Archive for December, 2007
Body Clock Switched On with Amino Acids
0 Comments Published by Brian Yalung December 12th, 2007 in How to sleep better, Sleep Disorders, Sleep Issues.
One thing that most people have to deal with these days is adjusting to various shifts that normally pertain to work. This issue is perhaps present in people who work in call centers which at times require graveyard shifts. People who work in the early mornings need to adjust accordingly their sleeping habits to be up and awake during the required shifts.
Protein in amino acids has been tagged to help regulate the body clock when it is adjusting to sleep patterns. In the call to use sleeping drugs to treat sleep disorders, hopefully this will be pretty much helpful to people suffering from various sleep disorders.
(Source) Researchers say they have identified the chemical switch that controls the genetic mechanism regulating people’s internal body clocks.
Although the process involves complex genes, the whole mechanism is controlled by a single amino acid - a building block of protein - they say.
It is hoped the discovery may lead to more effective drugs to treat sleep disorders and related ailments.
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The Mysteries of Talking in Your Sleep
0 Comments Published by Brian Yalung December 11th, 2007 in SLEEP Psychology, Sleep Disorders.
While you are asleep, there may be things that you are doing you are not really aware of. One of them is talking in your sleep. We hear of this from people who often hear their partners murmuring or saying things while they are in their slumber state. It is not really a problem for most. Sleep talking, also know as Somniloquy, is termed as an inconsistent behavioral pattern possibly stemming from stress or some shortcomings that affect the psychological aspect gone unnoticed.
While there is nothing serious about it in the normal course of living, it still remains that sleep talking can be associated with some known sleep disorders. Remember, when you are asleep and dreaming, there are times you fall in that small gap of not knowing what to do. Psychological problems may be present but the thing is, it is better to consult sleep specialist before resorting to any means of trying to medicate something that may not be all that serious.
(Source) The cause of talking in sleep is not entirely known. Most of the time, the cause of this sleep behavior cannot be linked to any identifiable underlying problem or disease. And in most cases, the problem is not serious and tends to resolve over time or with aging.
However, in some cases, it has been found to be associated with other sleep-related disorders, such as sleep walking, REM behavior disorder (an unusual disorder in which individuals tend to act out their dreams while asleep), sleep-related epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep apnea, and the nighttime sleep eating syndrome. In addition, in adults who begin sleep talking in adulthood (in other words, they did not do this as a child), there may be a higher rate of psychiatric disorders.
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Higher Educated Women Sleep Better
0 Comments Published by Brian Yalung December 10th, 2007 in Health Issues, How to sleep better, Insomnia, SLEEP News, Sleep Education.
We have all heard of insomnia stemming from certain issues that include the area of excessive thinking or conditioning ourselves towards too much work. But based on this study, studies show that people getting higher education and knowledge seems to favor women more over men when it comes to getting sleep and avoiding the insomnia issues.
We all know that women have their share of being insomniacs but it really seems weird why this study of sleep showed such results. But it seems it all depends on how they carry themselves both inside and outside.
(Source) The findings applied to both sexes. The rates of insomnia were found to be “still significantly higher” among women, who averaged 1.22 more points on the insomnia scale than men. “Social factors undoubtedly play their part,” they said. Sex differences in insomnia score were most noticeable for divorced or separated women. “Stress linked to single parenting, low income, or stigma of a marriage break-down could all be possible factors,” they said. The team also found that unemployment exerted a greater impact on women’s sleep quality, particularly among the married women. “Sex discrimination in the workplace and childcare responsibilities might account for this.”
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Short Naps are Good for the Heart
0 Comments Published by Brian Yalung December 9th, 2007 in Health Issues, How to sleep better, SLEEP News.
In the work place, employees are given breaks. Now during break times, chances are we would probably be eating or having a smoke somewhere. But for some people, this is a chance for them to steal some short naps while they are not working. While these signs may be pointing towards fatigue, the reality is each shuteye counts.
There are other people who would be seen dozing off even while sleeping. For sure this will catch the attention of co-employees or even superiors and may be a reason for a reprimand.
The chances of getting out of this bind are nil. However, there is a way to make an excuse, that is of stating that you are taking short nap and saying you are doing it for medical reasons.
While this may sound petty to some, expect that person to ask for a medical certification to support your claim. Better be sure you have one or it may be your neck!
(Source) The next time the boss finds you leaning back in your chair, feet up, eyes shut, tell her you’re napping for medical purposes.
Science won’t definitively back you up yet, but the evidence is mounting that a short afternoon nap, for an otherwise well-rested, healthy person, is good for the heart.
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Sleep Can Cure Learning Deficiency
0 Comments Published by Brian Yalung December 8th, 2007 in Health Issues, How to sleep better, Sleep Disorders, Sleep Education.
Learning is important for the kids of today. While some claim that they squeeze their brains out to make them learn, taking a look at the other side of the fence may render lack of sleep as a probable cause for kids having difficulties learning today.
Minds function practically the whole day. Even during sleep, it functions accordingly despite our subconscious stature. But the difference between being awake and asleep is that the latter acts more on its own without stress. Actually, it recalls the events that transpired during the day, something like flashbacks.
Kids and teenagers today have abused the area of sleep, choosing to have less shuteye to either go out or play their games until the wee hours of the morning. Kids just undervalue sleep today and it is showing its importance by the grades they get from schools.
(Source) Sleep expert Arthur Teng, head of the Sydney Children’s Hospital’s department of sleep medicine, believes many children are being wrongly diagnosed with learning difficulties or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) when all they really need is more sleep.
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