1. Health

Sleep Disorders and Sleep Problems

Sleep disorders can drastically affect your health and well-being. Sleep apnea, insomnia, restless legs syndrome and more are serious medical conditions that require treatment. Other sleep challenges such as working the night shift, jet lag and snoring can interfere with your nightly rest. Read here to learn more and find ways to get better sleep.

Daylight Saving Time Effects
Daylight saving time is promoted as a way to conserve energy consumption, and take advantage of sunlight outside to promote physical activity. But what does shifting the clocks forward and back do to our sleep, health and longevity?

White Noise and Sound Sleep
Find out how white noise machines may help promote deeper, and longer, sleep as you age.

Do I Have A Sleep Disorder?
A sleep disorder is a valid medical condition that can disrupt quality of life and even your long term health. If you think you may have a sleep disorder, there are some simple steps you can take. Find out if you should look into your sleep disorder more.

Top 10 Sleep Disorders and Sleep Problems
Getting between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night can be a challenge for many people. If you are dissatisfied with the amount and quality of sleep you are getting, you may have a sleep disorder. Some sleep disorders are caused by medical problems and others are caused by lifestyle and

Sleep Disorders and Sleep Problems
Sleep disorders and sleep problems seem to be increasingly common. Getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep is challenging in our culture. However, getting enough sleep is important to your energy level, your health and your safety.

Understanding Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder in which breathing is interrupted five to 100 times per hour. Often these interruptions are not enough to wake a person, but significantly disturb sleep. People with sleep apnea often feel tired and fatigued. Treatment for sleep apnea varies from changing sleep habits to surgery.

Understanding Restless Legs Syndrome
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is one of the most common sleep disorders. RLS causes painful tingling in the legs that results in impulsive movements to relieve pain. This interferes with sleep and is a leading cause of insomnia. RLS can be managed with a combination of medications and sleep behavior changes.

Understanding Insomnia
Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder, affecting 30 to 40 percent of adults each year. Insomnia is often caused by a secondary underlying problem, such as a health condition, medication side effect or behavioral problem. Good sleep hygiene and habits can help to lessen the effects of insomnia.

Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a serious sleep disorder that affects between 250,000 and 350,000 Americans. Narcolepsy is marked by excessive daytime sleepiness, often resulting in sleep attacks that last from a few seconds to 30 minutes. Other symptoms include vivid dreams, sleep paralysis and cataplexy.

Parasomnias – Strange and Abnormal Awakenings
Parasomnias are strange sleep behaviors, including sleep walking, sleep talking, acting out dreams, nightmares and others. These conditions can be caused by certain medications or neurological disorders.

Nocturia – Excessive Nighttime Urination
Nocturia is a word for urination at night, or waking up to urinate once or more each night. The causes of nocturia vary, but treatment can include changing when you drink liquids and changing when you take medicine.

Health and Snoring
Snoring can be a sign that something is not quite right. People who snore often have risk factors for heart disease, diabetes and other health conditions. Snoring can be treated which will improve overall health through a more restful sleep pattern.

Avoid Falling Asleep While Driving
Driving while sleepy is extremely dangerous, causing the death of more than 1,500 people a year. Avoid driving while sleepy with these simple tips and guidelines.

Jet Lag and Sleep
Jet lag can seriously affect sleep. This common travel problem makes it difficult for the body to adjust to a new time zone. Through a few simple techniques and by anticipating the problem of jet lag, you can reduce its impact on you.

Keep a Sleep Diary
A sleep diary will help you find patterns in your sleep and make connections to your behaviors during the day. Keeping a simple sleep diary can encourage you to make changes that will improve your sleep. A sleep diary is also helpful to a doctor to understand your sleep situation.

Effects of the Night Shift on Sleep
Night shift work can alter your sleep habits. While working the night shift it is important to make sure you are getting enough high-quality sleep. This not only will make you feel more energized, but it will also protect your health from the long-term effects of lack of sleep.

Find a Sleep Doctor
Finding a sleep center or doctor to help you diagnosis a sleeping disorder is easy. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Board of Sleep Medicine have searchable databases of centers and experts accredited and certified in sleep medicine.

Sleep Apnea Linked to Heart Disease
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which the person's airway collapses and cuts off breathing for short periods of time, happening several times an hour. A study shows that severe sleep apnea (more than 30 times per hour) increases risk of heart problems in men ages 40 to 70.

Give a Gift of Better Sleep
Sleep can suffer as we age, so if you know someone who struggles with insomnia, why not help them sleep better with some of these gifts for better sleep? Whether it's a sleep mask, or sound machine, they'll fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.

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