Posts Tagged ‘disorder’

Can you list some psychiatric disorders that involve sleep but is NOT a sleep disorder?

Question by Zachary: Can you list some psychiatric disorders that involve sleep but is NOT a sleep disorder?
If you know one, list it. But do NOT list sleep disorders, only other psychiatric conditions that involve sleep but are NOT sleep disorders.
It is not depression, bipolar disorder, or any disorder that you would learn about in a high school health class.

Best answer:

Answer by Diane
manic depressive disorder. when the pt. is in mania they stay awake, can’t sleep. In the depressive phase they sleep alot.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

A Sleep Disorder Symptom That Can Get You In Trouble, A Disease Known as Narcolepsy

A Sleep Disorder Symptom That Can Get You In Trouble, A Disease Known as Narcolepsy

Article by Victoria Carson

A sleep disorder symptom or syndrome called Narcolepsy is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in which an individual experiences extreme fatigue and can fall asleep at the drop of a hat, whether at work, at school or even in social gatherings. It’s often mistaken for depression, epilepsy or side effects of medications. This sleep disorder symptom or Narcolepsy can happen in both males and females although the symptoms begin early and are noticed inside the teenage years, and in young adults.

There is a fifteen year gap between when this sleep disorder symptom very first appears and when it becomes a full blown disease. This lengthy incubation period is partly to blame for the seriousness of this sleep disorder symptom. Men and women with this disorder have a great deal to endure: cognitive, educational, psychological, occupational and other difficulties.

Men and women with this sleep disorder symptom can fall asleep in nighttime mode fairly rapidly. Treatments involve training the body when to fall deeply asleep as in nighttime and when to nap. In time the body will know when to stay alert. This kind of treatment is helpful in lowering dependency on ant-depressants. In time the body adjusts and falls asleep naturally.

Narcoleptics typically endanger themselves and other people by operating vehicles and other machinery. They have no control over when and where to fall asleep and don’t understand this is a sleep disorder symptom.

Regrettably studies show that most persons with this disorder don’t know they’ve a dilemma and so this disorder is underdiagnosed in the population. Severity varies from individual to individual, form barely noticeable to obvious.

Medical science can not diagnose a disease if there are no symptoms and the individual doesn’t complain about any difficulties.

Diagnosis normally entails the use of two tests, the Polysonogram where extra than two dozen small electrodes will likely be placed at strategic points on your body including the nose, under the eyes, on the chin, abdomen, hands, legs and so on, to feed details to a polysomnograph which will record this data and interprete them to make them understandable to a trained professional. The second test involves Multiple Sleep Latency or MSLT- a sleep disorder diagnostic tool that measures time between the start of a daytime nap plus the initial sign of sleep.

Tests are conducted in two-hour increments to allow the person to sleep and generally the polysonogram test does a continuous test of brain activity when it’s in REM sleep mode when sleep occurs at night.

Generally in mild instances, people with this disorder can assist themselves by several lifestyle changes involving diet, exercise, taking nutritional supplements to supplement what they get from foods.

This sleep disorder symptom is manageable if you follow the doctor’s instructions and taking medications when you’re supposed to and following therapy plans which are designed for you to follow to the last detail.

This sleep disorder symptom is believed to be as prevalent as MS or Parkinson’s disease, and generally remains undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for many years. If you or anybody you know can fall asleep simply no matter when or where you are, that’s not normal and it’s a sleep disorder symptom.

Could You Have A Sleep Disorder?

Could You Have A Sleep Disorder?

Article by Gary M. Miller

It really is satisfying to have a full night of worthwhile sleep. Being able to sleep and to roll around in your bed with ease is also a great comfort. Everybody loves to relax their tired body after a hard day’s work and let their spirit get rejuvenated. Some people can fall asleep and reach dreamland in just a snap of the finger! They lie in bed and recharge their restless body. Then they wake up with a smile on their face and feel satisfied with what was a very relaxing trip.

Are you feeling sleepy? Here’s a reality check! Not all of us have ever experienced such a beautiful night’s rest as others experience so regularly. For some reason or another, there are some people who need to resort to certain alternatives because they may have developed a sleep disorder. They have an extremely hard time putting themselves to sleep each night and eventually come down with insomnia, exhaustion or any number of other sleep disorders.

Could you be one of these people who are developing a sleep disorder? A sleep disorders that haunts a large percentage of the population but are rarely diagnosed by a doctor. A lot of people have trouble just about every time they try to lay their heads down to their pillow. One of the very common types of disorder is known as insomnia. This is actually quite normal for one out of three persons because it is due to the common condition of stress and anxiety. Insomniacs are typically less productive and have a reduced mental efficacy. They have slow reactions when they are awake and they fail to understand what their problem really is.

A long term case of insomnia is referred to as Chronic Insomnia. This is a less common type of insomnia which is caused by many different factors such as the imbalance in body chemistry, stress and other internal problems. Sleeping pills are considered a common treatment for the temporary relief of insomnia but there are many cases where professional help is often required. The fact is, it is better to prevent this problem rather than finding yourself looking for a way out. Some basic sleep habits can be established early on so as to avoid this problem of sleep disorder.

Have you ever gotten out of your bed and roamed around the room or even gone outside to talk to a stationary object without even knowing it? If so, you might just be sleep walking and talking in your sleep. This is actually a disorder which can become quite serious. There are also some people who cannot avoid the urge to urinate in the middle of the night. This is a case which is called Nocturnal enuresis or more commonly known as “bedwetting”. Another sleep disorder that is diagnosable is “night terrors” which cause a person to scream out loud and suddenly awaken over and over. Yet another sleeping disorder is called sleep apnea where there is difficulty in the passage of air through the mouth. This can cause vibrations that eventually lead to disturbing noises and the inability to sleep.

Have you ever seen people who suddenly fall on the ground for no apparent reason at all? Have you ever wondered what causes so many rear-end traffic accidents each year? Commonly, these accidents happen as a result of lack of sleep, sleep disorders or even more serious conditions such as Narcolepsy. It’s not just clumsiness causing these accidents! People need to get their sleep!

Narcolepsy is another sleeping disorder which affects the NREM (Non-rapid Eye Movement) and the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep mechanisms in our brains. This condition causes people to experience a loss of muscle control and a persistent problem of sudden sleeping throughout the day. A narcoleptic attack can be caused by mere laughing or a sudden increase in your energy level. That’s pretty scary right? Narcoleptics are often treated with stimulants that help to slow down their problem of being sleepy too often and they require REM sleep suppressants to stop the loss of muscle control called cataplexy.

All these potential disorders can be treated naturally and, of course, with professional guidance. Having a full night’s sleep should not be a struggle but a privilege which every person is blessed with. Seeing the early signs of sleep disorder can help to prevent them and to bring about a happier and healthier life.

An Alternative Approach For Overcoming A Sleep Disorder

An Alternative Approach For Overcoming A Sleep Disorder

Article by David Riewe

Having a sleep disorder can be very disruptive to everyday life. Sleep deprived people are usually excessively tired and sleepy. They tend to become irritable and very emotional. At times they become a danger, not only to themselves, but also to those around them.

Some people use alternative, natural ways to lessen the effects of their sleep disorder. Many people focus on diet and nutrition, while others use herbs and supplements. Still others believe in the positive effect of exercise, relaxation and sensory techniques, meditation or behavioral and cognitive strategies. Often people use a combination of these approaches to help alleviate the symptoms of their sleep disorder.

A healthy diet is essential for optimal energy and a restful sleep. Avoiding certain foods is as important as including others in your daily diet. Eating a wide variety of foods and drinking plenty of water will keep your body well- balanced and provide a more stable energy level. Avoiding food that is grown, treated or processed with chemicals, and limiting the amount of sugar and caffeine will also help your overall physical condition. Many foods promote a restful sleep and are helpful in relieving some of the symptoms of certain sleep disorders. Eating the proper snack before bedtime can increase natural serotonin levels. Serotonin acts as a natural sedative and is made in the body from the amino acid tryptophan. Foods that a re rich in tryptophan include chicken, turkey, cheese, cottage cheese, fish, milk, nuts, avocados and bananas.

Many people use herbs and natural supplements as an alternative approach to treating their sleep disorder. There are many nutritional supplements and herbal products on the market. It is important to know how a specific product acts on the body as well as on the specific sleep disorder.. For example many people with restless leg syndrome have an iron or folic acid deficiency. Taking an iron supplement may alleviate some of the symptoms of RLS. Many herbs are well known for promoting a natural sleep. A clamming tea of chamomile or lemon balm can be very relaxing to many people that suffer from a sleep disorder.

Exercise and relaxation techniques, whether used alone or together, can reduce stress and muscle tension. Many people that use these techniques to lessen the symptoms of a sleep disorder do these before going to bed. They not only ease physical tension but they calm the mind and prepare the body to sleep. These techniques include mindful exercise, progressive muscle relaxation, breathing exercises and yoga.

Meditation and visualization are also used by some sufferers of sleep disorders to calm the body before sleep. Two common forms of mediation are meditation on the breath and mantra meditation. Both of these types can have a positive effect on relieving stress and calming the body. Many people focus their energy on a healing visualization as a method of alternative therapy for their sleep disorder.

Sensory techniques that people use to lessen the symptoms of their sleep disorder are hydrotherapy, and aroma therapy. The two main techniques included in hydrotherapy, which means water therapy, are relaxing in an Epsom salt bath and a lymph stimulating footbath. Aroma therapy includes the use of therapeutic essential oils in baths, massage oils, room sprays, and simple inhalants.

Alternative behavioral and cognitive strategies used to combat the symptoms of a sleep disorder include improving a person’s sleep hygiene, stimulus control therapy and journal writing.

Alternative practices and techniques can help many types of sleep disorders. Often they are used in conjunction with traditional medication and practices.

Possible Sleep Disorder Treatment Found Through Fruit Flies?

Possible Sleep Disorder Treatment Found Through Fruit Flies?
Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found a switch in the brains of fruit flies that controls their sleep, a discovery which could possibly pave the way for treating sleeping disorders in humans. Slumber induced through this “sleep switch” — essentially a group of approximately 20 cells found in an [...] Possible Sleep Disorder Treatment Found Through Fruit …
Read more on The Inquisitr

Factbox: World’s neglected tropical diseases
HONG KONG (Reuters) – A northeastern Thailand province is preparing to test its population for a parasitic worm to detect early signs of bile duct cancer, which is caused by eating raw seafood.
Read more on Reuters via Yahoo! Canada News

Great Benefits of Sleep Disorder Centers or Clinics  

Great Benefits of Sleep Disorder Centers or Clinics  

Article by Gerrard Mackenzie

Are you having problems with the quality and duration of your sleep? A lot of information worldwide are published and let out concerning sleep and optimizing the quality of your sleep. It is possible that you have come across with a lot of self-help books, health magazine articles, and internet articles.

However, with these huge numbers of materials and resources, the next question that you might be addressing to yourself is how you would identify, from among all these recommendations, tips, suggestions and educations, the ultimate answer to your particular condition. You might be wondering which among these, you should implement that would effectively address your particular kind of sleeping problem.

If you are among the people who are wise enough, then you will not just attempt to read books or magazines, you will also seek out your doctor to find out. Many and most of those who have consulted their local health provider would find that they are recommended to visit a sleep disorder center.

Many medical or health providers would be happy to write out their recommendation or referral of you at a certain sleep disorder center. Why? Because no one is more qualified than ever to give an exact or accurate diagnosis of your condition, confirm the existence of a sleep disorder and provide you the adequate and proper treatment than those professional specialists at the sleep disorder clinic.

The sleep clinic is a center complete with all medical facilities that help in administering procedures and processes of studying the patients’ sleep patterns. These are necessary to come up with appropriate and accurate diagnosis of the particular sleep disorder or combination of varied kinds of sleep disorder that prevents the patient to have a healthy and relaxing sleep.

A sleep disorder center could be privately owned, university based and/or hospital based. It is quite advantageous to avail the diagnosis of your sleeping problem and the necessary medical services from an accredited sleep disorder center due to the following reasons:

- The sleep disorder clinic has a well-maintained recording of all the necessary details related with your sleep and health condition. It is a beneficial and vital step that all the necessary information is made available to the specialist in the center. This whole process of assessment or evaluation makes the patient aware of his or her conditions and other things, especially his or her habits.

- Sleep medicine equipment and facilities – the sleep center is expected to have the necessary state of the art equipment to study the biophysiological transitions that happen to a patient while he or she is asleep.

Some sleep disorder clinics have been found to have all of the facilities that are necessary for comprehensive multi-specialty programs ranging from therapy to surgery.

- Sleep disorder centers do not have space for incompetent and unprofessional staff. Only the licensed and accredited physician, technicians and therapists are employed to assist the patient, in every step of his/her evaluation and treatment process.

Only experts in the various fields of health and medicine, like sleep medicine, pulmonary medicine, psychology, psychiatry, and neurology among others, are employed.

In sleep disorder clinics or centers, you can be sure that the road to a good night’s sleep is not that difficult to traverse.

About the Author

Gerrard Mackenzie is the author of the eBook Supercharge Your Sleep and has taught thousands of the stressed-out, tired and overworked how to overcome their sleeping difficulties and get a better night’s rest. He is also a great promoter of the power nap.