You Suffering From A Sleep Disorder Or Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation in America has become a larger problem than most will admit. It is estimated that
Between fifty and eighty million people are suffering from sleep deprivation at this moment and that
Most people will experience sleep deprivation sometime in their lives. Of course there are many
Reasons and at varying levels that people will be affected. But do you know the difference between sleep deprivation and a sleep disorder? One is a result of and the other is the reason for.

In other words you could have insomnia, which is a sleep disorder, and suffer sleep deprivation, which is the result. For more details www.activities-small-fingers.com The reason I make this distinction is because too many people believe that they are suffering from a sleep disorder when they start missing sleep but when you carefully diagnose the problem, it might not be a disorder.

A simple example is: a dog is barking outside your window at night keeping you awake. After a few nights of this, you are experiencing sleep deprivation. Stop the dog from barking and you solve your problem. Unlike a sleep disorder, which could result from a psychological or physical issue in your life, sleep deprivation is the result.

Unfortunately a major problem today is too many people go undiagnosed and will not get the necessary treatment for their problem. So it is vital to recognize what is causing you to have sleep deprivation in order to seek the right treatment. Sleep deprivation can turn into a disorder, like insomnia, if you don’t get help. It can start as a mild case where you lose sleep for a few nights to a severe case where you are losing sleep for weeks or even months. So it is imperative that you examine what’s going on in your life to seek the cause.

Are you going through a stressful time and are doing a lot of worrying? Most people who are experiencing a stressful time in their life lose sleep because they lie awake all night thinking of their problems and their minds become their worst enemy.

Could it be something deeper that you can’t easily recognize? You should always seek a doctor’s help for both identifying your issue and remedies to take care of it. Sometimes it’s as simple as taking some sleep medication for a small period of time to get you back into a natural sleep cycle. For more details www.tips-getting-healthy.com The main point is to identify the underlying cause and then seek alternatives that can help.

Remember there are dozens of sleep disorders out there such as insomnia, apnea, night sweats, and so much more. The key is to identify the underlying cause and recognize that if you are loosing sleep over an extended period of time, you are suffering from more than just sleep deprivation, you are suffering from a sleep disorder. Seek medical help in determining just what it is and you can buy the proper treatment.

Sleep Apnea Test – Yes, Virginia, There Is A Home Test!

A sleep apnea test is normally done in a sleep lab. But, just as with everything else, technology is making this aspect of testing for sleep apnea simpler. The home testing market is growing for those who suspect they may have sleep apnea. In 2007 the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) rethought their policy and now they approve the use of home tests for those who are eligible. Along with the AASM, insurance plans such as Medicare and Medicaid are also approving payment for the tests.

What Patients are Eligible?

The home test for sleep apnea is not for everyone. The AASM will only approve the home test for people who meet the following;

1) You must be between 18 and 65. They do not approve the tests for children or the elderly.

2) You are in the category of being at high risk for medium to critical sleep apnea. The risk includes breathing pauses while sleeping that have been recorded or witnessed, being severely overweight, extreme sleepiness during the day and snoring that is loud and often.

3) You have no major medical issues such as congestive heart failure or lung disease to name a couple.

4) You have not been diagnosed with narcolepsy, insomnia, circadian rhythm sleep disorders or central sleep apnea.

The home kit is an simple to use sleep strip that is really a mini-computer. It records the airflow through the nose and mouth and then the results are looked at by your doctor. The results will tell the doctor if there is indeed sleep apnea and how severe it may be. The strip is simple to place on yourself with very small training.

The sleep apnea test now available is so simple to use and safe as well. This test can be taken in your bedroom, where you feel more comfortable sleeping. Rather than being in a weird place trying to go to sleep, the test can be taken in your home. You will not feel that you are being stared at (which you are) and the room is familiar. The self-testing device uses a recording device which can sit on your nightstand. Sensors are provided that measure pulse, chest movement, oxygen level, breathing and snoring (if you do indeed snore).

The materials to show you how to use the sleep apnea test are all provided and the test is quite simple to know. All the information that is collected while you are sleeping is examined and studied. A report is made and sent to your doctor. He will look at the report and inform you of whatever action he thinks is necessary.

The home test is a small pricey but in comparison with what a sleep study that you go to a clinic to have done, it may not be so terrible. Of course, there are studies from time to time that are done for research purposes. If you really do not want to go to a lab to have this test done, a home test can be the right choice for you. As long as you meet the criteria, there should be no problem taking the sleep apnea test in your home.

3 Ways to relax and get a good night’s sleep

Sleep is supposed to be rejuvenating but often its not. I believe that this is because we don’t get our minds and bodies ready for sleep. We just aren’t relaxed enough to get excellent night’s sleep.

Many of us equate relaxation with sleeping but they are really two really different things. You see, although they may be interconnected, sleeping is not really relaxing. Sleeping is defined as “a state of semi-unconsciousness” This is a state that we go into on a daily basis so that our minds and bodies can rejuvenate themselves. Our minds use sleep to sort out much of the information that we take in during the day for later use. The cells of our bodies also go into a type of regeneration during sleep which allows our cell structures to be rebuilt and restored.

The problem for many of us is that we have a hard time getting to sleep. More than that, even if we do fall asleep, we toss and turn and wake up frequently. I’ve found that in order to get a fantastic night’s sleep on a consistent basis, you need to learn how to relax first and then fall asleep after that. So I want to give you three different ways that you can use to relax that will prepare your body and mind for the sleep that you have been missing.

The first thing I found that I was doing was stimulating my mind too much and too late in the evening. I would work until late at night and then try to fall asleep. Or I would watch TV or read a stimulating book and try to fall asleep. Then I would lie down and tell myself to go to sleep while my eyes refused to stay shut for a half hour or more. What I found was, although I was doing unintentionally, I was stimulating my mind in a way that prevented me from falling into a excellent night’s sleep.

What I’ve done to counteract this is that I have set a time limit that I can do any work at night. I also turn off the television. Most evenings I take a warm bath and then read for about 15 minutes. The books I read are fascinating but not mood enhancing. Also I have found that a few minutes of silent Chi Kung (Qigong) deep breathing and meditation exercises helps my mind and body relax. Using this routine my mind and body are positioned to where sleep will come naturally.

The second thing I did was eliminate the glass of wine I had been drinking at night. I used to reckon that I was helping my body get ready to sleep when I was drinking a small alcohol but I what I found was that the opposite is really right. When we consume alcohol at bedtime, its sedating affect can decrease the time we need to fall asleep. This leads many people with insomnia to reckon that alcohol promotes sleep. What experts have found is that if we drink alcohol before bed or to promote sleep the second half of our sleep is disrupted and we toss and turn and/or wake up from dreams and then have a hard time falling back to sleep. This sleep interruption in the second half of our sleep can lead to daytime fatigue and sleepiness. So if you want to get a truly excellent night’s sleep get rid of the evening alcohol.

Finally, the third thing I found was to make my environment conducive to relaxation. For example, I’ve had to train my 18 year ancient daughter to turn down the television in her room which is adjacent to mine so that when I do my Chi Kung (Qigong) breathing and meditation exercises I can really relax. I have eliminated as much of the light in my room as possible. I might play a recording of soft sounds of nature to help my mind drift off to sleep. Doing these things has helped my sleep tremendously.

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