Sleep Insomnia

If you have tried several snoring treatments and devices but your sinuses still roar at night, maybe it is time to give snore reducing exercises a shot. Starting exercises to stop snoring may be one of the best Christmas gifts you can give someone who has to share a bed with you and your nasal choir. There are several recommended exercises and programs available online. A routine that may be the cure for you can be found right at your fingertips.

Snoring is typically caused by some kind of blockage in the airways. If the blockage is actually part of your own anatomy a stop snoring exercise program may adjust things in the area and alleviate the problem. It is common for the jaw to either be too lax and fatty or too clenched and tight. Because the jaw connects to upper throat, the effects create snoring vibrations there.

The two main types of stop snoring exercises are facial and voice. The most common facial stop snoring exercise is actually using your tongue to repetitively touch your chin and nose, which stretches the muscles in the back of the mouth. Some say doing wide smiles in repetition also helps. What works for each individual really just depends on what is actually causing each person’s problem.

One of the biggest advocates out there for using voice exercises is Christian Goodman, the founder of the stop snoring exercise program. His website tells his story about attempting several treatments to end his snoring problem. The site also says that he eventually found success using exercises to stop snoring that his wife actually taught students in her singing lessons. The exercises his wife taught him were for strengthening and opening the throat to improve singing ability. He then adapted these exercises to target his problem areas and created an entire program that he used to cure his snoring problem.

The stop snoring program on Goodman’s site is one that costs money to access. However, he offers your money back if the program does not work for you. Part of the success with this program is that it first tries to determine what is causing the problem, and then gives the options for correction. There are websites and articles on the internet that will give you some exercises for free, but as Goodman has apparently learned, you need to know what the cause of your snoring is before you can find the routine or cure that works for you.

What is the definitive cure for terminal insomnia? Is there one? Many would say that everyday life itself causes this widespread problem, which is believed to affect almost twenty-five percent of the whole adult western population, but few would advise embarking upon terminal insomnia treatment to combat the problem.

The truth of the matter is that this problem is far too often dealt with as a passing issue. People really do blame stress from work, family or friends instead of considering it as an actual disorder.

While it is very true that such elements such as stress or depression can cause initial and terminal insomnia, there is little recognition of it as a physical problem. Indeed, in many cases insomnia is in fact a genetic disorder, which cannot be treated even by conscious, mental adjustments to a person´s lifestyle. However, terminal insomnia anxiety affects all those suffering from the disorder. The very knowledge of knowing that the night will be filled with fitful, restless periods transforms the problem from a physical one into a mental one; even it did not start off that way.

There are many ways in which to tackle the issue. Step one is to first identify the type of insomnia from which an individual is suffering. This can be a huge step into finding a remedy. Those suffering from mental insomnia through involuntarily induced anxiety such as work stress can combat it without using any medical assistance, namely sleeping tablets such as Sominex or Nytol. Exercise, increased mental relaxation and even aromatherapy can all decrease stress and anxiety. Studies have found that even an increased interaction with nature or animals such as horses decrease a person´s stress levels, which have a consequently positive effect on their sleeping habits. It is almost irrefutable that a healthy body improves a healthy mind.

For those who suffer from a more physical and acute level of terminal insomnia, homeopathic alternatives are also extremely advisable. Naturally extracted herbs for tablets and tea can have an immeasurably positive affect on the body. Such methods have been used and proven over centuries in places such as China.

Whether the problem lies within a genetic or psychological problem, there remains no definitive cure for terminal insomnia, except that the solutions themselves remain open and available for those who are willing enough to first identify it as a serious problem, and who are subsequently willing to take the appropriate action.

Cures for insomnia can be categorized into four groups: Changes in habits; medication, natural remedies and preventative measures. In order to encourage sleep, physicians recommend such behaviour changes as:

* Regular mealtimes, exercise and work routines
* Going to sleep and arising at the same time every day.
* Going to bed only when you are sleepy and getting up when you cease to be sleepy
* Having a pre-bedtime routine which might include one or more of: warm bath, drinking warm milk, reading for a few minutes, putting on your pajamas, makeup removal, tooth brushing, a bedtime snack

* Turning off bright lights in the evening as soft lighting soothes and relaxes the body
* Getting regular and vigorous exercise at least three times a week but hours before bedtime
* Gentle stretches right before bed
* Cutting alcohol and caffeine from your diet
* Stopping smoking as nicotine is a stimulant
* Taking a short mid-afternoon nap regularly each day
* Using sleeping pills very sparingly or not at all
* Providing a cool, dark, and quiet sleep environment

You can also treat Insomnia with herbal remedies. These include herbs such as St. John’s Wart, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Hops, Yarrow and many more. The herbs are ingested in many forms varying with the herb. It may be brewed as a tea, taken as a pill, a tincture or a balm. Some herbs are taken alone and some may be used in conjunction with others. A disadvantage of natural herbs is that the cost is not covered in B benefits plans. As well, herbs can also be dangerous if combined by an uninitiated user. Herbs are not as quick-acting as drugs. St. John’s Wort and Valerian for instance take two to three weeks to begin to show improvement.

Other natural remedies include light therapy, biofeedback, acupuncture and cognitive behavior therapy. Some of the newer remedies have not been used long enough to produce solid research on their effectiveness. Acupuncture often produces an immediate relaxation. It is a long-used remedy for many illnesses and maladies. But even acupuncture did not produce conclusive proof of being a cure for insomnia.

In addition to herbs and natural remedies, drug therapy is often a treatment option for insomnia. A physician will decide if drug therapy seems to be the best treatment. Drugs include sedatives, tranquilizers, antianxiety medication like benzodiazepines, antidepressants and hypnotics including Ativan, Dalmane, Halcion, Xanax, Restoril and Serax. The fact that there are so many drugs available is testament to physician use of drug therapy. All of these medications must be obtained through prescription. They carry a high risk of addiction. They also may have many side effects. Drugs’ effectiveness may also wear off as the patient builds up a tolerance to the drug.

A physician may determine that herbs and lifestyle changes are a good first step before attempting drug therapy. Usually drugs are prescribed for short-term crises like a death in the family or an attempted suicide. They are not seen as a cure but rather a stop-gap.

Over-the-counter drugs are becoming more prevalent. The ease of obtaining these products, ads which provide exposure to their existence and the apparent results of taking them have increased their appeal. Many over-the-counter drugs contain antihistamines. While these products are not addictive, some doctors believe they are also not very effective in achieving quality sleep for the user.

Perhaps one of the best cures for insomnia lies in prevention. Its central idea is producing a health lifestyle. Included are: balance of rest, recreation, exercise, stress management techniques, regular physical examinations, a healthy diet low in carbohydrates and high in fruit, fibres and vegetables. Cutting out nicotine, caffeine and alcohol are also recommended. Research shows avoiding too much television, late night activities and cutting out eating heavy foods before bed are good preventions of sleeplessness.

Stressors which cause sleeplessness cannot be totally avoided but they can surely be decreased with changes to lifestyle and pre-bedtime habits. Making changes can help us be better prepared to cope with insomnia.

Many herbal remedies for Insomnia are used for centuries in the treatment of various symptoms of insomnia. These might be taken alone or in combinations. Herbs are used in various forms. They may be made into tea, a salve, a tincture or chopped into foods.

One danger of herbs is that they may be combined into a lethal cocktail or that the amount taken might be too high. Herbs taken in combination with drugs used to treat other ailments or illnesses may produce dangerous results.

The following herbs have been proven effective in treating sleeplessness. Most frequently suggested herbs are: mushroom, hops, valerian, skullcap, passion flower, lemon balm, ginseng, St. John’s wort, and kava.

Avena sativa also known more widely as common field Oats can have a mild sedative effect. Both the seeds and straw of the herb are used. Avena seeds and straw are both rich in B vitamins. Oats have long been used in the herbal treatment of insomnia. It is sold as oatmeal or rolled oats. If Avena is used as a tincture or extract it should not be used by pregnant women or nursing mothers.

The California Poppy has a mild sedative effect. It has been used to help users fall asleep. This perennial herb is California’s state flower, It is not lie the oriental poppy and does not contain opium. It is a mild opiate. The poppy has been known to induce sleep and relieve anxiety. Children and older people should not take it in large quantities.

Celery seed is a remedy for nervousness, insomnia and anxiety. It contains vitamins A, C and B-complex. Stalks of celery can be used in salads, served raw and used in other dishes. They are good for you but it is the seed that is an herb. Seeds can be used as a tincture or an infusion. It produces a sense of mild relaxation. Celery seed can be a strong diuretic. So potassium must be replaced by eating potassium-rich foods. Pregnant women should avoid celery seed. Adults who use it sometimes experience upset stomach.

Chamomile is also called ground apple. Its flowers are used as tranquilizers. Chamomile tea relieves anxiety and relaxes the drinker. Pregnant women and those with digestive tract disorders should not use this herb.

Hops is a sedative which promotes sleep. It makes the bitter taste in beer but can be taken as capsules, tinctures and bulk tea. Hops that’s found in beer is not a sleep aid.

Kava is used as an antidepressant. It is grown in the South Pacific. Kava is thought to cause liver damage so should be taken with caution. It is available in liquid tincture and tea.

Passion Flower has narcotic properties which promote sleep. It should not be used by pregnant mothers nor those who are nursing. Its fragrant flowers are used to make capsules or tea.

Skullcap is also known as dog plant because it cures rabies. It is a sedative and tranquilizer. Skullcap is served in tea.

Valerian is a common herb for treating sleeplessness, stress and anxiety. This root has been used for centuries as a sleep treatment. Valerian is used in tea, as capsules as tincture. Vomiting and diarrhea are possible side effects. Pregnant women and those who encounter the above side effects

Wild cherry, also called choke cherry because of its bitter taste, has been used to treat coughs and as a mild sedative for inducing sleep. It grows in many parts of North America. The bark of the wild cherry is prepared in syrup. Wild cherry bark contains a poison similar to cyanide and should be used only in tiny amounts. Wild cherry is not suitable for pregnant women, children or nursing mothers.

Yarrow is also known as milfoil. It is identified by small lilac flowers. Yarrow has been used to aid digestive, stop coughs, cure colds and as a tranquilizer to aid sleep. It is easily obtained as it grows as a weed in fields and lawns. Yarrow is in tea blends, herbal mixtures, capsules and tinctures. Pregnant women, young children and nursing mothers should avoid it.

Because herbs have not been tested by food and drug administration in either Canada or United States, there is no government guarantee that they are safe. The fact that herbal remedies for Insomnia have been used successfully for centuries is a positive. The point is to be as well educated and informed about herbs powers and side effects as you can and to consult a physician about how it could affect other medications and your body.

It is in the hours when your body is set to sleep that the pressures of your world are supposed to be taken off, just as you take off your garments, and left for your waking hours. For some, this disrobing never happens. Night hours are a cruel blend of anxiety and insomnia, and those who suffer find their lives overtaken by stress and fatigue.

Anxiety disorder and insomnia are thought of in medical terms as cause and effect: one operates as a catalyst and the other affects overall health. Some people, however, have not been able to agree on which is the cause and which is the effect.

Anxiety is a nervous disorder in which a person can feel apprehensive, helpless, tense, uncertain and fearful. There is no one known cause for anxiety, and a person can legitimately be feeling tension about several things at once. Stressful home life, volatile relationships and demanding jobs are usually primary focuses during bouts of anxiety. The person experiencing anxiety and insomnia has an unhealthy preoccupation with the worst possible outcomes of a bad event, either in the past or in the future.

Concentrating so much on things that are not happening any longer or things that have not yet happened can cause many changes in the body. Some of the physical symptoms that accompany depression anxiety and insomnia include: headaches, a racing heart, sweating, twitches and tremors, diarrhea or urination, dizziness and shortness of breath.

Anxiety and insomnia treatment can start with some self-help strategies that are intended to bring more balance to your lifestyle. You can start addressing anxiety and insomnia by not taking on more than you can handle and asking for help when you need it. Although these things are the last things many people want to do, they are the things that can help save your life. You should also make sure that you take care of yourself physically and take time each day to perform a relaxation ritual.

Anxiety and insomnia do not have to rule your life or shut you down. If your self-help strategies do not work for you, then it may be necessary to find professional help – either a medical doctor who can help you find the physical causes or a therapist who can help you iron out the emotional causes.

Therapists use two methods of treatment to address the connections between anxiety and insomnia: cognitive-behavioral therapy, which helps you to confront negative thought patterns and exposure therapy, which helps you confront your fears.

When you hear the phrase, “hallucinatory sleep disorder,” it sounds jarring. However, it is slightly inaccurate. It is actually a symptom of a syndrome known as REM atonia, in which your brain awakens from a rapid eye movement (REM) state but your body is still unable to move. That seems a frightening position.

After all, you may be conscious of what surrounds you but your body feels paralyzed. Ordinary sleep paralysis is normal enough—when you sleep; your body releases hormones that keep you immobile enough in sleep to stop you from acting out your dreams. The hormones tend to wear off before your dreams end, and that allows you to awaken completely functional—even if you still feel a little groggy and would not mind another hour’s sleep.

However, sleep paralysis can also be part of such conditions as narcolepsy (excessive daytime sleepiness) and cataplexy (a rare disorder in which muscle tone is lost transiently); the latter a condition that often affects those suffering the former. Normal sleep paralysis keeps your body from acting out your dreams, but if you are unable to move when you awaken you have an acute disorder of sleep paralysis.

Hallucinogenic sleep disorder lasts longer than normal sleep paralysis—eight minutes is considered average for the condition—and, while you may be unable to move or speak, you may still see what you were dreaming about and believe deeply that it seems real. Indeed, there are researchers who believe that reported sightings of unidentified flying objects or extraterrestrial alien life forms may actually have been testimonies from people suffering hallucinogenic sleep paralysis.

Some of the reported causes for the rare condition—other studies have suggested many if not most people may incur it at least once in their lifetimes—include face-up (on your back) sleeping, which can also be a cause of chronic snoring; irregular sleep and sleep deprivation; stress; sudden lifestyle changes; and, an extremely lucid dream that may trigger the syndrome immediately.

In hallucinogenic sleep disorder, persons who did not have bedmates and were experiencing the syndrome have reported feeling as though they were not alone in the room, often as not a kind of demonic presence. (Several cultures consider hallucinogenic sleep paralysis to involve demons or ghostly presences pinning down or taking over the body.) Some of these sufferers have described feeling as though another being was sitting atop them and possibly trying to suffocate them.

Healthy diet and regular exercise are often recommended to arrest sleep paralysis of any kind but hallucinogenic sleep paralysis in particular.

People who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea are at the greatest risk for sleep apnea death. According to medical experts, the time of day from midnight to six in the morning is the most dangerous time for OSA sufferers to have heart attacks in their sleep and not wake up.

In an astonishing five to 50 times in an hour, this segment of the population stop breathing for at least 10 seconds and block their breathing passageways, including parts of the throat nose and mouth. Over time, death from sleep apnea becomes more than a mere probability.

At the time that breathing stops, too much carbon dioxide and too little oxygen is flowing in the blood. The blood pressure becomes elevated, the heart rhythm is thrown off and the walls of the heart leap into distress. When all of these conditions escalate in the middle of the night, the outcome is cardiac arrest that ends in sudden death or sleep apnea death.

The statistics surrounding sleep apnea deaths are alarming. About 14.6 people per 1,000 die from sleep apnea each year. According to national research, nearly 40 million Americans who are at risk for obstructive sleep apnea death go undiagnosed. Almost 1,400 traffic deaths happen annually because people who suffer with sleep apnea are driving. About 17 percent of the population has sleep apnea and the greatest risk group is males between the ages of 40 and 70.

There are certain physical or medical conditions that might contribute to an increased risk for sleep apnea. The disease may have some genetic link, and the risk for it increases with age. People with thick necks, overbites and enlarged uvulas or swollen tonsils are also at high risk. Certain lifestyle patterns like obesity, smoking, heavy drinking and high blood pressure place people at a greater risk for sleep apnea death.

Some signs of sleep apnea include sleep deprivation, irritability, depression, sexual dysfunction and problems with memory. A pressing desire to sleep during the day after you believed you have had a good rest through the night is also a telling sign.

You can decrease your chances of sleep apnea death by changing your lifestyle if you are participating in anything that could place you at risk. Smokers should stop smoking. Obese sleepers should try to lose weight. You should also try to start a regular sleep pattern and maintain it in order to fight sleep deprivation. If your body is placed on a regular schedule, it learns to expect sleep at a specific time, and you begin to condition your body to relax during sleep.

Sometimes we experience restless nights, and we are unable to have a good night of sleep. What happens when we experience the same every night? This is when we need to worry because we may have some kind of sleep disorder. There are different types of sleeping disorders but the most common among them is insomnia.

Insomnia is denoted by an inability to fall asleep,or to stay asleep for a long time. It is signified by wakefulness and restlessness and inability to go back to sleep. Insomnia is a condition where you wake up feeling groggy, irritated and tired during daytime. Several factors contribute to insomnia and chief among them being fear, anxiety, depression, stress etc. Insomnia results in a drop in energy level and mood swings. It can be acute or chronic or transient.

The best way to treat insomnia is by counseling and by cognitive behavior therapy. The therapy helps you to relax and ease your mind about worrying on the inability to sleep. This can be done by engaging your mind in some activity and guided meditation too. A change in food habits specially like avoiding coffee or alcohol is necessary to fight insomnia.

Doctors sometimes prescribe sleeping pills when insomnia is acute and the patient is heading towards depression. Often these pills have side effects and are prescribed on a trial and error basis. Other types of sleeping disorders include sleep apnea, snoring, restless leg syndrome etc. People with Sleep Apnea experience interrupted breathing during their sleep.

Alternatively, adenoids can cause sleep apnea. Among the types of sleep disorders, apnea can be dangerous and must be reported to the doctor, especially in children. He may perform a surgery on the tonsils or adenoids to eliminate the problem. Wearing a breathing mask is an alternative solution, as this would ensure smooth airflow and a good night’s sleep. Sleep Apnea can also be caused by underlying conditions like diseases affecting the nervous system. When these conditions are treated, the Apnea may withdraw.

Snoring may not be branded as a sleeping disorder, yet it does obstruct sleep patterns of self and the partner. Obesity and narrowing airways can be some of the main causes for this type of sleeping disorder. If the snoring is mild, self help remedies like sleeping on your side or on an elevated pillow could help.

Other types of sleeping disorders are restless leg syndrome which results in an overwhelming urge to keep moving the legs and limbs and Narcolepsy where one falls asleep suddenly. There is cure to all types of sleeping disorders, but the effect depends on how early they are detected and how soon you a doctor.

Many neurological disorders can lead to decreased cognition and an overall feeling of confusion. These sleep based disorders can, in some cases lead to increased levels of confusion and disorientation stemming from the tricks that the brain plays in those moments right before someone falls to sleep or fully wakes up. These increases in the phenomena, known as hypnagogic hallucinations, can lead to loss of coherency throughout the day and can greatly inhibit a person’s ability for productivity, but treating the actual disorder can bring everything back into focus.

Disorders such as sleep apnea and narcolepsy can be devastating conditions. In these sleep based disorders, hypnagogic hallucinations become a very regular occurrence for the sufferer. In small doses, hypnogogic hallucinations can be a good thing, but as their frequency increases, the effect of each hypnagogic hallucination becomes more profound.

These hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations can be very mind in a lot of cases. For the average person, simple auditory or visual changes happen. From light sounds to simple visual patterns, these hallucinations are usually nothing that the sleeper will take with them, and will have no real effect. In other cases, these hallucinations can be much more vivid, and according to some, quite useful.

Researchers have found that the mind is more susceptible to suggestion in these moments before and after sleep, due to the fact that these hallucinations are typically caused by the sleeping mind starting to dream before the body has fully fallen asleep. Typically, this means that whatever the conscious mind is thinking of will become full sensory hallucinations, similar to what happens in dreams. However, unlike dreams, these images and sounds are occurring while someone is still actually awake. A lot of times, an abstract problem in the mind of someone affected by these hallucinations will be represented in concrete terms, and a lot of notable people have been quoted as saying that some major accomplishments were the result of insight gained from a hypnagogic hallucination.

The problem, however, is that coupled with these hallucinations is slight amnesia, disorientation, and loss of concrete comprehension. When a disorder such as exhaustion is causing large numbers of “microsleep” sessions throughout the day, these increases in hallucinations can lead to an overall disorientation that cannot be shaken. In these situations, hypnagogic hallucinations treatment must be found. Unfortunately, however, there is no specific treatment to halt the actual hallucinations. The only option will be to address the problem that is causing the actual increase in the hallucinations. When a disorder progresses to the point that it is causing an increase in these hallucinations, it has come to a point that treatment must be started.

With the amount of industrialization our society has gone through, the environment is being consumed by noise pollution, which can cause many different health problems related to stress from repeated noise exposure. This can be the cause of many severe illnesses, which is why it is more important than ever to have something, which can cancel out this harmful noise. White noise sleep machines are a great way to get rid of this harmful noise, as it drowns it out with comforting noises, which are more soothing than stressful and can promote better sleep.

The main use of the white noise sleep machine is to help drown out the noises, which occur as you sleep. A good example of noise pollution may be a busy street, which you can hear through your apartment, which might even affect your sleep, especially if car alarms and horns are a regular occurrence and wake you up at night. The white noise sleeping machine can be used in this instance to help make achieving sleep better. The white noise machine sleep mate works by checking the noise levels around you for different frequencies and then playing white noise at the same level and volume of the unwanted noise, to prevent you from hearing the unwanted noise at all.

Because the white noise sleeping machine is so helpful in tuning out unwanted sounds in your environment, it can also be useful in any area where you need to be able to concentrate and avoid hearing loud noises, which could distract you from work. This includes working at the office or other area where you may be distracted by talking, traffic, or other unwanted sounds. Using a white noise machine for sleep can also be beneficial if you live in close quarters with someone who is on a different sleeping schedule than yourself, such as roommates who work different jobs. This allows you to watch TV and hold conversations without fear of waking up your roommate or spouse who is on a different sleep schedule.

The white noise sleep machine is also great for newborns, as it can provide a comforting presence for your child, which helps them feel at home, and safe, which in turn promotes a better sleep environment so your child wakes up restful and is less cranky throughout the day. White noise sleep machines can be fitted with many different sounds, including lullabies, the sound of rain falling, or even a water fall, as many people find the sound of running water a comfort.

Teeth grinding in Sleep is a condition called bruxism. Although bruxism generally involves grinding of the teeth, clenching of the teeth could also be a symptom. Most times the grinding is done unconsciously, but sometimes it also happens in a conscious state.

Of course many of those who suffer from bruxism during their sleep don’t know about their habit, although their partners or roommates might, and it could also be something that embarrasses you if you’re going to sleep when there are  other people around. It might sound a bit like snoring, although it can be a bit more disturbing, especially when bruxism develops in children.

Causes of Teeth Grinding in Sleep

The causes of grinding teeth during sleep, or bruxism, are not yet completely understood. Although common factors that show up with this occurrence are anxiety and stress. Sometimes stress from everyday life could even be a trigger to an individuals bruxism, especially if they’re overstressed. Aside from that, other probable causes for the teeth clenching and grinding have been identified as bad posture, misaligned teeth, diet or eating disorders, sleeping habits, a persons ability to relax, development of the jaws in children, and in some cases even just suppressed frustration and anger could be triggers for bruxism.

Aggressive and hyperactive individuals are also more likely to experience teeth grinding during their sleep. More often, bruxism occurs during a persons childhood, but it often dissipates on its own when they enter their adolescence.

How to deal with Bruxism

Bruxism will not only disturb your roommate or partners sleeping habits but it can also cause harm to your teeth and sometimes even pain. To avoid these things, there are certain ways to deal with bruxism.

There are some things you can try to stop your teeth grinding such as relaxation techniques like meditation, a massage, and even relieving your daily stress can help. Learn exercises that can help you release your stress. Simple relaxation techniques such as relaxing your jaw and facial muscles could also help you relieve stress. Try massaging your jaw muscles and the surrounding areas so that you can relieve tension.

Using a mouth guard or splint is an option you can consider to help you stop the bruxism, or at least to help protect your teeth from this harmful habit. A splint can also be helpful in preventing any clenching of your teeth while you sleep, although it doesn’t work for everyone. You should try many of the different types of splints since there are many options and some might be effective on your teeth while others are not.

If your teeth are misaligned, then you might want to look to your orthodontist for some advise regarding your bite pattern.

Other than that, you should also pay close attention to your diet and try to avoid unhealthy foods. Making sure that you get enough water on a daily basis and a good night sleep can help as well. All of what we covered will aid you in over coming your teeth grinding in sleep.

It’s also wouldn’t hurt to try self-hypnosis, which is a well known technique in overcoming this disorder.

Introduction
Narcolepsy is a sleep-wake disorder characterized by sleep attacks. These attacks occur in daytime and patients with narcolepsy can do little to overcome them.

Cause
The exact cause of narcolepsy is unknown. It is probably a combination of genetic and environmental factors which develops to narcolepsy. Scientific research has shown that almost all people with narcolepsy have a lack of a substance in the brains called hypocretine.

Symptoms
A person with narcolepsy suffers from daytime sleepiness with short sleep periods.

The sleep attacks usually last between 10 and 30 minutes. The patient just falls asleep when he is doing something. The attacks mainly occur during or after meals, quiet, sedentary activities, but can also occur at other times. Usually one feels the onset of sleep is coming.

Other symptoms
Other symptoms of narcolepsy are:

* Poor and restless sleep at night
* Sudden short-term muscle paralysis (cataplexy), allowing for example that the head falls forward, or someone drops to his knees
* When in sleep,  sleep paralysis can occur. This is when someone is still conscious but can not move
* Hallucinations, vivid dreams that are very likely directly involved in sleep and act as a very frightening experience

There are also some other more general symptoms such as concentration and memory disorders and blurred vision occur. Also there can be something called “automatic behavior”, this is when they did things they can not remember anymore after a sleep attack.

Diagnosis
The diagnosis of narcolepsy is not always easy. Based on the complaints and the fact that such phenomena can occur in multiple family members makes it suspicious.
Before the diagnosis narcolepsy can be made  – more common – sleep disorders have to be excluded. Examples include obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (characterized by frequent night awakenings and snoring), insomnia and depression.

Confirmation of the diagnosis
The diagnosis of narcolepsy can be confirmed through additional research. Often this research begins to fill in a questionnaire on the symptoms and he will keep a diary. After that it could be decided to measure the brain activity during day and night with the use of a electroencephalogram (EEC) In some cases, blood tests may be necessary. Such sleep studies are usually conducted in a special clinic for sleep disorders.

Treatment
Although the disease can not be cured, there are several drugs available that can control the symptoms of narcolepsy and enables a personal, social and professional life as best possible result. Medications used for this purpose are derived substances like amphetamines, and antidepressants.There are also medicines for any additional symptoms. The treatment is always best when consulting a sleep-wake disorders specialist doctor.

It is also advised trying to adapt to the restrictions of Narcolepsy. Try to take in account with what you are doing that a sleep attack could happen any moment.

Insomnia is a condition of difficulty falling asleep and/or trouble staying asleep. It is not a sickness or a disease. It is a symptom of other medical, psychological or psycho-social turmoil. Some people may have trouble falling asleep while others wake too soon. Either way, the sufferer does not have a good night’s sleep and awakens tired and not refreshed.

In 2007, American Medical Association report stated that 30% of adults Americans suffer occasionally from insomnia and 10% experience chronic insomnia.

Insomnia can be triggered by stressful events such as death in the family, divorce, family strife, jet lag, job difficulties. It can be caused by poor eating habits or lack of exercise.

It is categorized by persistence and severity:

Transient (short term): Lasting from a single night to a few weeks.
Intermittent (on and off): Episodes occur from time to time.
Chronic (constant): Occurs on most nights and lasts a month or more.

It can also be called primary or secondary depending on its cause.

Secondary type sleepness may be triggered by one or more of:

* llnesses, such as heart and lung diseases
* Pain, anxiety, and depression
* Medications for other conditions which produce sleeplessness as a side effect
* Caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, and other substances that affect sleep
* Another sleep disorder, such as rls (restless leg syndrome)
* A poor environment for sleep
* Change in sleep routine

Primary insomnia conversely is not an effect of another condition. It is a disorder. Primary sleeplessness usually persists or more than three weeks, often months.

Insomnia is a common health condition. It results in difficulty staying awake during the day, tiredness, lack of energy, depression and lack of productivity. Its symptoms can be mild to severe depending on the occurrence and duration of the sleeplessness. However, drugs and natural remedies and changes in eating habits and exercise have produced some optimistic results.

There are some kind of changes to get a good night sleep. Try alter your sleeping routines and other things before resorting to drugs to cure for insomnia. For instance:

* Keep away from taking alcohol in the evening. Keep away from caffeine for at least 8 hours before going to bed. Give up smoking, since nicotine is a stimulant.
* Take your TV or computer out of your bedroom. Or, your brain becomes used to the stimulation and starts to expect it when you are there. This makes it harder for you to fall asleep.
* Get a regular bedtime, but don’t try to sleep if you feel wide awake. Use your bedroom for bedroom activities only. Once in bed, use creative imagery and relaxation techniques to keep your mind off unrestfull thoughts. Avoid staying in bed for long periods of time while awake, or going to bed because of boredom.
* Relax by reading, taking a bath, or listening to soothing music before getting to bed.
* A snack before bedtime helps many people. Foods such as warm milk or turkey have a natural sleep inducer called L-tryptophan.
* Exercise regularly, but not in the last two hours before going to bed. Exercise, especially aerobic exercise, has been show to make people fall asleep faster and benefit from deeper and more restful sleep. Sex can be a natural sleep inducer and helps some people.
* Avoid emotional upset or stressful situations prior to bedtime.

In infants and children

* Keep away from being readily available to a child during the night. If not, the child may become dependent on your care and become sleepless if deprived of it.
* For children who have sleeping problems, try to make sure that the child is not disturbed by unnecessary noise. Leaving a radio, especially classical music, playing soft music helps to the child not hear disturbing noises.
* Avoid sending a child to bed as punishment which can result in poor sleep caused by fear.
* Never give a child sleeping medicine without consulting the doctor first. Generally, it is unwise to treat the problem with drugs.

Medication

* Medication should be a last thing to do.
* Over-the-counter sleep medicines can have side effects, especially “hangover” effect on the next morning.
* If you tried all cures, you can ask to your health care provider to suggest other options.
* Keep away from all sedatives, including the benzodiazepines, during pregnancy.

Half of the incidents of sleeplessness is caused by grief, stress, depression and anxiety. These may be the result of a crisis event such as divorce, death of a loved one, money or legal worries, job loss or chemical imbalance. Insomnia is often associated with emotional or mental tension, anxiety, depression, work problems, financial stress or unsatisfactory sex life.

Some medications and substances used to treat other illnesses or ailments cause insomnia. Diuretics such as Lasix, Dyazide and Furosemide and decongestants such as Pseudoephedrin result in a state of wakefulness. Antidepressants taken at bedtime can produce a state of being awake. Appetite suppressants such as Meridia and Fastin can also result in insomnia. Drug withdrawal from addictive drugs such as Prozac and Bupropion also result in inability to sleep.

Substances like caffeine, coffee, tobacco, alcohol, cocaine and marijuana produce high levels of energy which lead to sleeplessness.

Physical illness can have sleeplessness as a side effect.

Changes in schedules or interruption of a sleep schedule can also rob you of sleep. People on jet lag frequently cannot sleep. Workers who have shift changes often have trouble finding a sleeping routine.

Sufferers of chronic pain often have trouble sleeping because the pain makes them too uncomfortable to sleep. The medication taken for chronic pain can also be responsible for sleep deprivation. Asthma can cause sleeplessness because steroids or antidepressants may be prescribed for the symptoms. These result in an inability to sleep.

Temporary situations can result in transient sleeplessness. These might include an argument with a family member, a spat with a neighbour, worry over a medical test result, concern about school, being the victim of a bully or an attacker.

Lifestyle can cause sleeplessness. Ingesting too much rich food, smoking, drinking too much alcohol, watching too much television, staying up late and not getting enough exercise are all enemies of sleep. A positive sleep environment is important. Failure to provide this can be a cause of sleeplessness. Bright lights, loud music, television, noise and crowded conditions are causes of poor sleep environment. A lack of a regular sleep time is also a factor.

Chronic insomnia may also be caused by breathing disorders such as snoring. Another condition which can cause sleep disorder is restless leg syndrome which produced jerky leg movements, disturbing sleep or making it difficult to get to sleep.

Psychiatric conditions such as mood and anxiety disorders can produce sleeplessness. Nightmares which occur regularly or panic attacks also cause sleep disruption. Failure to adapt to a new situation such as the loss of a loved one, a move, a new baby can all result in chronic insomnia.