Known by most people as just Shaq, the basketball superstar is a larger than life figure who seems impervious to harm, but the truth is that Shaq was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea. At the behest of his girlfriend, Nikki “Hoopz” Alexander, who noticed that the big man would often cease breathing during his sleep, Shaq underwent a polysomnograph that found that he suffered from moderate sleep apnea. Sleep Apnea is measured on a scale known as the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) which differentiates the severity of sleep apnea in individuals. Essentially, the scale measures the number of pauses in breathing an individual has over the course of a night’s sleep. Shaq’s diagnosis of moderate sleep apnea means that he completely or partially stopped breathing between 15 and 30 times. Any number between 5 and 15 is considered mild, while a value above 30 is severe sleep apnea.

There are a number of treatments for sleep apnea, both surgical and non-surgical. Oftentimes, an individual can treat sleep apnea through a combination of factors including weight loss, quitting smoking, and using a nasal decongestant. If these are ineffective, doctors will likely provide you with a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) mask. A stream of air flowing from the mask will help keep your airways open, thereby alleviating sleep apnea. This is exactly the kind of treatment given to Shaq to treat his moderate sleep apnea.

If an individual is able to become accustomed to sleeping with the mask on, it’s virtually 100% effective. There’s an immense benefit to Shaq becoming a spokesperson for sleep apnea, as it will likely spur people to be tested for the disorder. The 10 million individuals that are unaware of their sleep apnea are in a potentially fatal position with the many associated heart risks. If you happen to share a room with a family member or a spouse be sure that they’re aware of the signs of sleep apnea. If they notice you continually snoring, not breathing for 10 seconds or more, gasping for air at night, or exhibiting signs of excessive daytime sleepiness, it’s likely you have obstructive sleep apnea. The risks associated with sleep apnea are absolutely preventable as long as you diagnose and treat sleep apnea early enough. Shaq was fortunate to catch on to his disorder before it severely affected him. Make sure sleep apnea doesn’t get the best of you either.

REM Sleep Labs is an accredited sleep testing center with Sleep Centers in Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

On a recent trip to Vegas, I knew I had to get a good amount of sleep on the plane because I was sure to not sleep very much while I was in Sin City. Between the hilarious Las Vegas comedy clubs, incredible live concerts, awesome gambling, exciting nightlife, and first-class dining, I knew there would be little time for sleep. I did some research, attempted some experiments, then came up with a few tips and tricks that should help you get a good night’s sleep on your own flight!

One of the most important elements of getting a good night’s sleep on your flight is requesting a window seat. The window seat gives you the opportunity to lean against the window, instead of your neighbor, and fall asleep without hurting your neck. In addition to the ease and comfort of having a stable place to rest your head against, you will also be bothered less by staff and other passengers. If you sit in the middle or aisle seat, you will most likely be woken up fairly often as your fellow passengers get up to go use the restroom or stretch their legs. Being in the window seat can help you avoid all that, but if it’s not possible, then what next?

Be sure to bring along a sleeping mask, warm socks and noise-canceling headphones. You may look goofy, but you’ll be the best rested passenger on the plane, and everyone else will certainly be envious! Your headphones will dampen out engine noise, crying babies, laughing passengers, and the inevitable and obnoxious coughs, sneezes and other sounds that could keep you from catching some deep sleep. Your warm socks will help keep you comfortable and the eye mask can black out the reading lights and other sights that you’d be tempted to open your eyes to observe, when you should be resting peacefully.

You don’t have much control over things when you’re on an airplane, but if you follow these simple tips (and hopefully get that window seat!), you should be able to provide an effectively tranquil environment that sustains deep, restful sleep, allowing you to arrive at your destination brimming with energy, and ready to meet the day. But if you still arrive tired, no matter where you are, ask your concierge for directions to the best spa in town and line up some rejuvenating treatments to replenish your energy and get you started off on the right foot!

Circadian sleeping patterns, provided they constitute between seven and nine hours of sleep per night, can provide huge benefits to the heart and can hugely decrease the potential for cardiac arrest or strokes. This is due to the fact that a lack of sleep can greatly, and negatively, effect cholesterol levels and blood pressure; these two factors are amongst the biggest causes for concern when relating to heart disease so ensuring an optimum amount of sleep is of paramount importance in combating them.

Sleep can also help improve an individual’s all round physical health due to the hormones the human body releases during slumber. There are a huge amount of different hormones that are released all the way through an adult’s life which can combat and help improve the body’s health. Hormones, known as “immune system modulators” released during sleep can, for example, fix broken cells which, left untreated, could potentially cause cancer. Other hormones attack other viruses, including less fatal ones such as flu, and other one’s can also help with weight maintenance; some hormones which are released act as appetite suppressants. Leptin and ghrelin constitute two such hormones and act as regulatory bodies which alert a human to how much food should be consumed the next day. If an individual does not gain enough sleep then it is entirely feasible that not enough of these hormones will be released and can cause the individual to over eat the next day thus causing weight gain.

Another benefit of a good night’s slumber is the effects it can have on brain power. Memory is found to be improved, according to studies, as the brain processes what happened the previous day whilst the body is sleeping. The brain systematically trawls through a day’s events and creates connections and correlations between them so as to make the memories more easily accessible in the future. Studies, including ones undertaken at the University of Luebeck, also show that individuals who undertake a full night’s sleep were three times more likely to be able to understand and complete cognitive puzzles than those who attempted the same undertakings whilst in a sleep deprived state.

Similarly, in relation to sleeps positive effect on the mind, a good night’s slumber can also help to stave off depression. This, again, has to do with hormones – serotonin, like leptin and grehlin, is released during sleep and, provided the recommended seven to nine hours sleep is achieved, can help improve mental wellbeing. A circadian sleep pattern can, thus, help improve mental health as well as physical fitness and, as such, is one of the best and most under-rated methods used for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

AUTHOR BIO

Kieron Casey is a BA (Hons) Journalism graduate who blogs regularly on health, education and environmental matters. He is writing on behalf of baby bedding providers Bed Ted.

Getting a good night’s rest is imperative for functioning at your peak, feeling your best and being ready to handle whatever comes your way. While some of us seem to fall asleep just as our head hits the pillow, others toss and turn for hours only to fall asleep and wake up again minutes later. If you are plagued by sleep difficulties and don’t want to turn to sleep inducing medications right off the bat, there are several remedies you can turn to that may bring you so much needed relief.

1. Exercise
When you exercise during the day, your body needs to make up for the energy it has expended and therefore, typically you will find yourself sleeping more calmly and thoroughly throughout the night. A word of warning however, you should not exercise in the 90 minutes following a large meal since this tends to take blood away from the brain. In addition, exercising right before bed can cause a stimulant effect that can be counterproductive.

2. Herbs
There are many natural herbs which are known to help relax the body and the mind. The most commonly used are chamomile, hops, lavender and California poppy. Chamomile can best be prepared in tea or oil which can be placed in bath water. Hops have long been used as a cure for nerves and anxiety since the 1900s. It is best used in teas or often times in a pillow to help ease mild insomnia. The California poppy acts as a milk sedative in the body and can be served in a tea.

3. Meditation
Easing the mind can be one of the easiest ways to invite sleep. The age old practice of meditation is one that has proven to be effective for centuries. These deep relaxation techniques can often put the worries of the day out of reach and result in a more peaceful balance.

4. Avoid your cell phone of TV before bed
While many people rely on the hum of the TV or checking email to get them ready for bed, looking at a lit screen before sleeping can actually make it harder for you get rest. Light of any kind confuses your internal clock. Darkness is the most sleep-promoting atmosphere and if your room has light coming in, try and hang up heavy shades to block it out.

5. Don’t nap during the daytime
While it may be difficult to not doze off during the daytime if you aren’t sleeping well at night, this can actually continue the cycle, causing you to have difficulty sleeping later on. If you find that you absolutely have to sleep, try and rest for no more than 2 hours at a time. This strategy is actually more beneficial for your sleep schedule than sleeping in the next day. If you can help it though, 30 minute naps are normally the most beneficial.

While insomnia is not something that can go away over night, these techniques should get you well on your way to enjoying a few more hours of sleep.

Emily Murray is a contributing writer for KwikMed, the company appointed as the online exclusive distributor of the newest morning after pill called ella.

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Snoring is not limited to some people only. Even people who are not known to snore regularly are likely to snore after a major viral infection or after consuming alcohol, or when faced with certain medications.

It is of utmost importance to establish the root cause of snoring as it does not only affect you but also affects your bed partner or other roommates. Some of the most common causes associated with snoring include:
Age – As people advance in age, the throat tends to get narrower; this coupled with the general decrease of throat muscle tone becomes a very good recipe for snoring.
Gender – It is true that men snore more frequently than women. This is simply because men are naturally created with a narrow air passage. Other factors that contribute to this are the presence of enlarged adenoids.
Sinus or Nasal Infections – Airways can be blocked due to an infection and this automatically makes inhalation extremely difficult. A vacuum is then formed in the throat that leads to snoring.
Smoking and Alcohol- Consumption of alcohol and cigarette smoke, even inhaling secondhand smoke are known to increase nasal muscle relaxation contributing to snoring.
Weight – Increased body weight is also another factor that can lead to snoring.<br> Sleeping Posture – Sleeping on your back can also block the nasal airway.

Other life threatening conditions such as sleep apnea are also characterized by snoring.  Sleep apnea is a serious condition that blocks the breathing systems forcing the person to wake up several times during sleep to gasp for air. This condition can be treated in numerous ways.

Identifying your sleeping positions in relation to how you snore can give a good insight as to why you snore. For example snoring when your mouth is closed means the tongue has got a problem, snoring while your mouth is open indicates presence of excessive throat tissues while snoring is all manner of sleeping positions indicates the presence of a serious condition that requires urgent investigation.

Other remedies such as losing weight, clearing the nasal passage, quitting smoking and humidifying your bedroom can also manage snoring. Some people need to go to a doctor to resolve this issue while others swear by wearing balance wristbands to help them sleep at night, and quit snoring.Whatever route you take, your partner will thank you.

Treating and curing your insomnia does not have to be hard. All it takes
is a bit of detective work on your part. Studies have shown that the
majority of insomnia cases are caused be emotional problems and that the
rest of it is mostly everyday routine things that may be messing up your
sleeping cycle. By figuring out the root of the problem, your insomnia can
become a thing of the past.

Common Causes of insomnia: Why are you having trouble sleeping?

Do you find yourself under a great deal of stress?
Do you find life to be depressing or are you feeling hopeless latley?
Are you one who suffers from anxiety?
Have you recently been through a traumatic situation that coule be
putting unneeded stress onto your body?
Do you have a steady sleeping pattern?

All of these are common causes of insomnia. Sometimes your inomnia will go
away on its own after a couple of days. This is true especially when it is
something as simple as stress over some change in your life. As your body
becomes more adjusted with that extra stress, or as it goes away
naturally, you will find yourself sleeping with much more easy.

However insomia can sometimes be persistent as well. Chronic or ongoing
insomnia is usually connected to a mental or physical problem that may be
present. Psychological problems such as depression can also cause your
sleeping troubles. If this is the case you should talk to your doctor
about possible medication options.

Talking to your doctor can also help you discover what physical conditions
may be impairing your ability to get a good night of sleep. By discovering
that cause preventive steps can be taken to reduce the strain upon your
body.

Noah Glaser is a free-lance online writer who specializes in the
do-it-yourself niche. When he is not writing he likes to hunt and process
his own meat with his electric meat grinder.

Natural melatonin levels slowly diminish with age so that older adults make very little melatonin or none at all. That is one of the reasons that older adults tend to have more sleeping problems although in some cases they just don’t require as much sleep as they age.

Since the early 1990′s melatonin has been available as a dietary supplement in the United States. But it is more restricted in some countries or not available at all. Research has been conducted on how melatonin might help the immune system or slow down the aging process although nothing is proven.

Melatonin is often used for patients who suffer from sleep disorders or those who do not produce enough natural melatonin. In many cases it is used for those who suffer from jet lag, particularly frequent travelers where they are constantly crossing various time zones and their “biological clock” can get out of sync.

Melatonin is found to be safe if used in small or mild doses for short-term use. However, it should not be taken for longer than two to three months. Anyone who takes melatonin should seek medical advice before taking it, particularly if they are on any regular medications or suffer from any health issues or are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

Melatonin is taken in dosages that vary from 0.2mg to 20mg and can have side effects such as drowsiness or stomach problems or morning grogginess so anyone should use care when driving or operating machinery and should consult a physician if their symptoms persist.
You can reduce your snoring by using a FDA cleared stop snoring mouthpiece from http://www.VitalSleep.com. It is a low cost anti snoring remedy and solution.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_G_Hernandez

I. There are many kinds of sleep disorders. Bruxism, Jet Lag syndrome or desychronosis, Rapid eye movement behavior disorder (RBD), Parasomnias, Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), Delayed sleep phase syndrome (PSPS), Night terror, Narcolepsy, Insomnia, Hypopnea syndrome, Somnambuslism, Sleep apnea, Restless legs syndrome (RLS), Shift work sleep disorder (SWSD) etc.

II. Sound and proper sleep is very important to the proper growth and development of human being. Sleeping disorder will cause emotional and mental disbalance. Sound sleep helps us to perform our daily chores in a normal way.

III. Most of the people is not well concerned about the problem of sleep disorders. Sleeping disorder can be seen in different forms and symptoms.If anyone feels emotional instability, feeling sleepy, dire needs for caffeine, exhausted, tired, constant fatigue, lack of concentration etc, then it can be said he is suffering from some kind of sleeping disorders.

IV. Symptoms of sleeping disorder vary from person to person. Many people say that they are suffering from insomnia or other people say that they are suffering from lack of sleep Bad habits, irregular sleeping habits, work pressure etc are causes of insomnia. It is really quite impossible to cure insomnia properly without the intention of the patients . The best way to cure insomnia is give up smoking habits, improvisation of sleeping habit, feel relaxed, taking warm bath before sleeping, doing some physical works or exercise etc.

V. Another most common sleep disorder is sleep apnea . It is represented by snoring, panting and choking etc. The patient might have physical fatigue even after a sound over night sleep.

VI. Other than the above kinds Restless leg syndrome is also very irritating and disturbing.This problem also may caused by kidney problems, thyroid problems, anemia, alcoholism, Parkinson’s disease etc

I. Sound sleep determines a healthy life. Hypersomnia, Parasomnia , bed wetting are some of the symptoms that should alert you of sleeping disorder Consult your physician immediately if you suffer from any one of the above symptoms.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/how-sleep-disorder-may-make-your-life-hell-3547164.html

About the Author
Author is an expert writer on sleep disorder articles and you can find more information on types of sleep disorders and sleep disorders.

This article contains some important tips that will change things for you; no matter how bad your teeth grinding problem is. Teeth grinding occurs during sleep, and is said to be a conscious effort that gradually develops into a habit on the part of the person suffering from it. Since it is said to be a habit; it can also be stopped through a conscious effort on the part of the person suffering from it. This is how to stop TMJ naturally because it does not require any pain medication. Though, it may take a bit of time before one begins to see or experience the result of this natural treatment; the effect will definitely last longer than other means. There are lots of people who hardly know how to stop TMJ naturally; these people spend huge amount of money buying mouth guards and acquiring pain medications.

Causes Of Bruxism

Experts say that bruxism is caused by a condition called anxiety or digestive disorder. One of the best ways to treat teeth grinding is to address this disorder before it escalates into something else.

Some of the side-effects of bruxism include; jaw pain, earache, toothache, headache, and broken teeth. Experts have claimed that these minor side-effects could lead to other complications that may cause some severe damages. These major complications include; depression, and insomnia. Those suffering from bruxism are known to apply the following relieves.

One way to stop teeth grinding is through pain medication prescribed by doctors. Though, not a natural method of stopping this problem; pain medication still remains a common treatment among people who suffer from bruxism. Actually, pain medication only provides temporary solutions to stop teeth grinding.

Mouth Guard

A mouth guard is a gadget usually placed between the lower and upper jaw, which helps prevent both ends of the jaw from coming in contact. Though, not a cure for bruxism, mouth guard remains the most commonly used method by people who want to stop teeth grinding. The cost of acquiring or replacing a mouth guard once it wears out is put at about $700. That means one may have to cough out that much each time the one in use wears out.

Tackling teeth grinding from the root cause remains the best solution to curing it; and not actually all these artificial means, which cost a lot of money. Having considered pain medication and mouth guards as some of the ways to prevent this disorder; natural home relief for bruxism remains the best way out.
Want stop teeth grinding, tmj and bruxism naturally? CLICK HERE!

Visit Bruxism Treatment for more information and reliable treatment options

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=HO_Smith

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