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Effects of Chronic Insomnia Differ in Men and Women

October 17th, 2010 by

A recent study published in the journal SLEEP found that men with chronic insomnia who slept for less than six hours were four times more likely to die during the 14-year follow-up period (odds ratio…



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Dr. Frankie Roman Discusses Sleep Apnea and Weight Loss

October 16th, 2010 by

What health problems might contribute to weight gain, or make it difficult to lose weight? Is it harder for someone with sleep apnea to lose weight? What weight loss treatment plan and advice do you…



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Natural Remedies For Insomnia In Children – Helpful Tips For Insomnia In Children

October 16th, 2010 by

Natural Remedies For Insomnia In Children

It isn’t uncommon for children to experience difficulty sleeping. Insomnia is basically the act of not being able to sleep. Insomnia in children is actually a very common occurrence and can occur at any age. There are a number of things that can cause insomnia in children and this article will explore some of those things and what you can possibly do to help overcome the problem.

Children like to feel secure just as you and I. Sometimes circumstances will change in the home. You as an adult have it under control, but they (children) don’t. They don’t like change. Change can cause insomnia in children as they no longer feel safe. Maybe you have just made a move, or you are going through a divorce, or have just experienced a death in the family. You may have even changed to a new job and your hours of work are different, or you just began working and are not at home all the time. We the parents, may not have realized that these type of things can cause insomnia in children as we are fine with it or have gotten over it.

Routine is very important to a child, and a broken routine can cause insomnia in children. They need to have a regular bedtime and they need to get up at around the same time each day, as this will establish when bedtime is. We seem to live very busy lives these days and for some families, they are on the go so much that they never know when they are going to return home at night. Children like to sleep in their own beds, with their own pillow and blankie. Waking them to return home from some function, can cause insomnia in children. They may not be able to go back to sleep or it may take some time before they slumber again. Natural Remedies For Insomnia In Children

There are two types of insomnia in children.

Acute: This is classified as short term. The child may be up one night a week for a few weeks. Stress, illness, hot or cold, and medications can be some of the factors that would cause acute insomnia in children. You can remedy some of these things, by just making the child comfortable. Short term sickness will pass and so will the use of the medication that could be keeping them awake.

Chronic: This is classified as long term. The child may be up three times a week for a month or more. Depression, anxiety, or pain and discomfort can be some of the factors that would cause chronic insomnia in children. You should seek medical advice for a child who is experiencing chronic insomnia. There are some treatments available that can help.

Like I said before, insomnia in children is very common and you are not alone in this battle to sleep. Just know that insomnia in children is usually not permanent, so hopefully soon you will be able to get some rest as well. Natural Remedies For Insomnia In Children

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Over The Counter Sleep Aids For Children – Why Choose Natural Sleep Aids Over Sleep Drugs?

October 15th, 2010 by

Over The Counter Sleep Aids For Children

Its an obvious conclusion that natural sleep aids are the best choice when you clearly consider the issue of the side effects of sleep drugs as opposed to the safety of sleep herbs. Over The Counter Sleep Aids For Children

Natural sleep aids are found to be an effective remedy for insomnia with none of the risky side effects associated with prescriptive and over-the-counter sleep drugs. One caveat is that the ingredients of any natural sleep aid must be guaranteed to contain active ingredients. Such a sleep herb would be referred to as a pharmaceutical grade herb.

Natural sleep aids like valerian root, passion flower, jujube seed, l-theanine, melatonin, hops, l-tryptophan and 5-HTP are effective alternatives to prescriptive sleep medications. Sleep remedies that combine a number of these natural products and that use quality ingredients are particularly effective.

The value of natural sleep aids becomes even more apparent when considering the side effects of sleep drugs.

Why take natural sleep remedies instead of drugs? Natural insomnia remedies “are less likely to have the drawbacks of conventional drugs”.1 Previously unreported side effects of prescriptive sleep medications are now coming to light. Side effects among prescriptive drugs vary depending on the drug. Side effects of benzodiazepines include anterograde amnesia [memory loss] and daytime drowsiness.2 Side effects of tricyclic antidepressants and antihistamines include urinary retention, dry mouth, constipation, cardiac toxicity, orthostatic hypotension [low blood pressure which can cause dizziness, weakness] and sexual dysfunction.3

Since March 2007 the FDA has required a stronger warning of the risks of prescriptive sleep drugs: “severe allergic reaction, severe facial swelling, complex sleep-related behaviors, memory lapses, and hallucinations. Sleep behaviors may include sleep-driving, driving while not fully awake after ingestion of a sedative-hypnotic product, with no memory of the event”.4 Over The Counter Sleep Aids For Children

Types of natural sleep remedies

The different natural remedies for sleep have different actions in the body and on the brain. Herbs such as passion flower, valerian root, hops and jujube seed have a sedating effect. As mild sedatives, they allow one to relax and fall asleep more easily.

Melatonin is a hormone that is normally secreted by the pineal gland in the brain in response to darkness.

L-tryptophan and 5-HTP are amino acids that feed a series of chemical reactions in the body and brain, resulting in increased production of serotonin and melatonin. When taken as a nutritional supplement they force feed the body’s production of these brain neurotransmitters. Serotonin is referred to as the body’s tranquilizing neurotransmitter, and melatonin the body’s sleep hormone.

Deficiencies of calcium, magnesium and the B vitamins may be associated with insomnia. Calcium and magnesium are essential for muscle relaxation. Chromium (a component of the insulin molecule) deficiency may cause unstable blood sugar during the night, which can in turn cause one to wake during the night.

Stress reducing herbs also help relieve insomnia

Stress hormones circulating within the body and brain are strongly associated with insomnia. Herbs such as ginseng, rhodiola, ashwaganda, licorice root and schizandra help the body resist the impact of stress. Called adaptogens, these herbs in combination with natural sleep remedies (sedating herbs) are very effective against insomnia.

Don’t forget sleep hygiene

Healthy sleep also depends on good sleep hygiene. Good sleep habits include:

Sleep in a dark room
Keep it cool (65-70 degrees F)
Be regular. That is, get to bed at the same time every night. Before 11 PM is best.
Reserve the bedroom for sleeping. Don’t watch television in bed.
Exercise daily (another stress reliever).
Eliminate caffeine and sugar from your diet as much as possible. Both of these raise stress hormones in the body.
Don’t smoke. Smoker’s are more likely to have insomnia. Over The Counter Sleep Aids For Children

Stop suffering from Sleeping Disorder again.

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The Biggest Loser’s Sean Algaier Talks Sleep Apnea

October 15th, 2010 by

People may not automatically connect sleep to NBC’s reality show The Biggest Loser, but sleep is an increasingly important part of this highly successful show.

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Sleep, Pregnancy and Blood Pressure

October 14th, 2010 by

The first study to examine the association between insufficient sleep and blood pressure among pregnant women found that getting too little or too much sleep in early pregnancy is associated with…



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The Biggest Loser Contestant Sherry Johnston on CPAP Therapy

October 13th, 2010 by

When The Biggest Loser contestants Sherry Johnston and her daughter Ashley arrived at The Biggest Loser’s Ranch (Couple’s Edition), they already knew they had sleep apnea. They just hadn’t been able…



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Causes Of Child Insomnia – Dealing With Insomnia in Children and Teens

October 13th, 2010 by

Causes Of Child Insomnia

More than likely you have heard of insomnia, but usually you think of it as an adult problem. Insomnia is very common in adults; however, often kids have sleep problems as well. If you happen to have a child who is having trouble sleeping they may be dealing with childhood insomnia. Causes Of Child Insomnia

When it comes to adult insomnia, figuring out the causes can be a bit difficult; however, usually with children there is usually a cause that is quite obvious. So, here are a few of the causes of childhood insomnia you need to be aware of.

Cause #1 – Upset Stomach – One very common cause of insomnia in children can actually be an upset stomach. If your child is dealing with an upset stomach or constipation that is dealing with stomach pain, this could be causing the insomnia problem. Take time to figure out whether your child is eating right and going to the bathroom regularly.

Cause #2 – Stress – Many of adults deal with insomnia that is caused by stress, and stress can cause insomnia in children as well. Talk to your child and try to find out what is going on in their lives. Are they dealing with a tough time in school, are things tense around the home, or is your child having problems with a bully? There can be many things that stress out your child, which can lead to insomnia.

Stress is also a major cause of insomnia in teens. Teenagers in high school are usually under a great deal of pressure to study long hours. They may also be dealing with relationship problems and competition on the sports field or in the classroom. Extracting information from a teenager isn’t easy, but it’s worth persevering. Counseling is also available. Causes Of Child Insomnia

Cause #3 – Sleep Apnea – Believe it or not, children can be affected by sleep apnea as well, which is when they stop breathing during their sleep. If you think that this could be the problem with your child, they may need to be evaluated medically to see if this is really the problem. If your child is constantly tired despite sleeping long hours, sleep apnea may well be the culprit.

Cause #4 – Pain – Pain is another common cause of childhood insomnia, and the pain can come from a number of different places. Children can get fibromyalgia, childhood rheumatoid arthritis can hit or growing pains may even be the problem. If your child is playing sports, muscle cramps could even be causing pain that keeps them up at night.

As you can see there are a variety of causes of insomnia in children. No doubt you want to find ways that you can help alleviate the problem. Well, in many cases, it’s as simple as finding a natural cure.

There are a variety of natural cures out there today that can help treat childhood insomnia . You won’t want to give them prescription medications or over the counter treatments that are full of chemicals and dangerous drugs, so consider some of the excellent natural options that can be found to treat insomnia in children. Causes Of Child Insomnia

Stop suffering from Sleeping Disorder again.

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Children Sleep Aids: Helpful Facts You Probably Don’t Know

October 12th, 2010 by

You’ve tried all the usual ways to get your child to bed on time: sticking to a nightly routine; stopping them from eating and drinking well before bedtime, etc. However, none of these seem to work well so you’re caving in to the idea of getting a children sleep aid. Here are some facts that would encourage you. Facts you probably don’t know about how children sleep aids are being prescribed.

Pediatrics (May 2003), a medical journal, has an article that surveyed 671 pediatricians on when, why and what they actually prescribed or recommended prescription or over-the-counter sleep aids for children and adolescents.

When, Why and What Doctors Use Sleep Aids For Children

1. More than half of the pediatricians surveyed had prescribed sleeping pills to children at least once in the last six months. Apparently, your children are not the only ones having sleeping problems and the doctors recognize that.

2. About 55% of physicians said they prescribed sleeping medication to treat sleep problems in children to “provide the family with needed respite.” This includes the short-term use of over-the-counter medications for specific situations, such as travel, acute pain or stress.

75% of those paediatricians had recommended a non prescription sleep aid, including the antihistamine Benadryl. 25% of them recommended melatonin or other herbal remedy, such as chamomile teas and valerian root.

3. The other half of paediatricians said they used sleep medications in “special needs” children i.e. mental retardation, autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This usually requires long-term use of children sleep aids or medication like Tenex which is used as a sedative in kids with ADHD. The most commonly prescribed sleeping pills were alpha-agonists. One brand name is Calapres, a hypertension drug for adults that has sedating properties.

4. Lastly, it must be noted that most of the paediatricians interviewed said they prescribed the children sleep aids “in combination with behavioral treatments.” So, sleep hygiene and techniques are still just as important as having effective sleep aids for kids.

Two Common Sleep Problems in Young Children

Behavioral treatments must go hand in hand with any children sleep aid because many children have childhood behavioral insomnia. This sleep disorder involves one or both of the two following problems:

1. Sleep-onset association

Everyone wakes up briefly a few times at night especially during the stage of sleep called rapid eye movement (REM) when our dreams occur. Usually, we are unaware of these awakenings and return to sleep quickly.

As for young children, they may cry when they wake up. Parents naturally “help” their child return to sleep by feeding, rocking, holding or lying down with their child.

The child learns to connect or “associate” going to sleep with a person or activity. She is unable to fall asleep on her own when that action is missing.

2. Limit-setting problems

Your child refuses to go to bed, stalls, or makes it hard for you to leave the bedside. Usually begins from the age of two, limit-setting problems can occur at bedtime, nap time, or when your child wakes up during the night.

It can be hard but you need to discern what’s real and what’s simply a delay tactic. They may ask for one more hug, a tissue, a drink of water, another story, to have the light turned off or on, or to “tell you something important.

You need to be firm and consistent about the time for bed even if the child disagrees or seems active and alert. Don’t give in to them as it will only encourage the behavior. Children thrive within well-defined environments. Hence, the need for limits or boundaries to their sleep habits.

Next, here?s a fast guide to Popular Natural Sleep Aids For Children or understand more about OTC Sleep Aids in OTC Sleep Aids: A Quick Overview

Aerobic Exercise and Insomnia among Aging Adults

October 12th, 2010 by

50 percent of middle-aged and older adults complain of chronic insomnia symptoms. A recent study by Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University found that millions of these adults may get…



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