Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Restless Legs Syndrome is a condition that causes an uncomfortable feeling in the legs. These feelings intensify when lying down or when sitting. The only way an affected individual can make these uncomfortable feelings go away is by getting up and moving around. Read more

Restless Leg Syndrome

Periodic Limb Movements In Sleep Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep (PLMS) is a symptom that is commonly associated with another type of sleep disorder known as Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). However, PLMS is a separate condition and RLS need not be present. Although the problem itself does not seem to cause or aggravate any other medical conditions, the frequent limb movements can cause a disruption in a person’s sleep. In fact, it can lead to significant insomnia, which can have adverse affects. It is for this reason that PLMS is considered a sleep disorder. Symptoms are few but they are obvious. As the name implies, the lower limbs of individuals with this disorder move, often repetitively, for varying periods of time. These movements, which are characterized as either sudden jerks, or twitches, or a flexing of the foot upwards, occur while Read more

Melatonin and Sunlight

Melatonin and Sunlight What makes us sleep? If you asked 10 individuals this question you’d likely get a variety of answers. Some people might say a comfortable bed and quiet surroundings are what makes us sleep. Others would ration that a nightcap is needed. Sheer exhaustion, a full belly and someone to snuggle with are some of the other opinions people have about what makes us sleep. Interestingly, few people would give the correct answer to the question which is actually the release of the hormone melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that is secreted by the pineal gland located at the base of the brain. It is secreted at varying levels throughout the day and its release helps to regulate the body’s sleep-wake cycle. The pineal gland helps to regulate the body’s internal clocks, and helps keep the body in balance by regulating the release of different hormones, neurotransmitters and chemicals that impact the body in many ways. In fact, there is a high correlation between the release of melatonin and Read more

Insomnia – Cures & Treatments

Insomnia – Cures and Treatments If you are diagnosed with insomnia and the insomnia is not a symptom of an underlying problem, it can most often be ‘cured’ or ‘treated’ by incorporating one or more changes into your life. If on the other hand your insomnia is the result of a mental disorder, a breathing disorder or some other type of physical disorder, making more than a behavioral or lifestyle change likely will be required. Hanging curtains to help block out light and sleeping in a room separate from someone who snores are both things you can do to treat your insomnia. So is practicing one or more forms of cognitive behavioral therapy. The goal of cognitive behavioral therapy is twofold. It helps you change your thoughts at bedtime and it helps you develop more favorable sleeping habits. Stimulus control involves retraining yourself to think of bed only as a place for sleep or for intercourse. If you want to watch television or read you need to do those activities elsewhere. Once you start associating bed with sleep (or sex), the tossing and turning should cease, making it easier to fall asleep. Progressive muscle relaxation helps many people who have trouble sleeping because they are not able to relax. While in bed their minds work in overdrive, thinking about Read more

Insomnia - Causes, Types & Diagnosis

Insomnia - Causes, Types and Diagnosis Insomnia – the inability to fall asleep at night or to sleep soundly throughout the night – can be temporary or persistent and can have many causes. Insomnia that is temporary is frequently classified as transient. If insomnia lasts longer than a few days or even a few weeks, it usually will be classified as permanent. Women suffer the effects of insomnia more than men do, probably due to the many hormonal changes women experience. In addition, because of other factors such as a sedentary lifestyle or an underlying medical condition or as a side effect of prescription medication, insomnia can increase with age. Insomnia that is not considered persistent can result from too much stress, from crossing into different time zones, or from environmental factors such as an increase in noise levels or temperature variations of more than a few degrees. Exposure to excessive light or loud and/or persistent noise including nearby traffic and even closer second-hand snoring can create an environment in which sleep is elusive. Insomnia can even be the result of learned behavior. Medical treatment for intermittent or transient insomnia generally is not prescribed. That’s because the condition typically remedies itself once the affected individual takes control of his or her situation and corrects the problem(s) causing the insomnia. Permanent or chronic insomnia, on the other hand, can be more serious. Read more

Awakening During the Night

How to Get Back to Sleep When Sleep is Disrupted It is not uncommon for people to wake during sleep. A loud noise, a child’s crying, an urge to use the restroom, a hunger pain or a pain in some other part of the body are just some of the reasons why we awaken. Waking during sleep doesn’t become a problem unless waking is constant or unless it is not possible to get back to sleep afterwards. Here is some advice on what you can do if you have trouble getting back to sleep. Get up and get out of bed This might sound contrary to what you Read more