kristy asked:


I have had to take frequent naps all my life and I get these overwhelming urges to sleep. I had a sleep study done and they said Narcolepsy is what I have.

MARK asked:


I know someone who will be going through 7 time zones and then one day later will be traveling again but only go through 1 time zone. Will this person be ok? Will this person have been able to recuperate before going on the next trip or does it really matter?

HJR asked:


I’m flying to Barbados from the UK next week and am staying there for two weeks. But because the tour operator has got an itinery planned, I only have on day at the start of the holiday to do what I want. Is there a way to overcome the jet lag on that one day?

There have been studies correlating sleep apnea and asthma. Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder characterized by disruption in breathing as a person sleeps. The pauses are called apneas, and it can last in a period of time that normal breathing is disrupted, causing the person to skip one or more breaths. Doctors have categorized apneas to have caused a 10 second pause between breaths, and this should cause a neurological arousal or a desaturation of blood oxygen of 3 to 4 percent or more. Both neurological arousal and blood oxygen desaturation can also occur at the same time.

There are three kinds of sleep apneas: obstructive, central and complex. It has been estimated that 84% of sleep apneas are obstructive, 0.4% central, and 15% complex. Obstructive, which is the most common, is caused by the physical block to airflow despite the body’s efforts to breathe. Central sleep apnea has something to do with how the brain signals the body to breath, and the miscommunication interrupts the breathing. Complex sleep apnea is actually the combination of both obstructive and central, which means the two kinds of sleep apneas transition to one another.

The problem with sleep apnea, however, is the person’s inability to recognize that he or she has it, even if the person suddenly wakes up in the middle of the night. Usually, sleep apneas are identified by other people who witnesses the person’s sleeping habits. Some people who suffer from sleep apnea might go on without knowing they have it for years or even decades. Though rarely fatal, sleep apnea causes anxiety, fatigue and sleepiness during the morning.

Asthma, on the other hand, is more recognizable by many since it is largely hereditary and easily diagnosed. Though the two might be entirely different, this does not mean that they are not correlated. According to the University of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, young women who have asthma are twice likely to develop sleep apnea. They noticed that young women with asthma snores a lot while sleeping, and one of the best indicators that a person has sleep apnea is habitual snoring. Many people often disregard snoring in young adults as indicators of sleep apnea, since many have the notion that sleep apnea only affects older people (especially men). In fact, there are many groups of people who are susceptible to sleep apnea, and the researchers in the University of Cincinnati have correlated respiratory complications (due to smoking, asthma or otherwise) with sleep apnea.

Other studies also have found that asthma can cause other sleeping disorders other than sleep apnea. A support of this theory is that many asthmatics have reported sleepiness during daytime, which is an indicator of sleep apnea. However, patients who have both sleep apnea and asthma have found relief from their asthma when they were treated for their sleep apneas. The trouble with this theory is that researches have yet to concretely correlate both sleep apnea and asthma. Though many studies have indicated that there is a connection, until they find a definite link between the two, they will still have yet to find a better way to treat both conditions.

Related Articles:

Sleep Apnea Machines

Sleeping aids for Insomnia



By: Raj Kumar

About the Author:

Jason R asked:


My son is having trouble with his sleeping and I believe it might be sleep apnea. We will get him a sleep study soon but he is struggling to sleep at night and at times even has seizures in his sleep. He is on seizure medication, but I am starting to believe it may be more because of the sleep apnea. Are their any things we can do to help him sleep better at night, before our sleep study. I am not talking about the machines, just some tricks of the trade that may make him sleep better and then my wife and I can sleep better. He is only 4 and has all the signs of sleep apnea. We will not know this though for a little while until the study. Any ideas?

?Curious Suzanna? asked:


Ok, so every night, if i don’t go to bed before 11, i cant sleep because my legs are too restless and they twitch and move around.
last night, it was so bad that i stayed up ALL NITE, and didn’t even get 5 minutes of sleep.

anyone got any tips to help stop this?

Echion asked:


I’m having some trouble sleeping and I’ve tried a few things before and didn’t help. Any suggestions?

LOL Legal substances and legal actions, please.

Restless Legs Syndrome is a neurologic movement disorder characterized by unusual, uncomfortable sensations (paresthesias/dysesthesias) deep within the calves and/or thighs, resulting in an irresistible urge to move the legs, and motor restlessness in response to or in an effort to alleviate discomfort. common neurological disorder that causes pulling, tearing, and jerking sensations in the legs when a person is at rest. It is a feeling of uneasiness and restlessness in the legs after going to bed (sometimes causing insomnia); may be relieved temporarily by walking or moving the legs. Restless legs syndrome (RLS, or Wittmaack-Ekbom’s syndrome) is poorly understood, often misdiagnosed, and believed to be a neurological disorder.

The most distinctive or unusual aspect of the condition is that lying down and trying to relax activates the symptoms. As a result, most people with RLS have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. Left untreated, the condition causes exhaustion and daytime fatigue.

The cause of restless leg syndrome is unknown in most patients. However, restless leg syndrome has been associated with pregnancy, obesity, smoking, iron deficiency and anemia, nerve disease, polyneuropathy (which can be associated with hypothyroidism, heavy metal toxicity, toxins, and many other conditions), other hormone disease, such as diabetes, and kidney failure (which can be associated with vitamin and mineral deficiency).

As described above, people with RLS feel uncomfortable sensations in their legs, especially when sitting or lying down, accompanied by an irresistible urge to move about. These sensations usually occur deep inside the leg, between the knee and ankle; more rarely, they occur in the feet, thighs, arms, and hands. Although the sensations can occur on just one side of the body, they most often affect both sides.

The first principle of therapy to treat restless legs syndrome (RLS) is to avoid substances or foods that may be causing or worsening the problem. Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine may partly relieve your symptoms. Your health care provider should review your medications and determine whether any drug you are taking could be causing the problem.

You may benefit from physical therapy, such as stretching, hot or cold baths, whirlpool baths, hot or cold packs, limb massage, or vibratory or electrical stimulation of the feet and toes before bedtime.

Supplementation to correct vitamin deficiencies, electrolytes, or iron may improve symptoms in some patients. In iron deficiency, for example, ferrous sulfate 325 mg may be given with 250 mg of vitamin C. Absorption is increased by taking this on an empty stomach and waiting 60 minutes before eating.

For mild symptoms, use an over-the-counter pain reliever to reduce twitching and restless sensations. Cut back on alcohol, caffeine and tobacco. Try taking a hot bath and massaging your legs before bedtime to help you relax. Relaxation techniques, such as meditation and yoga, can help you relax before bed. Apply warm or cool packs, which can help relieve sensations in your legs.



By: Rachel Broune

About the Author:

ebosgramma asked:


My husband has sleep apnea and he just will not wear the CPAP mask. Over the past couple of weeks he has begun waking up during the night because he is vomitting.
I am wondering if this is related to the sleep apnea, maybe the vomitting is caused from the loss of breathing? I know he stops breathing during the night because I hear him gasping for breath.
Just wondering if I should call is PCP or his specialist for this one.

Insomnia, defined as trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, is a common problem. Insomnia can occur in people of all ages. Most individuals just experience a night or two of poor sleep, but sometimes the sleep disturbance can last for weeks, months, or even years. Insomniacs typically complain of being unable to close their eyes or “rest their mind” for more than a few minutes at a time. Insomnia is most common among women and older adults. Transient insomnia lasts from one night to a few weeks. Most people occasionally suffer from transient insomnia due to such causes as jet lag or short-term anxiety. Acute insomnia is the inability to consistently sleep well for a period of between three weeks to six months. Chronic insomnia is regarded as the most serious; persists almost nightly for at least a month. Most adults have experienced insomnia or sleeplessness at one time or another in their lives. Insomnia is a common problem that may be temporary or chronic. An estimated 30-50% of the general population are affected by insomnia, and 10% have chronic insomnia. Stress most commonly triggers short-term or acute insomnia.

Most people over 70 need less than 6 hours sleep per night; and they tend to be light sleepers. Insomnia is a common problem that may be temporary or chronic. As many as one in 10 Americans have chronic insomnia, and at least one in four has difficulty sleeping sometimes. But that doesn’t mean you have to just put up with sleepless nights. Some simple changes in your daily routine and habits may result in better sleep. Insomnia affects all age groups. Among older adults, insomnia affects women more often than men. The incidence increases with age. Stress most commonly triggers short-term or acute insomnia. Chronic insomnia can lead to mental health problems such as depression, or misuse of alcohol or other medicines in order to gain sleep. Newborn babies can sleep for 16 hours a day, while children of school age need an average of 10 hours. Adults usually need, on average, 7 to 9 hours sleep a night. As we get older, its normal to need less sleep.

Insomnia that lasts for less time is known as short-term or acute insomnia.Insomnia affects all age groups. Among older adults, insomnia affects women more often than men. The incidence increases with age. Insomnia is the perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep. Insomnia may cause problems during the day, such as tiredness, a lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, and irritability. Insomnia can be classified as transient (short term), intermittent (on and off), and chronic (constant). Insomnia lasting from a single night to a few weeks is referred to as transient. Insomnia may be a symptom of magnesium deficiency, or lower magnesium levels. A healthy diet containing magnesium, can help to improve sleep in individuals without an adequate intake of magnesium. Short-acting benzodiazepines or the newer hypnotic ‘Z medicines’ are the current preferred medicines for insomnia and are only available on prescription. Benzodiazepines are tranquillisers and are designed to reduce anxiety and promote calmness, relaxation and sleep.

Insomnia Treatment Tips

1. Using aromatherapy, including jasmine oil, lavender oil, Mahabhringaraj and other relaxing essential oils, may also help induce a state of restfulness.

2. Relaxation techniques such as meditation have been shown to help people sleep.

3. Traditional Chinese medicine has included treatment for insomnia.

4. A healthy diet containing magnesium, can help to improve sleep in individuals without an adequate intake of magnesium.

5. Melatonin has proved effective for some insomniacs in regulating the sleep/waking cycle.

6. Avoid or limit your use of caffeine (coffee, tea, sodas, chocolate), decongestants, alcohol and tobacco.

7. Exercise more often, but don’t exercise within a few hours before going to bed.

8. Behavioral treatments teach you new sleep behaviors and ways to make your sleeping environment more conducive to sleep.

9. Antidepressant trazodone (Desyrel) also may help with insomnia.

8. Avoid or limit tea, coffee, chocolate, and cold remedies containing caffeine.

9. Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking as these are also stimulants.



By: Juliet Cohen

About the Author: