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Sleep Issues for Disturbed Toddlers

Brian Yalung — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:43:13 +0000

As parents, we will find ourselves blowing our tops on our kids at times because of a mischief now and then. While we all know that we scold or shout at them to let them know that they did something wrong, it would be likewise wise to analyze how we go about it.

Toddlers are in their developmental stage and it is only normal to find them groping for form as far as trying to figure out why “Mom is mad at me”. This can go as far as affecting their sleeping schedule since areas of fear or misconceptions are sure to arise. The next time you try to stress a point, do broaden your line of thinking. You should know better on what your child needs to get the proper sleeping habits they have.

A pediatrician from Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital has crunched data from 4600 families to analyse whether the parenting method has any effect on sleep behaviour of children between the ages of one and three.

(Source) The Age

Sleep? Don’t Do Drugs!

Brian Yalung — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:14:21 +0000

As far as sleep is concerned, it would be best to solicit it using the natural means and avoid the sleeping drugs that we often see being endorsed. Not all people who have sleep issues have to turn to the sleeping pills offered today. You can still find the alternative means where you do not put your overall health at stake.

Drugs have side effects and can affect other areas of your body. That is a given. But for people who are desperate to resolve their sleeping crisis, drugs can help but only for a while. It will reach a point that your body will become immune and show some ill effects of fabricated means of sleep.

Most of these drugs, used over a long time, tend to lose their benefit. So although you may take more, they will have less effect. Also, once you get into the habit of taking medication to help you sleep, you may have difficulty breaking the pattern.

(Source) The Chicago Tribune

Sleep, Health and Marriage

Brian Yalung — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:30:22 +0000

Sleep disorder victims can strike anyone. Notably married couples, not all partners have patience with regards to trying to put up with their partner’s sleeping problems which can go as far as breathing problems up to snoring. If you look at it, snoring can act as a stimulant for worst nights ahead as even the normal sleeper may start finding sleep issues since he or she cannot sleep soundly as they should be.

If you look at it, sleep problems pose as a web of problems if you check it out. One problem leads to another and may go as far as affecting the overall health of a person suffering from these sleep disorders. They just have to address the sleep problem so that it doesn’t get out of hand.

You’re not alone if feel like you need a nap at work. About 70 million of us have some sort of sleep problem according the National Sleep Foundation. And, many disorders go untreated.

(Source) WhoTV.com

Sleeping Beauty Becomes a Beast

Brian Yalung — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 19:35:10 +0000

Sleep is synonymous to the proper amount of sleep and something that most of us need direly if we want ourselves to be rational at times. But the question here is do we have the proper means of getting the ideal sleep practices and ensure ourselves that we have fully recharged from a hectic day while being awake?

Chances are that our moods will be the telling factor. People who sleep more are expected to develop a worst condition of having to manage their personal selves especially if they lack rest and sleep. All of us are only human and to be grumpy or even grouchy at times is only something we can expect when we are tired or lack the amount of sleep to settle our minds back to our sane selves.

Not getting enough kip can also contribute to feelings of hostility and anger, though the researchers found women were more likely to be made grumpy by a lack of sleep than men were.

(Source) New Zealand Herald

Grumpy Old Women Need to Sleep

Brian Yalung — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:57:56 +0000

We have seen most elderly women become grumpy at times and normally, we attribute it to PMS or Post Menstrual Syndrome. While this affects them and becomes a pain for them most of the time, lack of sleep also has a hand on why they become grumpy at times making excuses all the more clearer why mood swings are frequent within them.

Sleep problems become more high risk for older women. For one, we all know that lack of sleep affects as far as the heart and respiratory systems of our bodies. Women often find themselves pressured and stressed at times and while some are pretty good at handling it, giving them slack with regards to their mood swings due to sleep disorders is excusable if you think about it and when understood.

Deficiencies and Hyperactivity are Factors in Sleep Disorders

Brian Yalung — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:49:37 +0000

While we are continuously groping for form on the growing problems of sleep disorders, it has been discovered that some of these are traced to ADHD or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Add it as another area that needs to be addressed, it is best to see a sleep specialist to see if you are categorized in this area of deficiency and hyperactive disorder that seems to be broadening the questions why many of us are experiencing growing pains in sleep.

Sleep disorders are present anywhere today. We often condition our minds on their area of issues. But not all sleep deficiencies are alike and unless the conclusion is given by a certified sleep specialist, chances are that our condition can only be figured out if we start checking out with them.

“The increase in sleep efficiency and the marked effect on sleep latency was paralleled by the subjective estimate of a more restorative sleep; for example, the patients rated their sleep better,” Dr. Sobanski told Medscape Psychiatry.

(Source) Medscape Today

How to Deal With Sleepy Shifts

Brian Yalung — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:05:51 +0000

In the world of career and professional undertaking, not all people are blessed with having a normal 9 to 5 job. Some of us have to work at different hours and one of them include the dreaded graveyard shift time where we are working while others are sleeping. Normally this shift starts from 12 AM all the way to 8 AM. But given the little options, we are left with no choice but to adjust our sleep schedule so we are able to cope up with our work and retain earning a living.

Now when you find yourself suddenly encountering sleepy spells, this is normal but only for the first couple of days. It will all boil down to a point where we will most likely find ourselves having to change our sleeping habits if we are to keep the job that we are currently holding.

There are some who cannot take the night differential but there are others who can. One reason here is difference of pay since in most cases, the pay is higher than the normal work most of us have. But for some, weighing out the worthiness of continuing a different type of work schedule may not be that appealing especially if sleep gains a better weight as far as importance is concerned.

Here are some tips to help people who have to deal with work shifts from the Los Angeles Times.

Lesser Sleep for Longer Lighting

Brian Yalung — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 19:32:03 +0000

Call it a matter of being a psychological issue but people usually sleep well if they are in dark gloomy places. With that in mind, you may thing that thanks to Spring where there will be longer hours of having to be awake due to light, people would always be awake. Well it does not necessarily follow all the time.

Remember that our bodies have a certain body clock to follow. While we may condition ourselves that we do not normally sleep when the lights are on, it still remains that our bodies can only stay awake for a certain number of hours. We will reach a point where we may feel tired and want to take a nap, regardless if daylight is still around.

It just goes to show that not all necessary adjustments fall in accordingly. We will come to a point where we want to sleep or nap for a while. It is not abnormal but rather only typical for people who just follow the usual sleeping hours that their body is used to.

Here is a good article you can read on about spring fatigue and how to deal with it as far as sleep is concerned.

(Source) The Korea Times

Proper Sleeping Habits Starts During Infant Years

Brian Yalung — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:42:22 +0000

The proper sleeping habits never traced its roots when they were infants. For some, the usual sleeping patterns being once they are able to realize the importance of sleep today. But according to Dr. Polly Moore, babies need to sleep at least 90 minutes after their wakefulness.

We are all aware that babies need to sleep often to gain the proper nutrition and rest to make sure that they grow up to be healthy babies. However, it also remains that sleeping habits that these infants often regulate will be inherited until they grow up.

This may eventually be one reason as to the sleeping habits that most people have today. It all traces back to their toddler years and hence a reason why baby sleep is important for the young tykes we have today.

Babies that don’t sleep well become toddlers that don’t sleep well and schoolchildren that don’t sleep well. And we know that they have higher rates of ADHD, mood disorders and more. … Your baby can sleep all night long for eight hours and still need a nap 90 minutes later.

(Source) Seattlepi.com

Beauty and Health from Quality Sleep Habits

Brian Yalung — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 22:20:34 +0000

When you talk about staying fresh and maintaining beauty, women will be the first to step up and claim that sleep will be one of the essential things needed to make it all happen. Nothing beats the gift of a good sleep to make sure that their complexion will retain its usual rich self. Remember that each battered body due to lack of sleep will always claim drastic results in the end.

You can just look at the people who suffer from insomnia and other related sleep disorders we hear of today. Most of them always look haggard and are prone to various illnesses as well. If women had their way, they would want to get valued sleep at the best times advisable so that they in turn can avoid physical and internal problems that come along with lacking the proper fruits of restful slumber.

Most Women know that nothing kills a good complexion like a bad night’s slumber; there’s a reason, after all, that it’s called beauty sleep. If that’s not motivation enough to keep up with your nightly shut-eye, here’s another: doctors are learning that poor sleep habits may make women more vulnerable than men to heart disease and diabetes.

(Source) Time

Allergies Cause Infant Sleep Disorders

Brian Yalung — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:07:12 +0000

We often observe that kids would sneeze or even suddenly get up to scratch that itch when they are in bed. When we see these things, we can only try to assist and soothe them through giving lotions or even simply being there to guide them. But wait a minute; shouldn’t we also consider the fact that to be able to check out this stuff, their sleep is disturbed entirely?

Allergies contribute to sleep disorder. It is a fact that these irritating episodes force kids, even adults, to have to wake up due to these inconveniences. We rarely value them as important. But taken as a whole, they are notable contributors hence it would be wise to seek treatment for allergies to limit these sleep disturbances and get that much needed sleep due to our kids and ourselves.

Out of the parents whose kids had allergies, many suffered from lack of sleep, a fact that made it harder for them to function at a high level during the day.

“We have known anecdotally that children are affected by allergy symptoms similarly to adults, but Pediatric Allergies in America offers the first data quantifying the scope of how allergies interrupt a child’s productivity, sleep cycle and daily functioning,” said Dr. Jay Portnoy, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

(Source) DogFlu.ca

How a Nap Steals from Companies

Brian Yalung — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 07:23:26 +0000

There will be times when we are in the office and we may suddenly get that feeling of wanting to doze of for a second or two. It is only normal since it stems from boredom all the way towards lack of proper sleep. While such is a given when you are in the office place, it is likewise a form of stealing to certain extent since some employees tend to do it during the regular office hours.

Now most big bosses do not tolerate such acts. For one, it is a sign of an employee’s inability to produce the expected results. While many cannot help it, a lot has to do on how we discipline ourselves on how to obtain the proper sleeping hours to avoid these sleeping spells. If your superiors will hear nothing of it, chances are you may be walking on thin ice as far as your employment is concerned.

For the most sleep deprived section of the population, new parents, there is advice on how a 10 minute power nap can work wonders.

But is this the right thing? The effectiveness of napping varies from person to person. The reality is that some people need more sleep than others. And some of us get by with only four or five hours tops a night. And naps might not be that efficient because you are just getting into it when sleep time is finished.

(Source) Theage.com.au

Fatigue May Lead To Sleepwalking

Brian Yalung — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 07:19:31 +0000

All of us will have our share of working too hard and getting to the point of being too fatigued. We all know the consequences such as weakened bodies and drowsy feeling whenever the lack of sleep persists. However, it may also lead to our bodies being somewhere at some place without our knowledge of how we got there. This is of course with due reference to sleepwalking which is a known behavior that stems from fatigue and lack of proper sleep.

Is sleepwalking good or bad? Well more on the latter. It typifies an abnormality and misbehavior on our part and if we are not careful, it may lead to something disastrous since technically, we are unaware of where sleepwalking may eventually bring us.

More and more adults are suffering from sleepwalking and it may be due to the fact that we are increasingly a tired, sleep deprived 24/7 society

(Source) BBC News

Home Sleeper Screener by Astro-Med

Brian Yalung — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:54:36 +0000

If you don’t want a doctor to do the studying of your abnormal sleeping patterns or would want to know privately, then chances are this device can do it for you. The SleepTrek@3 can easily identify if you do have a sleep problem and rather than have a doctor say it up straight, you know have a device to do so.

“SleepTrek3 will make the benefit of sleep study available to many people who would otherwise not have been studied because they would not have met the high criteria to receive a doctor’s order for a full-study in a sleep lab,” said Everett Pizzuti, President and COO of Astro-Med, Inc. “This is a convenient and less costly way of identifying people who might have a sleep problem. It is estimated that around 30 million Americans may have some sort of sleep disorder, and many more of them will now receive screenings with SleepTrek 3.”

(Source) CNN Money

Surgery Solutions for Sleep Apnea

Brian Yalung — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 19:02:36 +0000

Turning to surgery when it comes to sleep apnea solutions may be the last thing on people’s minds. But in reality, surgery for people who have a serious problem with it is entirely necessary especially if everything like constant consultations and therapies to remedy it fails.

Kids rarely need surgery and once they do, the immediate understanding is that they can be cured immediately. Apparently this does not hold true at times and while it is the last recourse for curing sleep disorders, it may not always be the last and reliable solution.

Surgery may provide only short-term relief for some children with sleep-disordered breathing, say researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

Adenotonsillectomy surgery is the first line of treatment for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children. It is the most common surgery performed upon children, the researchers noted.

(Source) Washington Post

Shortened Sleep Can Make People Fatter

Brian Yalung — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:34:13 +0000

Sleeping less could make you bulge more. This is one finding that a study in Japan showed, owing it to a hormonal imbalance within males who tend to sleep less but eat more in the process. Worst, it can even lead to serious health risks as well concerning the heart and other key areas of the human body.

Contrary to what people believe that shorter sleep is good for the body since it allows us to burn more calories, we tend to make up for it by digesting food to serve as energy sources of our body. But while you are satisfying one aspect of the picture, do remember that you are also putting another area at risk which is the overall health of our bodies.

Lack of sleep triggers a hormone in the blood which stimulates the appetite, said the study’s lead author, Nihon University medical department associate professor Yoshitaka Kaneita.

“It increases a sense of hunger as well as an appetite for high-calorie food,” he said Thursday, calling for people to pay due attention to how much they sleep.

(Source) AFP

Women Suffer More from Sleep Disorders

Brian Yalung — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:37:51 +0000

Ordinarily, you would think that men would have sleep disorders due to work and some social issues that keep them awake at night. But apparently, based on this finding, it seems that women are getting the rawer end of the deal.

This does not mean of course that women have more shortcomings than men. It is just that they have to deal with mental and psychological anguish more than the male specie. A lot of it has to do with how they handle the mental deficiencies present in their lives today. You may say that its too much for their heart to carry when you talk about emotional stress.

“The study suggests that poor sleep — measured by the total amount of sleep, the degree of awakening during the night, and most importantly, how long it takes to get to sleep — may have more serious health consequences for women than for men,” says Suarez, an associate professor at Duke University’s department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.

(Source) WebMD

Have You Been Sleeping Lately?

Brian Yalung — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:41:49 +0000

Sleep is something that has drawn much attention these days and apparently it is an issue that needs to be addressed. Over a million people suffer from sleep disorders today and while many shrug them off telling themselves that they can get over this dilemma, a lot of them are frequenting physicians and specialists to seek advice on how to battle this sleep deficiency that has grown out of proportion.

There are a lot of factors that have made this sleep problem go out of bounds. A lot of it stems from the fact that people are forced to stay up in extended hours which in turn becomes a habit that suddenly goes out of control. Sad but true, people just don’t realize that sleeping irregularly is already a sign of potential sleep disorders that can go out of hand.

So what can you do to change the tide before the problem becomes so bad you require medical intervention?

Try setting a regular sleep schedule and sticking to it no matter what.

Avoid caffeine or other stimulants before bed.

Drink a glass of Retalex PM before you want to go to sleep. Unlike most common sleep aids — pills that leave you tired and groggy the next morning and supplements that can be hard to swallow and even more difficult to fully digest — Restalex-PM is an all-natural drink solution that will be absorbed by the body quickly.

(Source) Dentalplans.com

Putting Babies in the Proper Sleep Positions

Brian Yalung — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:22:02 +0000

We all know that Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a leading cause for issues governing the life of babies. A lot of the causes of death stem from the manner to which we place them on our beds. Apparently, having babies sleep alongside adults has been overly discouraged but to date, most people have foregone this warning. Who wouldn’t want their babies beside them even if they have cribs in tow?

But the thing is, this recommendation was only made to protect our babies. While we may choose not to follow this advice, we just have to be aware that such warnings were made to help provide babies with better sleeping positions and valued lives.

“Bed-sharing was the No. 1 risk factor, and while we know that in a small number of cases infants die suddenly during sleep with no explanation, these 29 cases demonstrate the critical need to educate parents and caregivers on how they can reduce the risks of preventable deaths.”

(Source) Canada.com

DST Time and the Need for Sleep Adjustments

Brian Yalung — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 04:07:03 +0000

Daily savings time will be implemented on March 10 and while many are getting ready for the time adjustments, sleep should be adjusted as well. While we are all aware that sleep is equally important, some sleeping patters are sure to change along with this.

Most people don’t like it but to help save up on energy resources, this is the best solution they can think of right now until someone can cite any other recourse in lieu of it.

According to a survey released this week by the U.S.-based National Sleep Foundation, most people simply aren’t getting enough sleep. Studies suggest we replay the day’s events in our minds when we sleep, and if we don’t get enough (sleep, that is) these events don’t get implanted into our memory.

Missing another hour of sleep this weekend when we move our clocks ahead will most likely contribute to a frenzy of forgetfulness.

(Source) London Free Press

New Gadgets Causing Couple Sleep Issues

Brian Yalung — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:41:18 +0000

As far as we know, couples normally want to see their partner by their bedside when they sleep. But thanks to the fast development of technology, gadgets have now become an obstacle and are contributing towards forcing couples to sleep on separate rooms.

Gadgets range from cellular phones to modern technology developed consoles and rather than sleeping soundly with your loved one beside you, most people have preferred to stay awake and tinker around with them rather than getting good sleep.

So in a sense, you may call technology a bane in some sense. But if you look at it, it may come down to a choice on which is more important; your relationship or your gadget.

“Busy night-time routines are driving couples’ bedtimes and even their bedrooms apart,” the British media quoted Jessica Alexander of the Sleep Council, which carried out the study, as saying.

In their study, the researchers surveyed 1,400 people in Britain between Feb 27 and March three.

They found that one in ten couples sleep in different beds every night while a quarter admit to doing so on a daily basis; four in ten people go to bed at a different time to their partner.

(Source) The Economic Times

Daylight Savings Time can be a Sleep Hazard

Brian Yalung — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:27:58 +0000

We have all been exposed to time adjustments such as daily savings time (DST) where we have to adjust hours to save on electricity and energy resources. This takes off an hour from our regular sleep and while the intent is good, it may be the other way around as far as sleep deprived people are concerned.

Our bodies have certain clocks that they follow. Even if the need of such adjustments are a given, our bodies still yearn for that proper time where we have to get up. It is at this point where we may have to make a choice; go with the time adjustment or deal with sleep deprivation issues in other means that we can.

“With sleep deprivation we are going to have delayed reaction times, we want to be more aware when driving into work, we’ll be a little more compromised, be more careful driving into work, be more prone to accidents while at work, particularly those who work in the industrial sector, working with machinery,” he said.

(Source) Wcco.com

Internet Tools to Mediate Sleep Disorders

Brian Yalung — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:57:21 +0000

Technology has been known to provide us with solutions and sleep disorders are not about to be left behind. Using the medium of the Internet to determine the dysfunctional problems that we have to deal with before we get good sleep needs to be monitored and analyzed. Today, there is a new tool that is being psyched up to help transfer data to the specialists so that they can in turn help provide feasible answers on why people have to deal with sleepless nights.

The devices monitor body indicators during a patient’s sleep, such as blood-oxygen levels, nose airflow pressure and whether air passages are obstructed. They feed the information to specialists via the internet.

They are being trialled in the forehead of nasal masks already worn by patients with sleep apnoea, a common condition where breathing difficulties disrupt sleeping patterns.

(Source) Stuff.co.nz

Working Your Way to Less Sleep

Brian Yalung — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:04:01 +0000

It is commendable to see employees on how much they devote time towards targeting better lives and developmental careers. However, health should not be sacrificed on its behalf. Sleep is one thing that we sacrifice in our drive to be better as far as career is concerned. But what is a career if you end up being at risk as far as your health is at risk.

This is a common image we see in the world today. People aim high but forget about their health. We all want to reach to top. But if we do it this way, we may not even have enough strength to enjoy our accomplishment in the end due to lack of sleep and respite.

“There’s enough data now to clearly show that if you’re not sleeping enough, that’s going to dramatically affect your performance and productivity,” said Mark Rosekind, a former director of the Center for Human Sleep Research at the Stanford University Sleep Center who helped design the poll.

(Source) Reuters India

Sleep is an Essential Part of Employee Performance

Brian Yalung — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:28:25 +0000

Companies have a high degree of expectations these days and this includes the area of production. However, there are issues today such as sleep that hinders them from performing up to par with what they are supposed to deliver. Some point towards lack of sleep as one main cause and most companies are experiencing this need today.

Sleep has become increasingly important. Aside from performance, it has contributed in becoming an obstacle for the worker today. Inattentiveness has become one key problem today. They end up encountering problems along the way and it has put their overall health and safety on the line.

Here is a survey made to justify the need of valuing sleep more.

Among the survey’s findings:

Dangers on the road. Thirty-six percent of respondents say they have nodded off or fallen asleep while driving, including 26% who say they drive drowsy during the workday.

Work performance. Twelve percent of respondents have arrived late to work in the past month because of sleepiness. Other problems cited: impatience with others, difficulty concentrating on job tasks and lower productivity.

Work hours. Employees with more than one job report the highest rate of dissatisfaction with sleep: 43% say they get a good night’s sleep only a few nights per month or less. Part-time workers report the highest rate of sleep satisfaction.

(Source) USA Today

Waiting for A Perfect Night’s Sleep

Brian Yalung — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 10:22:07 +0000

In a nutshell, which sane person would not be interested in getting a perfect night’s sleep? This is something that is pretty much in demand all over the world and with an obvious demand for this unusual need, most companies have turned to various remedies such as pills, pillows, machines, therapies and massages to at least get closer to the actual needs of people today.

Sleep is not a common commodity that you can simply take out of the shelf. People know this and artificial remedies to something natural as sleep will surely be something many would-be customers will truly be wary of.

Dubbed “sleeponomics,” companies across America are trying to sell us a perfect night’s sleep with pills, pillows, white noise machines, aromatherapy, massage, acupuncture and more. And it’s fast-becoming a $20 billion-a-year industry.

(Source) ABC News

Are We Getting Enough Sleep?

Brian Yalung — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:26:30 +0000

Sleep is important and a necessity for us to go on living healthy lives. There is a trend that is quite funny. During our toddler years, we find ourselves sleeping most of the time. We see this when we have our own kids who are always around us. On the other hand, as we get older, tendency is we slowly decrease the number of hours of sleep due to a number of reasons such as:

Stress
Excessive Thinking
Time Management from Work or Studies
Social Life
Searching for the Right Comfort

If you will summarize it, it would seem that when we are in our prime years, we tend to overwork and want to take on the whole world as we see it. We are usually hyperactive that we forget the usual 6 to 8 hours of sleep. But when we near the retiring age, somewhere between 25 and above, we find ourselves going back to sleeping longer hours. This is because our bodies are slowly getting older and the organs we have are not as metabolized during our active years.

Here is a study you can read on: Study Shows U.S. Adults Not Getting Enough Sleep

Never Leave Your Kid with Nannies

Brian Yalung — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:35:45 +0000

As far as getting good help is concerned these days, be careful when you want your kids to sleep soundly if you leave a nanny to attend to them. While you may think your nanny is doing a good job in putting the kids to sleep, she may be doing something suspicious which may be entirely dangerous to a child’s health.

Now this is not to generalize that all nannies should be put into question. But even if they may seem sane, it still remains that some nannies have “different” means of trying to tend to children. For one thing, there are nannies who are only concerned about being paid and the care for children will not be the same as concerned parents have.

Here is an article about a nanny who drugged kids to sleep (Source) FOXNews. It does sound crazy and absurd but perhaps this will help parents think twice about leaving the kids at the hands of hired nannies.

GLOtoSleep Masks Given Away at the Oscars

Brian Yalung — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:43:55 +0000

The Oscars may have been finished and not all favorite actors or actresses came home as the winner. But as a form of consolation, most of the actors didn’t go home empty-handed. Most of them were given a special sleeping mask, the GLOtoSleep masks, to help assist them in sleep disorder problems that most may be suffering from.

It is a fact that most of these celebrities has had to deal with the said sleeping problems, bulk of which were caused by the excitement of possibly winning in the 2008 Oscars. While many had sleepless nights, for the celebrities with recurring sleep problems, this gift is indeed something worthy to help get back to their normal courses of sleep.

Recipients of an ongoing good nights sleep, courtesy of the GLOtoSLEEP™ mask, were Best Actor Nominees: George Clooney, Johnny Depp, Tommy Lee Jones, and Viggo Mortensen; Best Supporting Actor Nominees: Casey Affleck, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Hal Holbrook and Tom Wilkinson; Best Supporting Actress Nominees: Cate Blanchett, Julie Christie, Laura Linney and Ellen Page and Best Actress Nominees: Ruby Dee, Saoirse Ronan and Amy Ryan. Cate Blanchett will get a ‘doubly’ good night’s rest, as she received two masks for being nominated for both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. Directors Julian Schnabel, Jason Reitman, Tony Gilroy and Paul Thomas Anderson, as well as host Jon Stewart, are also in for a season of restful mellowness as recipients of GLOtoSLEEP™.

(Source) PRWeb

Limiting TV Exposure to Kids for Sleep

Brian Yalung — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:08:43 +0000

Television is the best form of entertainment and recreation we can think of especially when we want to relax and take it easy. This is a prelude to actually getting our much longed for rest in the form of sleep. We often look at TV as the one that will evidently make us sleepy and doze off.

But when babies are around, this should not be the case. Babies take pride in the images and colors they can see and wait for them to grow tired of watching and then go to sleep. To some it does seem like a good way to make a baby sleep. However, it would be best to look at the effects if you should continue to adopt this practice in putting these tykes to sleep.

“We know that many, many parents rely on TV and video as part of their child’s sleep routine,” said Christakis, “Watching television before bed makes it more difficult for children to fall asleep.”

Thompson explained that a regular sleep schedule is important, because it influences the quality and quantity of sleep that children get. And, healthy sleep habits can prevent problems such as bedtime resistance or nighttime awakenings.

Other studies have looked at the effects of TV viewing on older children and teens, and also found a link between TV, poor sleep and later bedtimes.

(Source) China View

Clinically Helping Children Sleep

Brian Yalung — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:37:17 +0000

At times, parents would have to bear the brunt of sleep issues concerning their children. Such a setup is only common considering no parent in his right mind can sleep soundly knowing that his child is having problems getting that much needed sleep.

But the issues surrounding the sleep disorders that most kids have today are for real. Normally, parents would let it go and consider it as part of some reaction towards medicine or hereditary behavior. Not all parents are doctors or sleep specialists to conclude such things and it would be best to seek the advice of specialists who know more about this sleep dilemma that often bugs us.

Another common mistake is putting their children to bed too late at night. Drewek said kids between the ages of 2 and 4 need 11 to 13 hours of sleep each night.

Sleep deprivation in children often manifests itself as hyperactivity, Drewek said, which sometimes leads to a misdiagnosis of hyperactivity disorder. That diagnosis can lead to unnecessary medication.

Her best advice is for parents to keep their pediatricians advised of their children’s sleep habits. Nap time and bedtime routines also should be established to support consistent sleep.

(Source) The Arizona Republic

Can You Sleep in Times of Crisis?

Brian Yalung — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:15:46 +0000

We all have our share of having to deal with critical moments. It could be related to work or personal matters. Just the same, they give us sleepless nights and most of the time, forcing ourselves to sleep may become close to impossible. Trying to move forward and thinking of the events that may be in store for us, both favorable and not, is something we simply cannot really set aside just like a snap of a finger.

All people have to deal with this dilemma. Headlining the list are political leaders such as Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and even United States President George Bush. But while they both claim that their problems are farthest from their minds, it would be interesting to know how they can be able to go through it.

President Macapagal-Arroyo is not losing sleep over loud calls for her resignation as a result of the purported bribery and overprice scandal attending the scrapped National Broadband Network project.

In an interview Saturday over dzRH, the President said she had been sleeping “seven hours a night,” and that this was part of her “energy management.”

(Source) Philippine Inquirer

Sleep can Prevent Kid Injuries

Brian Yalung — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 09:15:19 +0000

If you are wondering why most infants today sustain injuries, much of it may be caused by lack of sleep. A lot of this has to do with losing the proper rest and of course nutrients that places them high risk individuals who can sustain injuries during their age of mischief. Mischief in the sense that we all know how hyperactive kids can be during their toddler years and with the improper amount of nutrients, they surely lack the proper healing conditions that will eventually be critical once these injuries do come out.

“The results of our study have significant implications for the prevention of injuries,” Koulouglioti concludes. “The findings provide additional support for the essential role of poor sleep as a risk factor for injuries among preschool children.”

(Source) Science Daily

Beware of the Sleeping Pill Stilnox

Brian Yalung — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:42:43 +0000

If you are into the need to use sleeping pills, be on the lookout for Stilnox which has reportedly changed labels. Also known as Zolpidem, can affect people in the form of sleep-walking and sleep-driving. Hence, the manufacturers are being ordered to provide warning labels and have been categorized as a schedule 4 prescription medicine. The main reason here was to avoid potential abuse and illegal use of the said sleeping pill.

In 2000, Stilnox became the first product containing zolpidem to be marketed in Australia. To January 4, 2008, the TGA had received 1032 reports of suspected reactions to zolpidem products, most received over the past 12 months and relating to sleep-walking, sleep-eating and sleep-driving.

The TGA will meet the National Prescribing Service to discuss additional educational materials for prescribers, emphasising the need to use sleeping medicines only where clinically indicated, and for short periods of time.

(Source) Herald Sun Australia

Midnight Snacks to Help You Sleep

Brian Yalung — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 09:26:50 +0000

Normally, we have all been accustomed to having midnight snacks in the form of leftovers or sandwiches when we feel hungry. Although some have cautioned people regarding eating before sleeping, there are people who just have to get some things in their stomach to avoid digestive problems such as ulcers or becoming acidic.

But while excess food snacks before bedtime is deemed as something that will keep you awake since you have to wait for all of it to be digested properly before anything else, there are bedtime snacks that you may want to check out to help you sleep.

Bedtime Snacks for Adults
–6-8 oz container of non-fat, flavored yogurt topped with 2 tablespoons low-fat granola cereal
–Sliced apple with 1-2 teaspoons natural peanut butter
–3 cups low-fat popcorn – sprinkled with optional 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese

Bedtime Snacks for Teens–One cup healthy cereal with skim milk
–Low-fat granola bar
–Scoop of vanilla or strawberry low-fat ice cream

Bedtime Snacks for Children
–1/2 cup low-fat vanilla pudding
–1/2 banana with 1-2 teaspoons peanut butter
–One cup skim milk with a bunch of grapes (or other fruit)

(Source) Yahoo Health

Jetlag and Sleeping Hours

Brian Yalung — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 09:32:12 +0000

For most people, particularly the ones who need to travel every now and then, changes in time zone will force them to adjust accordingly and this includes the matter of sleeping hours. Some may have an adjustment of 12 hours advance depending entirely on the time zone that the region that is visited is categorized in.

When you get back to reality, you have to once again adjust. So what are you to do? Well for some people, sleep patterns can do the trick. Regulating the appropriate sleeping hours will always be an issue but for people like Ryan Hoffman, anyone can really try anything that will help minimize the sleep issues that usually befall travelers today.

Hoffman, 24, said yesterday he had been staying awake until the early hours of the morning, and then sleeping in until late morning, since the Storm’s first trial match against Manly on Friday.

Storm’s 21-man squad for its World Club Challenge bout against English Super League champions Leeds Rhinos, on March 1, left Melbourne late last night.

Players have been told not to sleep until after a brief stopover in Hong Kong in order to get their body clocks used to the different time zone. But Hoffman wanted a head start.

“They gave us (advice) to try and sleep later,” he said.

“I’ve been going to sleep as late as I can and sleeping in. Hopefully it works.”

(Source) Herald Sun Australia

Studying the Science in Sleep

Brian Yalung — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:35:53 +0000

Most of us encounter some problems associated with sleep. While we often shrug them off and never mind them, they can develop into potential risks that can totally become serious health risks and problems if we let them get out of hand. Normally, we only pay attention to sleep disorders once they become irritating and disturbing. But the thing is sleep problems should be treated in the same way we would have any problems with our health.

To be able to understand what is truly wrong with us, such problems should be brought to the attention of the specialists. Sleep disorders are not as simple today and if we want to avoid complications in the end as far as health is concerned, it would be best to seek the advice of certified sleep specialists to diagnose them properly.

“Few are aware that sleep talking, teeth-clenching and snoring are diseases,” said Han Jin-kyu, a sleep specialist and director of the Seoul Sleep Center in Nonhyeon-dong, southern Seoul, in a recent interview with The Korea Times. “Those symptoms are directly linked to myocardial infarction, hypertension, diabetes, heart attack and even stroke.”

(Source) The Korea Times

The Dreamhelmet for the Sleepy Drivers

Brian Yalung — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 10:04:31 +0000

People who drive and have sleep problems will often have to consider that the potential risk for accidents may increase as they continue to allow their sleep disorder be left unattended. It has been reported that among the car accidents that most drivers experience today, dozing of or breathing problems while behind the wheel are among the leading reasons for incurring such accidents.

But a temporary solution has now been developed and it is called the Dreamhelmet. While some people may find it awkward to wear, do remember to address your sleep disorder problem first above all.

The Dreamhelmet, a patented combination sleep-mask sound blocking pillow, launches a campaign to alert their customers and the public about the hazards of ‘drowsy driving’. The release explains how planning ahead and the use of the Dreamhelmet can prevent accidents and protect automobile travelers in emergency situations.

(Source) Press Release Newswire

Try Out a Sleep Retreat

Brian Yalung — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:39:18 +0000

People who go on vacation to various destinations can now consider sleep retreat among the potential agenda for going there. This was apparently the whole concept launched by Dr. Reza Samvat regarding sleep retreat at the Domain Casuarina Beach Resort.

Obviously, this has been targeted towards the people who lack the proper amount of sleep or have been dealing with sleep problems like sleep apnea and insomnia. So if you cannot find proper cure from medication and therapy, why not make your break a sleep retreat session to get to the bottom of this problem.

Basing it on what has been reported, it is really something that will attract people, both sleep disorder patients and the people who simply want some adventure of a different kind.

“The three packages available offer an intense revolutionary program aimed at identifying the major areas contributing to the individual’s sleep issues,” Dr Samvat said.

“It makes the treatment and clinic more accessible to people with busy lifestyles as the packages are intense and concentrated so that results can be achieved in a shorter period.

“Sleep therapy packages are also ideal for the corporate market, such as business executives who lead a high-pressure working lifestyle. The retreat will assist them in re-balancing and improve sleeping cycles.

(Source) News.com.au

Sleep Causes Car Accidents

Brian Yalung — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:54:58 +0000

We hear of people who have been into car accidents. The reasons have been enumerated and most of them point towards drunk driving and even falling asleep on the wheel. Apparently, these statistics don’t lie.

Much of these have been confirmed at a study made at Vancouver Costal Health. The study even included that you don’t have to be sleepy to incur such accidents. Sleep apnea patients get their share of contributing to the issue and worst of all; you are awake and facing accidents as they come.

“A lot of sleepiness-related crashes tend to be more severe… where you fall asleep at the wheel and you hit a tree or you cross the median and hit an on-coming car,” said study author Dr. Najib Ayas of the Vancouver Coastal Health and associate professor of medicine at UBC.

“Even if you do not fall asleep at the wheel, it has been shown that patients with sleep apnea or sleep deprivation have reduced motor function. It affects coordination, dis-tractability or vigilance.”

(Source) National Post

Good Reasons Not to Live Near an Airport

Brian Yalung — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:17:34 +0000

Planes flying by and landing at certain times of the day can be a big problem especially if you live nearby an airport. For sure, it is already a given that you will have a hard time sleeping and adjusting to the noise that these air crafts produce. But while not being able to sleep is already an issue, it may escalate as far as affecting our blood pressure levels due to the lack of sleep.

As we can see, there is more to meets the eye when you talk about losing sleep. But when you talk about health problems coming into the picture, you have to take it to another level and try to analyze and determine how your health can manage all the stress and lack of sleep from it all.

“We know that noise from air traffic can be a source of irritation, but our research shows that it can also be damaging for people’s health, which is particularly significant in light of plans to expand international airports,” co-author Dr. Lars Jarup, from the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Imperial College London, said in a prepared statement.

(Source) Washington Post

http://www.wildberrys.org.uk/directory/dir_transport.html

Marmot Offers Recycled Sleeping Bag

Brian Yalung — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:06:56 +0000

When you go outdoors such as camping trips, chances are you will need to bring along a good sleeping bag to serve as your mate when it is time to get some sleep. Apparently, most of the people are looking at the high-end and expensive ones but thanks to Marmot, a recycled sleeping bag is being offered for people who no longer have to worry about comfort and the green compliance standards put into the production of one.

The Marmot Eco Pro 15 is a good sleeping bag to count on which is made from recycled plastic bottles. This time around, no longer will you have to worry about sleeping comfortably outdoors and add to this the fact that you are doing your contributions in promoting green and eco-friendly products as well.

The new Marmot EcoPro 15 will be in the shops from later this month and uses high tech UpCycle materials. It’s a three-season synthetic bag which uses 100 per-cent recycled fabrics for the shell and lining and 80 per-cent recycled insulation.

A wave design combines shingle and blanket construction to save weight and maximise efficiency and the synthetic UpCycle insulation and DWR treated fabric should make for reasonable performance in damp conditions.

(Source) Outdoorsmagic.com

Smoking Ruins Sleep Patterns

Brian Yalung — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:51:46 +0000

If you are a smoker and you have a hard time wondering why you feel weird in the mornings, chances are you are in that stage where smoking can really have a part on how you can sleep better. We are all aware that smoking does indeed make our health deteriorate and with this new study made by the John Hopkins University School of Medicine, it all the more proves that smoking has a bearing on why you cannot sleep soundly.

Here’s another good reason to put away those cigarettes – a new study shows that smoking can lead to unhealthy sleep patterns, making you feel groggier the next day. Scientists have long speculated that smokers have poorer sleep quality than nonsmokers because of conditions associated with the habit, such as sleep apnea and lung disease. Now, research from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine led by Dr. Naresh M. Punjabi, shows that smoking might be the culprit for decreased sleep quality.

(Source) Boston.com

Tryptophan to Induce Better Sleep

Brian Yalung — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 09:20:29 +0000

Apparently, when we have trouble sleeping, it is not all limited to how well we rest or relax. The things we eat play an important role as well and it would be wise to find food that have Tryptophan, same thing in turkey –that your body then converts to melatonin and serotonin, to aid us in sleeping better.

We usually don’t put proper emphasis on the food we digest. But then again, it would be wise to consider what we eat rather than avoiding the known ones which affect our sleeping habits.

Such food that contain Tryptophan include:

Warm Milk

Valerian

Comfort Foods

Carbohydrates

Melatonin

Kava

You can view more of these here: (Source) BNet

Loud Snorers Have Cures

Brian Yalung — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 19:09:52 +0000

As far as snoring is concerned, the immediate generalization of most people is that they stem from fatigue. But if they are looked upon closely, there may be other things of concern such as some health problems involved.

The best way is to make visit to your physician or sleep specialist. They can more or less diagnose any health-related issue concerning the whole ordeal. While some would choose otherwise, many would be surprised at the things they would learn such as breathing problems and even higher levels of health problems is concerned.

There are medications and devices that can help people cure snoring. Do not just conclude anything without the express insights of a licensed physician. The difference may be serious to your health as you would think.

Experts believe there are as many as 300,000 sleep apnoea sufferers in the UK but only one fifth are diagnosed.

The rest simply believe they are bad snorers.

The condition causes the muscles in the throat to collapse, closing the airway and causing the sufferer to stop breathing for up to ten seconds.

After the airway has closed, they “wake” and breathe deeply which produces the snoring sound. However, the sufferer does not regain consciousness in the process and is not aware of it.

(Source) Daily Mail

Smoking Identified as Sleep Disorder Contributor

Brian Yalung — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 09:16:18 +0000

Smoking has been found to be another factor that contributes towards sleep disorders. Apparently this stems from the fact that smoking results in poor sleep due to nicotine withdrawals that essentially leads to poor sleep.

We have already identified smoking as an obvious health risk and being chosen as another reason for sleep deprived individuals should not really be surprising.

Scientists from Johns Hopkins University studied 40 people who reported smoking at least 20 cigarettes per day and claimed to have no health problems. The researchers also studied the same numbers of non-smokers.

(Source) The Times of India

The Culprits of Sleep Deprivation

Brian Yalung — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:50:58 +0000

For some people, encountering sleep problems as far as sudden instances of finding themselves lacking in sleep can be caused by several things. Other than the usual forcing-yourself not to sleep by most people who have to stay awake, there are also other factors such as health deterioration or even the food you digest.

There are certain food types such as spicy foods or buffet meals that can really get you stuffed in a hurry. And for people who find themselves feasting, it comes to a point that you feel uneasy to sleep immediately. Chances are that time is running and you are not aware that it is already time to get up.

As a guide, here are some of the usual problems that food brings to the person who finds difficulty sleeping:

Spicy Foods Garlic, chilies, cayenne, and other intense spices are yummy going down but can keep you up with heartburn or indigestion. Avoid MSG too, as it can trigger dreams that are a bit too vivid.

A Big Dinner An overtaxed digestive system takes hours to settle down and there’s nothing restful about that. When sleep’s critical, make lunch your largest meal and enjoy a light 500-calorie dinner early in the evening.

Raucous Veggies Eat those good-for-you-but-gassy foods–beans, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts–in the middle of the day. A tankful of gas can keep anyone up at night.

Speed Eating Relax and enjoy meals to avoid swallowing air, another common cause of midnight tummy trouble.

Nightcaps Alcohol may make you drowsy at first but later on it disturbs sleep patterns and leads to awakenings and restlessness. A 4-ounce glass of wine with dinner won’t hurt, as long as it’s not within two hours of bedtime.

Coffee after breakfast Caffeine can linger in your body for as long as 12 hours. So if you’re often wide-eyed at bedtime, make sure you’re caffeine-clean for at least 12 hours. (Skip tea, chocolate, cola, or other caffeine culprits too.)

(Source) Yahoo Food

Fitting Right in and Sleep Comfortably

Brian Yalung — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 21:08:17 +0000

Our weight is associated with how well we are able to sleep. For most people, they often blame oversleeping as a primary reason for bulging bellies. While some of it may be true, it remains that it still all depends on the person as a whole. Remember that we have the power to control how we sleep. And in the process, we can also have the power to control how we look and how heavy we may get.

There are times we may be over-conscious about our physical appearance. While we may want to fit in with the crowd, rest assured you will get noticed if they seem something unusual. While many would not care, think again and try to look at yourself in the mirror. Can you sleep comfortably seeing yourself getting all the flak from people who have taken notice of you? I don’t think so.

“I dreaded going out – even to work,” she says. “If people looked at me on the train I was convinced they were thinking about how fat I was.”

Theresa planned the US trip with husband Chris, 36, an insulation consultant. She adds: “We had really looked forward to it but I had to sit at an angle all the way and the belt only just went round me.

(Source) The Sun

No Age Limit for Sleep Apnea Victims

Brian Yalung — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 11:02:10 +0000

We all know that once we reach a certain age, chances are they would feel safe and sound because they are constantly taking vitamins to keep their bodies safe from harms way. All except for sleep apnea that is. While old folks are expected to fare better due to boost in their immune systems, sleep apnea is something that really has to be looked up considering that they are hard to manage for most people today.

So just when you think you have passed the fences of diseases and illnesses, think ahead. If senior people have their share of coping up with them, you can just include sleep apnea to that list.

Researchers found that around half of healthy subjects over the age of 65 had a “respiratory disturbance index” of more than 15 events per hour, compared with only 5% of healthy subjects under 50. According to the study, many physicians consider 15 events per hour to be a clinically significant amount. Individuals who are untreated may develop an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, said study senior author Steven A. Shea, PhD, of Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston.

(Source) McKnights

Senses Going Haywire Due To Lack of Sleep

Brian Yalung — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:17:07 +0000

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