Archive for May, 2008
May 31st, 2008 at 03:08pm
Under Sleep / Sleep Disorders
We all know of this new sleeping enhancement called a sleep mask. However, we only know it to be applicable to the adults today as many sleep deprived individuals need these masks to assist them in sleeping better. But a infant sleeping mask? It is either for serious baby cases or perhaps something like a toy for them to wear when they sleep.
By its concept, here is what the makers of this Downtime Organic Sleepytime Mask wants to accomplish:
“Nurturing. Children learn that closing their eyes is one step in falling asleep.
Expressive. The closed eyelashes that detail the flip-down mask let others know not to disturb baby’s sleep. “
Point taken but would babies even bother to wear them? Wouldn’t it be uncomfortable? We all know that infants are not fond of being irritated or compromised when they are sleeping.
Perhaps the makers were just concerned with putting something in the market. For sure, this is something that does not make sense at all.
(via Sheknows)
adults, asleep, babies, downtime, eyelashes, How to sleep better, masks, nurturing children, sleep, SLEEP Gadgets, Sleep Issues, sleep mask, SLEEP News, Sleep Wear, sleeping, sleepy Read Original Post Here
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May 30th, 2008 at 02:20pm
Under Sleep / Sleep Disorders
Most sleep deprived people have surely been advised at some point in their state of how to sleep better. Some may be useful and others not. But one thing you will have to note is that there are other factors to consider. Not all sleep deprived individuals have the same symptoms and chances are there are added factors to consider.
We all dream of sleeping like a baby. With these tips, you may be on the road to the right one for proper sleeping habits that we yearn for today.
- Reduce Screen Time Before Bed
- Exercise to Enhance Sleep
- Eat to Enhance Sleep
- Master the Power Nap
- Avoid the Soul-Shattering Alarm Buzzer
- Solve Problems in Your Sleep
- Beat Insomnia with Visualisation
- Shortcut a Long Nap with the Clattering Spoon
- Take a Caffeine Power Nap
- Teach Yourself to Lucid Dream
If you need a more elaborate definition of these tips, you can visit this site to get a more comprehensive understanding of why these sleeping tips are pegged to answer your sleep troubles here.
How to sleep better, Sleep Cures, Sleep Disorders, Sleep Issues, SLEEP News Read Original Post Here
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May 29th, 2008 at 04:07pm
Under Sleep / Sleep Disorders
Most employees and executives need to rest their minds to be able to focus on work, a large part of which makes up our day. Other than earning a living, a rested mind will help us make the right decisions and render the type of job that we were hired to be.
You can see the poor performance from employees who have to beg off from work, go on sudden leaves because they either don’t feel well or lack sleep to be able to come to office. While this may or may not be done on purpose, people who work just have to adhere to the importance of sleep. There is no such thing as adopting the role of a robot since we are humans that can really break down if we are not careful.
“Sleep interruptions such as stress and muscle cramp disturb this function and can be very detrimental to everyday life, making it impossible to be productive at work and maintain a positive attitude,” Chris Idzikowski, of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre who came up with the term, was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail newspaper of Britain.
(Source) Howrah.org
earning a living, everyday life, Health Issues, How to sleep better, importance of sleep, job, muscle cramp, poor performance, robot, sleep, Sleep Disorders, Sleep Issues, SLEEP News, sleep-centre, stress Read Original Post Here
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May 28th, 2008 at 09:06pm
Under Sleep / Sleep Disorders
If you find yourself having the proverbial brain freeze at work all too often, and you know you suffer from sleep apnea (or think you do because you just can’t feel rested after a long night’s sleep), then listen up: it’s time to reach for the green tea.
More than 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, a sleep disorder that causes your airway to collapse during sleep. If you’re among those millions, then each night your breathing essentially gets cut off multiple times, and so does that restful sleep. Untreated sufferers of sleep apnea never feel fully rested, which can result in chronic sleep deprivation that can be life-threatening.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
You could have apnea if:
- You snore
- You wake up with a headache
- You’re moody most days
- You are tired to the point of falling asleep
- You have constant congestion
- Someone has seen you stop breathing
But there’s some good news to report: chemicals found in green tea may be able to prevent some of the cognitive problems that can happen with obstructive sleep apnea.
Green Tea Can Help Your Memory
Cognitive problems, you’re wondering? That’s right, sleep apnea isn’t just about missing out on a few breaths of air through the night. All those intermittent moments of oxygen deprivation add up, and your body isn’t able to reach a level of sleep that is restorative - where the brain can essentially re-boot itself and prepare for the next day when it will need to learn new things, solve problems, and tap its memory card.
Other Benefits of Green Tea and Polyphenols
The benefits of green tea don’t end with the brain boost, though. The researchers who discovered this recently also confirmed what we already know about the positive effects green tea can have on us. Its rich supply of polyphenols acts as a powerful antioxidant to help tame the flames of inflammation and oxidative stress - two big agers in the body.
So yes, green tea may help you beat sleep apnea deficits, but the bonus is you can give yourself a good dose of anti-aging ingredients, too.
Green Tea and Weight Loss
In a recent post, I talked about ways to lose weight (so you can sleep better at night). Nixing sugar-laden drinks is an easy way to steer clear of a boatload of unnecessary calories.
Regardless of whether or not you suffer from sleep apnea, give green tea a try for a week. Switch out your sodas and juices for a thermos of hot or cold green tea. Sip on it all day and avoid other drinks (don’t worry, tea is also a source of water).
At the end of the week, check in with yourself: do you feel sharper-minded and maybe a pound or two lighter?
What I’d like to know is if other sources of polyphenols can also be as effective. These include berries, beer, grapes (including wine), olive oil, chocolate/cocoa, walnuts, peanuts, pomegranates, yerba mate, and other fruits and vegetables.
One thing is for sure: drinking green tea is something you can do all day long (try decaf in the afternoons). Not sure the same could be said for the other polyphenol friends.
This post is cross-posted at Dr. Breus’ blog, The Insomnia Blog.
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Technorati Tags: sleep apnea, insomnia, green tea, weight loss, polyphenols Read Original Post Here
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May 28th, 2008 at 08:46am
Under Sleep / Sleep Disorders
If you are making a habit out of skipping sleep for the sake of doing more, you may want to reconsider that choice. Based on a study, skipping sleep is leaving potential room for mental deficiencies, probably because your brain may be taking too much load trying to keep you awake.
So just like any part of the human anatomy, continues abuse and depriving it of rest will result into one common thing; sudden breakdown and possibly bring with it dire consequences as far as sleep and mental disorders are concerned.
A new study suggests skimping on sleep can cause your brain to suddenly turn off.
CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Goopta says losing just one night of sleep can make the brain prone to sudden shutdowns very quickly.
“You’ll be driving down the road thinking that you’re perfectly awake feeling competent but then all of a sudden you sort of flicker back and forth, and that can be a real problem,” said Goopta.
(Source) 680 News
brain, Health Issues, How to sleep better, human anatomy, mental deficiencies, mental disorders, sleep, Sleep Disorders, Sleep Issues, SLEEP News Read Original Post Here
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May 27th, 2008 at 08:10pm
Under Sleep / Sleep Disorders
My trusty industry journal, Sleep, just published another study confirming what we’ve known for some time: waist size affects sleep quality. The bigger you are, the bigger your chances are of not getting a restful night’s sleep.
An overview of the study was recently posted on WebMD, and it points out that “short sleepers” - people who get fewer hours of sleep that others in their age group - are more likely to be obese. This is true for both adults and children. For adults, a short sleeper is defined as someone who five hours or less of sleep. For kids, it’s less than 10 hours.
Many researchers have suggested that short sleep may prompt hormonal changes that fuel appetite and caloric intake, thus leading to obesity. We already know the hormones that control appetite are negatively affected by sleep deprivation (sleep less, eat more), so this is very plausible. It’s yet another call to make the necessary changes to shed those excess pounds.
Are Sleep Tips Enough?
I’m used to giving tips on getting a good night’s sleep, such as teaching people how to create the perfect bedroom setting, and reminding them to get up and go to bed at the same time every day, to avoid stimulates like caffeine in the late afternoon, and to establish a Power Down hour prior to bed so they can prepare the mind and body for sleep.
But what if these tips are not enough? What if all the “sleep hygiene” recommendations mean diddly-squat when the prime reason for one’s poor sleep is simply too much weight?
It means we must begin to give equal focus to the things we can do to reach our ideal weight and maintain it. So here are my top 5 weight-loss friendly ideas to think about throughout the day if you know you could lose a few.
5 Ways to Help Weight Loss
- Eat breakfast within one hour of rising (go for high-fiber cereals or low-fat yogurts topped with berries) and then be sure to eat something every 3 to 4 hours thereafter. This will keep your metabolism humming and your blood sugars stable throughout the day; you won’t ever feel famished or stuffed.
- Replace sodas and fruit juices (including those labeled “diet”) with water. This will help nix all those excess sugar calories, including artificial sweeteners that can trigger cravings. If you prefer, opt for sparkling water and throw a wedge of lemon or orange in it for more flavor.
- Replace butter and margarine with vegetable oils and extra virgin olive oil. Use cooking sprays at the stove. This will help you stick to healthier fats.
- Switch from plain pastas, refined breads, and white rice to whole-wheat/high-fiber varieties. This will boost your daily fiber intake and also help keep your blood sugars stable so you feel satisfied and energized. The more fiber you get, the more calories your body won’t absorb from the foods you eat!
- Avoid eating after 7 p.m. This will help you to avoid late-night munching that takes your daily caloric intake off the charts.
If all of these ideas seem overwhelming, then just pick one - just one - that you can do this week. Next week, add another, and then another the following week. Small shifts add up to big changes.
And just think: you’re killing two birds - no, make that a flock of birds - with one stone. Not only will you sleep better once the weight comes off, but you’ll feel better, kick obesity out, and say good-bye to a slew of health risks like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and obstructive sleep apnea.
Good night.
This post is cross-posted at Dr. Breus’ blog, The Insomnia Blog.
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Technorati Tags: sleep, insomnia, obesity, weight loss Read Original Post Here
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May 27th, 2008 at 08:00am
Under Sleep / Sleep Disorders
Most drivers today fail to realize the important of good sleep. A lot had to find it the hard way and some have fatally learned their lesson while driving. While we cannot really tell when car accidents may happen, it would be wise to input in our minds one thing; if you feel drowsy or sleepy, avoid driving.
Such has been an issue is now becoming one of the primary concerns of authorities which have noted sleep deprivation as one of the major causes of car accidents today. It is apparent that most people push them to the limit but if it is your life that is in jeopardy, you better consider addressing your sleep problem firsthand.
A driver crashed into the back of another car Sunday after falling asleep behind the wheel.
The man rear-ended another vehicle at the intersection of Johnson Street and Main Street around 2 p.m. Sunday. First responders thought the man was injured because he was unresponsive, said Fond du Lac Police Department Capt. Jon Gutzmann. A report on the incident was not complete by press time Monday and Gutzmann did not know the man’s name.
It turned out the 27-year-old man was asleep, Gutzmann said. The man told police he had a sleep disorder and the disorder had resulted in a previous collision.
(Source) FDL Reporter
asleep, causes of car accidents, good sleep, sleep deprivation, Sleep Disorders, Sleep Issues, SLEEP News, sleep-disorder, sleepy Read Original Post Here
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May 26th, 2008 at 10:20am
Under Sleep / Sleep Disorders
Here is something that most sleep deprived individuals may want to check out. We have been introduced to various means of getting sleep and most of them are geared towards the medical inclinations offered in the world today. While the specialists and pills will always be there, here are some therapeutic ways to resolve the sleeping problem that most of us have right now and it is called the Power Nap Rituals, a new treatment for people with sleepless nights.
Devarana Spas in Thailand have launched a new treatment to help those suffering sleepless nights. The new Power Nap Ritual is what the spas call ‘an emergency assistance’ for those who suffer from sleep deprivation to get the rest they need
Natural or herbal means of addressing the sleep issue has worked for many people and this one should not really be surprising. We all know the power of natural herbal means and this should be something worth checking out.
(Source) Asia Travel Tips
How to sleep better, pills, power nap, rituals, sleep, sleep deprivation, Sleep Disorders, Sleep Issues, SLEEP News, Sleep Therapy, sleeping problem, sleepless nights, spas, thailand Read Original Post Here
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May 26th, 2008 at 07:11am
Under Sleep / Sleep Disorders
The lead paint issues have not yet been totally taken out of the scene as even kid network giant, Walt Disney, has reportedly recalled over 12,000 sleeping bags and magic wands that were excessively contaminated with lead paint.
Now if you are a sleeping expert, where does the lead paint come from? Well if you look closely, sleeping bags normally have zippers and they can be a cause for lead paint poisoning. For the toy wands, lead paint is present in the pearl beads in the flowers of the toy.
Just in case you have one of these goods, it would be best to surrender them to the nearest stores so that you can get a full refund. Better yet, so that you can avoid incurring problems as well for the health and welfare of your kids.
Thousands of sleeping bags and magic wands contaminated by excessive levels of lead paint are being recalled by Walt Disney, federal inspectors said today.
The recall targets 4,100 Pirates of the Caribbean sleeping bags and 8,000 Tinker Bell wands sold at Disney Stores nationwide between April and October of 2007, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.
No injuries have been reported, the agency said.
The sleeping bags have lead paint on the zipper, while the wand contains lead paint on pearl beads in flowers on the top of the toy, the agency said.
Consumers were advised to stop using the bags and wands and return them to stores for a full refund.
(Source) Mercury News
consumer product safety, consumer product safety commission, disney stores, Health Issues, lead paint poisoning, magic wands, paint issues, pirates of the caribbean, product safety commission, Sleep Issues, SLEEP News, sleeping bags, walt disney, zipper, zippers Read Original Post Here
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May 24th, 2008 at 02:08pm
Under Sleep / Sleep Disorders
So the American Idol winner has been adjudged. David Cook who won by a mile over fellow finalist David Achuata, has been advised by a former winner, Jordin Sparks to try and sleep now that he has won it all.
She says, “Sleep as much as you can because you don’t get any sleep. It’s a year later and I still haven’t gotten a whole eight hours of sleep yet - I’m still reeling from winning last year.” And when asked by People magazine who she wanted to be crowned as the winner of this year’s hit U.S. talent show, Sparks remained diplomatic, claiming she had voted for both finalists.
(Source) Hiphop Elements
Apparently this is something that most of us may find similar in our case. Being excited with a high adrenalin rush in our heads will surely make us hyperactive. But while that is true, do consider your health. You may have won something for your troubles but apparently you may be losing a health battle if you are not careful.
adrenalin rush, american idol, american idol winner, david cook, eight hours, health, hours of sleep, jordin sparks, people magazine, SLEEP Celebrity, Sleep Issues, SLEEP News, SLEEP Psychology, talent show Read Original Post Here
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