
Insomnia is one of the most common sleep complaints. There are multiple types of insomnia based on the duration and potential causes. Of the types lasting less than three months, a more common one is acute insomnia. Others of this duration include circadian rhythm sleep disorders such as jet lag and shift work, as well as high altitude insomnia. Continue reading
Tips to Do When You Need Help Sleeping
Sleep is probably the best part of the day because in this process, you get to regenerate your cells and recover from all the stresses that you experienced the entire day. It helps you recharge your body and mind so that you may be able to do all those things all over again and perhaps with a chance at a level of improvement.
4 Helpful Narcolepsy Treatment
Narcolepsy is a chronic condition of sleep disorder wherein an irresistible daytime drowsiness and abrupt attacks of sleep takes place. This will result to serious distraction in daily activities. People who have narcolepsy frequently find it hard to stay awake for an extended period of time in spite of situations. Narcolepsy is not associated to depression, fainting, seizure disorder, lack of sleep or other conditions that may cause irregular sleep patterns.
Unfortunately, narcolepsy has no cure. But there are medications and lifestyle changes that can be consider as narcolepsy treatment that may help people affected with narcolepsy to deal with the symptoms.
What are the symptoms of narcolepsy?
For the first few years, symptoms of narcolepsy may get worse and persist for life. Symptoms of narcolepsy may include the following.
- The first symptom to come out in people affected with narcolepsy is an excessive daytime sleepiness. An overwhelming drowsiness and an unmanageable need to sleep throughout the day are the main characteristics of narcolepsy. People affected with narcolepsy fall asleep anywhere and anytime without even warning. Like for instance, people with narcolepsy may unexpectedly fall asleep while working or talking with friends. They may sleep just for a minute or up to half an hour before awakening and may feel recharged. However, they may eventually fall asleep again. There is a feeling of reduced attentiveness all through the day that may cause difficulty to focus and function completely.
- There is an abrupt loss of muscle tone and is called cataplexy. This can lead to physical changes like garbled speech to full weakness of the largest part of the muscles that may last for a few seconds to minutes. Cataplexy is a condition that is unmanageable and is frequently cause by an extreme emotions like excitement or laughter, surprise, fear or anger. Cataplexy occurs to some people affected with narcolepsy with one or two episodes in a year while some have several episodes in a day.
- People affected with narcolepsy experience sleep paralysis. This is the impermanent incapability to speak or move while falling asleep or upon waking. These incidents are typically brief that last for one or two minutes but it can be terrifying. People with narcolepsy may have knowledge of the condition and does not find it hard to remember it later on. However, not everyone experiencing sleep paralysis is affected with narcolepsy. There are a lot of people without narcolepsy encounter some events of sleep paralysis particularly during the young adulthood.
- People with narcolepsy may experience hallucinations called hypnagogic hallucinations that take place when falling rapidly into sleep or upon waking. As you begin dreaming, you may be half awake and experience the dreams as reality that it may appear distinct and scary.
What are the causes of narcolepsy?
The exact factors causing narcolepsy is not yet known. Medical research considers genetics that may have a vital role. Stress, illness or exposure to toxins may contribute to the occurrence of narcolepsy.
- In narcolepsy disorder, there is an absence of non-rapid eye movement phase of sleep. They rapidly go into rapid eye movement phase of sleep both through the day and at night. This is the reason why there is a sudden lack of muscle tone, vivid dreams and sleep paralysis for it is the characteristics of REM sleep.
- Low level of hypochretin in the spinal fluid may contribute to the development of narcolepsy. Hypochretin is the vital chemical present in the brain that helps to control the wakefulness and the REM sleep. However, the reason causing the loss of cells producing hypocretin in the brain is not known. But medical experts believe that it’s due to an autoimmune reaction.
What is the narcolepsy treatment?
The cure for narcolepsy is not yet known but there are medications that can help to deal with the narcolepsy symptoms and they are the following.
1.    Stimulant drugs.
The most important narcolepsy treatment is the stimulant drugs which stimulate the central nervous system. It helps people affected with narcolepsy to keep wide awake all through the day. Health care providers frequently try modafinil as first medication for narcolepsy treatment because it is not addictive as other stimulants. Side effects of modafinil are not common but it may include, dry mouth, headache, anorexia, nausea and diarrhea. It may also tend to increase blood pressure particularly at high doses. Some may need narcolepsy treatment with methylphenidate or a variety of amphetamines. Even though these medications are efficient, they may also cause side effects like heart palpitations, nervousness and can also be addictive.
 2.    Selective serotonin or norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.
Doctors frequently recommend these medications to inhibit REM sleep, to help to lessen the cataplexy symptoms, hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis. Some of these medications are fluoxetine, atomoxetine and venlafaxine. Reduced sexual desire and delayed orgasm are the most frequent side effects of these medications.
3.    Tricyclic antidepressants.
Antidepressants like imipramine and protriptyline are medications that are very useful in cataplexy. Some of the side effects are constipation and dry mouth.
4.    Sodium oxybate.
Sodium oxybate is the mostly recommended by doctors for severe cataplexy. This medication helps the nighttime sleep to get better that is frequently poor in people with narcolepsy. This medication may also help to manage the daytime sleepiness in high doses. However, it can have severe side effects like bed-wetting, nausea and can make sleepwalking get worse.
These are the medications that can help to control the narcolepsy symptoms. Ask your doctor of what specific medications can be effective as narcolepsy treatment for your present condition.
8 Easy and Effective Natural Sleep Aids For Teenagers
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder. It is experienced by anyone especially when there factors to consider such as lifestyle, stress, diet, and others. Adults usually complain about insomnia but teenagers are very prone to this sleep disorder as well.