How to Cure Insomnia

November 22, 2009 by insomniac  
Filed under Insomnia

Insomnia is a sleep disorder. Sleep is a state of consciousnesses, which gives your body time to rest and build up your strength. It is characterized by an inability to sleep and/or inability to remain asleep for a reasonable period. Insomnia affects all age groups. Among older adults, insomnia affects women more often than men. The incidence increases with age. Insomnia can be a symptom of physical disorders, although for most of us it’s the result of tension, stress and anxiety — and of course the more anxious we get about our insomnia, the worse it gets. It is often caused by fear, stress, anxiety, medications, herbs, caffeine, depression, bipolar disorder or sometimes for no apparent reason. An overactive mind or physical pain may also be causes. Insomnia may be classified by how long the symptoms are present. Transient insomnia usually is due to situational changes such as travel and stressful events. It lasts for less than a week or until the stressful event is resolved. Short-term insomnia lasts for 1-3 weeks, and long-term insomnia (chronic insomnia) continues for more than 3 weeks. Chronic insomnia often results from depression or substance abuse. It is important to know that nearly everyone has problems sleeping at some time or other and it is thought that a third of people in the UK have bouts of insomnia. 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, it’s normal to need less sleep. Most people over 70 need less than 6 hours sleep per night; and they tend to be light sleepers.

Three types of insomnia first is transient insomnia second is acute insomnia and last is chronic insomnia. It is not defined by the number of hours you sleep every night. Poor sleep quality can occur as a result of sleep apnea or major depression. 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. Chronic insomnia can lead to mental health problems such as depression, or misuse of alcohol or other medicines in order to gain sleep. Sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when a sleeping person’s breathing is interrupted, thus interrupting the normal sleep cycle. With the obstructive form of the condition, some part of the sleeper’s respiratory tract loses muscle tone and partially collapses. People with obstructive sleep apnea often do not remember any of this, but they complain of excessive sleepiness during the day. Central sleep apnea interrupts the normal breathing stimulus of the central nervous system, and the individual must actually wake up to resume breathing. Sometimes perimenopausal (the time leading up to menopause) women have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep; hot flashes and night sweats often can disturb sleep. Pregnancy also can affect how well a woman sleeps.

Treatment of insomnia should be individualized based on the nature and severity of symptoms. Most cases of insomnia inability to sleep or inability to sleep well at night. Lormetazepam, a short-acting benzodiazepine widely used for the treatment of insomnia. Rozerem is the very first insomnia treatment medication on the market that acts as a melatonin receptor agonist. Rozerem is just one of the many insomnia medications available on the market today. It is important that you discuss with your health care provider if prescription medications are right to treat your insomnia. Benzodiazepines drugs are relatives of diazepam (Valium) marketed as sleeping aids. Other drugs such as ethchlorvynol (Placidyl) are likely to produce neurologic side effects when taken. Barbiturates were formerly the standard sleeping pills, sold under such names as Seconal and Nembutal. Nonpharmacologic treatments for insomnia are considered effective if they decrease sleep onset latency or increase total sleep time by 30 minutes. Most treatment studies use patient-reported sleep diaries to measure outcome. Criteria used include total sleep time, sleep-onset latency, and number of nocturnal awakenings. A meta-analysis of 48 individual studies of behavioral therapy found stimulus control therapy to be effective and to be superior to progressive relaxation, imagery training, and paradoxical intention. Develop a regular sleeping schedule. Avoid daytime naps and stimulating activities just before bedtime. Avoid alcohol- it is a leading cause of poor sleep. Drink a cup of warm milk.

Insomnia Cure

October 17, 2009 by insomniac  
Filed under Insomnia




Insomnia is a sleep disorder. Sleep is a state of consciousnesses, which gives your body time to rest and build up your strength. It is characterized by an inability to sleep and/or inability to remain asleep for a reasonable period. Insomnia affects all age groups. Among older adults, insomnia affects women more often than men. The incidence increases with age. Insomnia can be a symptom of physical disorders, although for most of us it’s the result of tension, stress and anxiety — and of course the more anxious we get about our insomnia, the worse it gets. It is often caused by fear, stress, anxiety, medications, herbs, caffeine, depression, bipolar disorder or sometimes for no apparent reason. An overactive mind or physical pain may also be causes. Insomnia may be classified by how long the symptoms are present. Transient insomnia usually is due to situational changes such as travel and stressful events. It lasts for less than a week or until the stressful event is resolved. Short-term insomnia lasts for 1-3 weeks, and long-term insomnia (chronic insomnia) continues for more than 3 weeks. Chronic insomnia often results from depression or substance abuse. It is important to know that nearly everyone has problems sleeping at some time or other and it is thought that a third of people in the UK have bouts of insomnia. 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, it’s normal to need less sleep. Most people over 70 need less than 6 hours sleep per night; and they tend to be light sleepers.

Three types of insomnia first is transient insomnia second is acute insomnia and last is chronic insomnia. It is not defined by the number of hours you sleep every night. Poor sleep quality can occur as a result of sleep apnea or major depression. 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. Chronic insomnia can lead to mental health problems such as depression, or misuse of alcohol or other medicines in order to gain sleep. Sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when a sleeping person’s breathing is interrupted, thus interrupting the normal sleep cycle. With the obstructive form of the condition, some part of the sleeper’s respiratory tract loses muscle tone and partially collapses. People with obstructive sleep apnea often do not remember any of this, but they complain of excessive sleepiness during the day. Central sleep apnea interrupts the normal breathing stimulus of the central nervous system, and the individual must actually wake up to resume breathing. Sometimes perimenopausal (the time leading up to menopause) women have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep; hot flashes and night sweats often can disturb sleep. Pregnancy also can affect how well a woman sleeps.

Treatment of insomnia should be individualized based on the nature and severity of symptoms. Most cases of insomnia inability to sleep or inability to sleep well at night. Lormetazepam, a short-acting benzodiazepine widely used for the treatment of insomnia. Rozerem is the very first insomnia treatment medication on the market that acts as a melatonin receptor agonist. Rozerem is just one of the many insomnia medications available on the market today. It is important that you discuss with your health care provider if prescription medications are right to treat your insomnia. Benzodiazepines drugs are relatives of diazepam (Valium) marketed as sleeping aids. Other drugs such as ethchlorvynol (Placidyl) are likely to produce neurologic side effects when taken. Barbiturates were formerly the standard sleeping pills, sold under such names as Seconal and Nembutal. Nonpharmacologic treatments for insomnia are considered effective if they decrease sleep onset latency or increase total sleep time by 30 minutes. Most treatment studies use patient-reported sleep diaries to measure outcome. Criteria used include total sleep time, sleep-onset latency, and number of nocturnal awakenings. A meta-analysis of 48 individual studies of behavioral therapy found stimulus control therapy to be effective and to be superior to progressive relaxation, imagery training, and paradoxical intention. Develop a regular sleeping schedule. Avoid daytime naps and stimulating activities just before bedtime. Avoid alcohol- it is a leading cause of poor sleep. Drink a cup of warm milk.



The link between stress and sleep disorders – Part 1

September 11, 2009 by insomniac  
Filed under Treatments

Stress is as detrimental to healthy sleep patterns as is caffeine and other mood enhancing drugs. Stress can cause such issues as inability to fall asleep, difficulty in remaining asleep, and daytime fatigue. IN order to achieve restful sleep, one must alleviate distractions such as stress and anxiety. Both inadvertently cause interruptions in healthy sleep patterns.

There are many ways to assure beneficial sleep. The first step is to eliminate external stressors. If they aren’t essential and they cause you undue stress…GET RID OF THEM! The second step is to minimize unavoidable sources of stress. Those things that inevitably cause you distress, try to minimize the damage they cause. Prepare yourself for the blows, and take them in stride. The third step is to avoid situations that may cause new sources of stress. Most stress is at least slightly avoidable. Do everything in your power to minimize stress factors in you life. These practices should at least partially aid in the achievement of restful sleep.

The preceding advice is in no way intended as a substitute for professional medical treatment. If you believe that your sleep disorder is beyond these simple steps, I strongly advise you to seek a physician’s assistance.

Is There A Cure For Teeth Grinding?

July 12, 2009 by insomniac  
Filed under Bruxism




Millions of people suffer from bruxism which is the term for teeth grinding. Grinding teeth is something that is caused by any number of things but most doctors and dentists blame it on stress and anxiety. It can also be caused by abnormal biting, sleep disorders, and crooked teeth. As you can tell, if you are a sufferer of bruxism, it may not be easy to determine exactly what the cause is.

Many children grind their teeth but the good news is that for most of them, it is a temporary condition. They are unfamiliar with their new teeth and they grind them out of habit but once they get used to the new and different feeling in their mouth caused by their teeth, they stop grinding them.

Adult teeth grinding can be mild or it can be so violent that the teeth become damaged. Most people who suffer from bruxism have a mild case of grinding teeth at night while they sleep. Many of them might not even know they do it. Over time however, this nightly damage can add up. If you know you grind your teeth at night, it is best to find a solution right away rather than waite until more damage is done. Adults who have bruxism do not usually just stop their grinding for no reason. If you are a bruxer, you will most likely continue grinding until you figure out how to cure it.

In some cases, the biting at night can be much stronger than what you might do when you are awake during the day. People have been known to exert up to five times more pressure at night than they do when they are awake. This leads to jaw aches, head aches, chipped teeth, and worn down teeth.

Is there a cure to grinding teeth? Most dentists will want to fit you with a mouth guard to use while you sleep. These are custom made and thus quite expensive, usually costing over $500.00. If you get one of these mouth guards, you may be protecting your teeth but you are not finding a cure. You may still wake up with the sore jaws and the head aches. The mouth guard doesn’t stop the problem of teeth grinding, it just minimizes the damage. Getting a mouth guard is the natural course of action for most bruxers but finding the cure and stopping the condition is the better path.

Working on your stress levels and finding a way to reduce tension may be a better plan of attack to stop grinding teeth. If you can reduce your stress you will also reduce your unconscious desire to clench and grind your teeth. You can also work on reducing your stress right before you go to bed by doing jaw excesses. There is a way for everyone to cure their own case of grinding teeth. You just have to find it.