Why is it that so many people complain of sluggishness after lunch? What is it about this particular time of day that makes some of us so vulnerable to fatigue and sleepiness? Why is it so common to have trouble concentrating and paying attention during this period? It really has to do with a balancing act between our intrinsic biorhythms and our environment.
As soon as we awaken, the pressure to fall asleep gradually develops in the form ...
Continue Reading →Sleep is important for overall rest and well-being, but a new study shows it might also impact a man’s fertility.
The value of a good night’s sleep cannot be overstated, especially in today’s hectic society. Research has shown that most Americans aren’t getting enough rest, even when it comes to teenagers and kids. Now, a new study finds that chronic sleep issues might actually lead to fertility problems down the road.
Danish researchers examined over 950 men over the course of three ...
Continue Reading →John, a 25-year-old combat veteran of Afghanistan, was sent to me for sleep apnea by the local VA hospital. He was somewhat withdrawn and unemotional. As we spoke, I discovered that he had severe insomnia and recurrent nightmares. He was becoming progressively more withdrawn and there were certain places like shopping malls that he absolutely refused to go to as crowds and noise brought back stressful emotions and even flashbacks of the war. John had PTSD ...
Continue Reading →Sleep and alcohol use are firmly intertwined. We know that 30% of people with insomnia turn to alcohol to help them sleep. We also know that insomnia is one of the greatest predictors of relapse in alcoholics. So what is the problem with alcohol and sleep?
Initially, alcohol induces sleep. It does this by acting on areas of the brain in a fashion similar to sleeping pills. In the first half of the night it increases ...
Continue Reading →It is well-known that people with Alzheimer’s have difficulty with sleep. One of the areas the disease attacks is the sleep/wake center of the brain called the suprachiasmatic nucleus. This results in severe problems with the timing of falling asleep and waking up – thus the link between Alzheimer’s and the sleep cycle. This can become maddening for family members and caregivers trying to cope with nighttime wanderings and people who sleep most of the day.
Interestingly, several recent ...
Continue Reading →Whether you are traveling a hundred miles by car or across many time zones by plane, your sleep is very important. Here are some tips that might help.
If you are traveling by car, make sure you get a good night’s sleep before the journey.
Stop every two hours to stretch and relax.
Avoid alcohol consumption the night before. This can cause problems with remaining sleep and may leave you dangerously sleepy the next day.
If traveling by plane, consider noise-canceling headphones ...
Continue Reading →We all complain about losing an hour of sleep when spring comes around, although we enjoy the days staying light longer. Of course, which of us actually get 8 hours of sleep every night anyway, right? So what is the big deal about daylight savings time? The dangers may be more than you imagined – there is a big difference between losing an hour of sleep and actually losing an hour.
All creatures have biological cycles including humans – these cycles ...
Continue Reading →I don’t know about you, but when my sinuses are bothering me it’s tough to fall asleep. You lay your head back and it almost feels like you are drowning. Plus, there’s all that pressure in your head. Even propped up, you know you’ll just be waking up in a little while, coughing up the post-nasal drip! What can you do to get some rest? Here are four tips to help you sleep a little easier.
1. While sinus issues and ...
Continue Reading →“You need to quit smoking!” If you’re a smoker, you’re probably sick of hearing people tell you that – but what if the message was coming from you, and more specifically your sinuses? If you’re a smoker and have sinus problems, cigarettes may be the culprit. Here are a few reasons why your sinuses could use a break from the smoke.
Everyone knows that smoking is bad for your lungs and throat, and studies have linked smoking to various forms of ...
Continue Reading →Everyone loves to get a good night’s rest. The whole next day seems to go better and our attitude is more positive. The problem is there are many obstacles to obtaining peaceful rest at night. Are you afraid that you may have a sleep disorder? There are plenty of them out there – let’s look at the symptoms of five of the most common conditions that keep us from being well-rested.
Let’s begin with the most common sleeping problem that we ...
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