Archive for January, 2008
January 31st, 2008 at 12:06pm
Under Sleep / Sleep Disorders
Sleep plays a vital role in everybody. We all know it helps us recover our used health or even revitalizes us of our drained energy. It is the best way to regenerate battered bodies by simply lying down and resting for at least 6 to 8 hours. But these should be done the normal way that of which is in the normal body clock as evenings.
As far as teenagers are concerned, they are practically victims of lack of sleep. Sometimes they feel that they can take on the world and still keep going like they are 100% sane. But at times, the little things such as mood swings and lack of alertness may become varying marks that make us totally unaware of the things around us. And most of them are because we lack the proper amount of sleep.
“Sleep is one of the first things high school and college students sacrifice to meet academic demands and other goals,” Dr. Franzen added. “This is sort of a public health problem. Kids fall asleep in school; they fall asleep driving cars. There are good statistics on kids having accidents.”
(Source) Post-Gazette Now
health, Health Issues, How to sleep better, lack of sleep, mood swings, proper amount of sleep, sleep, Sleep Disorders, Sleep Issues, SLEEP News, teenagers Read Original Post Here
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January 31st, 2008 at 06:05am
Under Sleep / Sleep Disorders
The time at which you sleep can make a difference. And by this, we do not just mean health. We are also considering the fact of saving energy, a common issue we are encountering today.
Apparently this stems from the fact that we are using up electricity so much when we are awake and this includes:
- Watching Television
- Using Microwave Ovens
- Turning up those radios and components
- Keeping the lights open
All of these enumerated facts use electricity and even if people try to economize by using them sparingly, setting a certain time where minimal use of electricity can do a lot for us anywhere today.
“Go to sleep earlier so that you can grow and be cleverer. Boil less water, use the microwave rather than stove, take a shower and not a shallow bath,” was Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica’s advice to the country at a special joint parliamentary sitting to discuss the power crisis.
(Source) IOL
health, microwave ovens, saving energy, sleep, SLEEP News, use of electricity, watching television Read Original Post Here
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January 30th, 2008 at 11:00am
Under Sleep / Sleep Disorders
Most people want to get the most out of what they can from sleeping pills like Ambien. But while they are known to provide temporary relief as far as helping people sleep, they may not necessarily produce the much needed sleep that we all look forward to. They are remedies but while they can allow you to sleep for a while, you may very well start to become immune to them and worse, get hooked on them without getting any sleep solution in the process.
Ambien has been in the headlines since there are rumors that is had something to do with Heath Ledger’s death. But as stated, they are just rumors and nothing has been scientifically proven just yet.
Did Heath Ledger die of an accidental overdose of sleeping tablets?
Among the many pills found near the actor’s body was the drug Ambien. Last week, Hollywood star Jack Nicholson said he’d warned Ledger against the sleeping pill.
“I tell people about Ambien. Somebody said: ‘Take this, it’s mild.’ I almost drove off a cliff 50 yards from my house.”
At the moment there is no evidence that Ambien played a part in Ledger’s death. However, the drug has been linked with other bizarre and terrifying experiences.
(Source) Daily Mail
ambien, heath ledgers, sleep, Sleep Issues, SLEEP News, Sleeping Pills, sleeping pills Read Original Post Here
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January 30th, 2008 at 11:00am
Under Sleep / Sleep Disorders
So this post maybe a bit different. While we all know that sleep is the number one victim of people who cannot afford to relax when it comes to business and investing. Indeed some people would forego sleep and lieu of devising new ideas to make up for faltering businesses.
Indeed, business problems will surely lead to sleepless nights. But one thing that they should perhaps consider is if they continue with it and abuse their body continuously, they may as well end up losing investments and health together.
What is your number one investment priority? Finding the next “hot” stock? Making huge profits? Making 10 percent a year on your money? If you found yourself nodding at any of these suggestions, you need to rethink your whole approach to money management. The number one goal of every investor should actually be to sleep comfortably at night. Simplistic? Sure! Personal finance expert Gordon Pape explains that if you adopt the sleep-easy philosophy as your basic credo, both your health and wealth will benefit. In this must-read book, Pape explains this investing philosophy and how it can be used by everyone to avoid the greed and fear traps.
(Source) Penguin Group (Canada)
business problems, health, investments, sleep, Sleep Business, Sleep Issues, Sleep Therapy, sleepless nights Read Original Post Here
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January 29th, 2008 at 01:27am
Under Sleep / Sleep Disorders
The news of actor Heath Ledger’s death this past week is an incredibly sad story, especially given the news that he had a troubled sleep life and seemingly fought hard to overcome his problems. When the news reported that the sleeping pill Lunesta was found in his apartment, my hope was that people didn’t automatically assume he yanked the rug out from under himself by downing a litany of Lunesta. Apparently, other meds were in the mix, and it will take time for the toxicology report to (hopefully) pinpoint exactly what took his life.
I hear echoes of the Anna Nicole Smith case, who died last year of “combined drug intoxication” with the sleeping medication chloral hydrate, which was found in her system, being the “major component.” (No illegal drugs were found in her body.) Chloral hydrate is of the old-fashioned kind of sleeping pills; it’s a strong sedative–the same one speculated to be responsible (potentially) for Marilyn Monroe’s premature death. Granted, I don’t think it was ever determined exactly what killed Marilyn.
With today’s new class of sleeping pills it’s highly unlikely that you can overdose to the point that you kill yourself (there is one paper showing someone took 180 10mg tabs of Ambien and woke up 4 days later, no problems).
My point, however, isn’t to remark so much on the sleeping pill topic, but rather to expound on the effects poor sleep can have on the body — both mentally and physically. When you don’t sleep, you don’t make good decisions. You may not see an obvious solution while under the influence of serious sleep deprivation, especially when it’s chronic and accumulates over time. And while risk-taking behavior may not change, what does is your ability to be concerned about it. Moreover, anxiety levels can intensify to the point you feel overwhelmed. At the same time, your immune system takes a dive (Mr. Ledger reportedly may have been suffering from pneumonia), and your reaction time is slowed.
And if you ask me, I think this is all a perfect recipe for disaster — especially when one can get hold of multiple medications (even if they are prescribed by a doctor). Millions of Americans suffer from sleep deprivation for a multitude of reasons, some of them more serious than others. Mr. Ledger’s death is a wake-up call to those who are suffering to seek help from qualified sleep specialists — before it gets so out of hand as to be too late. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and fans. His artistry will be missed.
The other lesson in this tragedy is the fact we are not resilient, no matter our youth. I don’t think people should act so “shocked” that a 28-year-old can die at the mercy of sleep deprivation as a root cause. Assault the body with enough stuff — even if it all starts with just a cycle of poor sleep–and the body will rebel in some way.
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January 28th, 2008 at 10:20pm
Under Sleep / Sleep Disorders
I just love it when some old piece of advice proves totally absurd, false, or, in the case of drinking a glass of warm milk before bed as a sleep inducer, TRUE!
Last month New York Times writer Anahad O’Connor settled the claim about milk as a sleeping aid in a great, short article that put to bed some old assertions about milk…with a twist.
YES, warm milk can help you get to sleep. But it’s not because it contains the enzyme tryptophan, which urban legend has it will lull you to sleep (and which is often the talk at Thanksgiving when people drop like flies after a large meal heavy in tryptophan-rich turkey).
In fact, the jury is still out on exactly whether or not milk can encourage sleep. Studies of tryptophan’s impact on sleep have found only one phase of sleep - the first one when you’re falling asleep - is enhanced by tryptophan. Other aspects of sleep, such as the amount of
deep-sleep reached during the night, can be harmed by tryptophan, especially if it’s taken in supplemental form. I remind people that sleep-friendly foods, such as turkey, would require you to eat about 40 pounds of turkey to get enough of that enzyme to make you sleepy!
As the article further points out, tryptophan has to cross the blood-brain barrier in order to have any effect on sleep. And that can be difficult in the presence of other amino acids, which explains why researchers find that eating protein-rich foods, including milk, can decrease the ability of tryptophan to enter the brain. The trick is to eat foods high in carbohydrates because the insulin released will make it easier for tryptophan to nudge itself into the brain. And for this very reason I recommend combining an ample dose of carbohydrate together with a small amount of protein (which contains the amino acid tryptophan) as the ideal bedtime snack. This can also encourage your brain to produce serotonin, which is known as the “calming hormone.”
If you are not quite the “cook” in the kitchen, or simply do not have the time, I would encourage you to check out a great new product on the market called Dreamerz Foods. It’s an all-natural sleep beverage that has just the right amount of Melatonin (0.3 mg) and a substance called Lactium (this is the protein in milk that causes relaxation in infants but in a more concentrated dosage), and I have to admit it’s a great alternative to many of those “PM” medications.
But what, then, do we make of all the anecdotal evidence that says a glass of warm milk (with nothing else) can help you fall asleep? Well, my friends, here’s the real kicker: it may just be that the routine of drinking a glass of warm milk is like an old teddy bear that reminds you of home when your mom tucked you into bed at night. The psychological association with milk is stronger than what the milk’s content actually does (or doesn’t do!)
It’s all in your head…so to speak.
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January 28th, 2008 at 10:20pm
Under Sleep / Sleep Disorders
Bottoms up: you never know where you’ll be able to get your next caffeine fix. Forget about designer coffee and helping the flailing Starbucks chain spring back to life (just last week articles and postings for the Wall Street Journal commented on whether or not its founding father Howard Schultz could be its saving grace). Schultz has more competition today than just fellow coffee shops selling overpriced lattes. He may be banking on America’s continual need for caffeinated beverages morning, noon, and night… but now it’s not just about coffee. Nor is it about tea and dark chocolate.
It’s about potato chips, lip balm, mints, sunflower seeds, and soap.
I think we were all a bit puzzled by the emergence of caffeinated water a few years back. Then came the energy drinks powered by stimulating organic ingredients (not just caffeine) that flooded the market and seem to have established themselves as perennial hits. And now we have products you’d never think about as containing caffeine, some of which get absorbed through the skin. This new trend in jolting everyday products was recently covered by The Washington Post, and I’m glad to see that the article takes a balanced approach as to what this all means.
Yes, coffee can be a very good thing for health and vitality. It can boost a mood and a workout. It may lower the risk for certain diseases, from diabetes to depression. But consume too much and you can putyourself at risk for other problems, such as heart arrhythmias and insomnia.
Most people know, however, their limits to caffeine. When they start feeling negative symptoms they cut back. (If you want to see how much you know about caffeine, you can take a quiz here on the National Sleep Foundation’s site. Good luck.)
One piece of advice: I tell people that if they are having trouble falling asleep at night, 2 p.m. is a good cut-off time for the daily buzz. Everyone responds a bit differently to caffeine, so you have to tune in to your own body’s reaction and track when–and when you should not–have your last fill for the day.
I think all this hubbub about trendy caffeinated products is amusing. At the end of the day, it’s all about money. Caffeine may always be hip–especially in this country where we overwork ourselves and feel the need to find fun, new ways to get a lift. Imagine watching the Super Bowl with a beer in one hand and a bowl of caffeinated potato chips in the other. Just about the same as a Red Bull and vodka(although I won’t go into the details of why this isn’t a good, healthy choice–mixing a stimulant and depressant such as alcohol is a no-no).
I can’t wait to see how far people can take this. Soon enough, we’ll have caffeinated clothing and apparel, giving all coffee shops a run for their money.
And keeping the sleep docs like me in business.
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January 28th, 2008 at 10:20pm
Under Sleep / Sleep Disorders
Millions of people have used Benadryl to lull themselves to sleep. The medication, whose main ingredient is the antihistamine Diphenhydramine, has long been reported to help people fall asleep. Well, here’s a little secret that millions probably don’t realize: it works by virtue of its placebo effect. That’s right: it’s all in your head, so to speak.
I got a little riled up the other day when I read a posting online at the Consumerist about the fact 48 percent of doctors admit to prescribing placebos just to “shut you up.” The University of Chicago came out with that figure, and the original article appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times. (Just then, I pictured a screaming mad patient with the common cold, which is caused by a virus, begging the doctor to write a prescription for antibiotics.) Placebos, according to the article, included “vitamins, herbal supplements, saline infusions, dummy pills and doses of medicine too low to be effective.”
Well, as was the case for the man outraged at getting a placebo, he went in to his doctor’s office complaining of poor sleep and walked out with a prescription for the over-the-counter med Benadryl. (He didn’t, however, share with the doctor that he’d tried Benadryl in the past to no avail. He didn’t realize his prescription was actually for Benadryl until the pharmacist pointed it out.)
Listen up, folks: Benadryl, at least in my circle, is a placebo.
The guy is right in his frustrations. But the comments other people made back at him are wrong! (If you go to the site, you’ll find lots of people barking back telling the man that Benadryl is a mild sedative and is found in sleep aids.) I’m tempted to join the foray and dispel all the garbage people are posting now in defense of the Benadryl prescription.
Take note: There is absolutely no clinical data to suggest that Benadryl or its active ingredients will have you fall asleep or stay asleep any longer than a sugar pill. And to add insult to injury, the half life of this medication means you could wake up feeling a bit “hung over,” as it has similar effects to alcohol.
The lesson? If Benadryl helps you fall asleep, stick to your story (for the placebo effect!) but don’t make it a habit and use it all the time. Go for establishing better sleep habits and speak openly with your doctor about things you’ve tried for better sleep. You may have a bona fide sleep disorder for which the bedtime bath and Benadryl won’t work. Period.
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January 28th, 2008 at 10:20pm
Under Sleep / Sleep Disorders
Everyone loves a good confession. They are typically much more fun to listen to than someone’s boring, unrealistic New Year’s resolution. Catherine Lloyd Burns’s had an entertaining write-up for Self magazine last week, available here. Her piece is titled “Confessions of a Lapsed Exerciser,” with the subtitle, “When life gets crazy-busy, even a little exercise goes a long way.”
Burns, an avid exerciser in years past, chronicles how life gets in the way of her ability to take regular time to exercise, and how she struggled to get back on track by joining a local gym. She writes, “My life, it seems, is a balancing act perpetually on the verge of tipping over. Exercise is one of the items on the scale, along with work, chores, eating and making contact with other humans; all of these things threaten to throw everything off kilter. What’s changed is that now I accept this idea. My foray back to the gym has made me more flexible, physically and mentally.”
Sound familiar?
Burns is right about one thing: exercise affords you tremendous health benefits, and it can also help you feel better and have more energy. “On the days I do go to the gym,” she admits, “I can’t write as much, and we may well run out of toilet paper. But everything has to give a little, even muscle tone. What’s important is that exercising here and there has made me feel stronger and more energetic.” (That boost of energy, by the way, translates to getting more done throughout the day, even if time is spent working out.)
But what she fails to mention is this: sleep–not exercise–is the stronger common denominator to feeling and looking better. Sleep is what will restore you from the inside out and fuel your next workout. It will boost your immune system, maintain your memory (so you can recall how the trainer showed you how to use the sit-up machine), and keep certain hormones in balance, including the ones that, when they run amok, will sabotage any efforts to lose weight because you won’t be able to keep your hands out of the feedbag. Imbalanced appetite hormones, for instance, can set the stage for gorging on high-calorie sweets and unhealthy carbs. Yet getting restful sleep can help keep your body’s hormonal system in balance (not to mention prepare your body for burning up those calories at your next workout).
At the end of the article, a question is raised: What’s the first thing to go when you get busy?
My guess is many people would report one of two things: 1) “sleep” or “my diet, or not eating well.” (And if they say exercise, it’s with an understanding that they don’t get enough sleep anyhow!).
But how about putting the two together–sleep and exercise? Now that makes for a powerful punch. A recipe for the kind of vibrant health we all dream about at the beginning of each year. Something else Burns left out of her article is the fact her new activity level probably allows her to sleep better.
Besides, “crazy-busy” can become “crazy-manageable” when you put sleep at the top of your priorities. It good night can go a long way to keep you at the top of your game–at work, home, and of course, in the gym or whatever physical activity you do.
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January 28th, 2008 at 10:20pm
Under Sleep / Sleep Disorders
Hospitals are notorious for spreading infections, and this month we were reminded of another health hazard related to spending time in the hospital: getting little sleep.
A new study on how ICU patients in particular don’t get good restorative sleep has been making waves in the main news circles. While patients may look like they are sleeping (or at least trying with all their sickly might), they are not, in fact, sleeping well or getting the restorative sleep they need to heal quickly. Surprisingly, this study is one of the first to examine the sleep patterns of surgical and trauma patients.
The culprit? Constant disruptions by nurses and other hospital personnel that put a damper on a good night’s sleep. The study, which monitored the sleep patterns of 16 patients who had suffered traumatic injuries or had abdominal surgery, showed that they had fragmented and “superficial” sleep.
More than anything, this news (which isn’t really news at all; anyone who has ever spent any time in a hospital–be it the ICU or a private room–can attest to the sleep-unfriendly environment) is a call to action. Restful sleep is an imperative in the rehabilitation of a body injured or sick. It’s what allows our cells to repair and replenish themselves, and it’s critical to a strong immune system. If I were in an ICU, I’d want to do everything possible to preserve the integrity of my immune system and bounce back to normal life ASAP. Wouldn’t you?
The time has come for hospitals to consider how they are–or are not–helping to support restful sleep among patients, which in turn may affect recovery rates and length of stays. I’d love to see changes in hospital policies that reflect this study’s underlying lessons. After all, we live in an age when health care costs continue to skyrocket. It could cost little, if anything, to prioritize sleep in a hospital setting. A few strategies to limit disruptions may actually affordhospitals the biggest bang for their proverbial buck.
And when a doctor prescribes bed rest (that is, sleep) for a quick and successful recovery, he can really mean it. You won’t have to check out early (although there’s something to be said for recovering in your own bed, but that’s another story…).
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