Saturday, November 5, 2011

Easy treating insomnia

There are many other products that might be used for insomnia. Melatonin has been shown to be helpful in treating insomnia due to melatonin deficiency in elderly patients. It may also improve sleep quality but probably will not increase the length of sleep time. Kava kava and valerian root are also commonly used for the treatment of insomnia. Kava kava has not been shown to be effective in the treatment of chronic insomnia. It is also known to be potentially dangerous to the liver. Valerian root may be helpful in helping one get to sleep as well as improving the quality of sleep. 

There are a number of treatment options available for the treatment and management of insomnia. It is important to diagnose and attempt to treat the root or underlying cause first. After that, the practice known as sleep hygiene should be practiced. If sleep hygiene is not effective, then the use of prescription medication may be warranted.

The cheapest treatment is, of course, sleep hygiene. If you try this approach and are unsuccessful, I would recommend over the counter diphenhydramine, while still practicing  sleep hygiene. There are many different types available. The next step would be to visit your doctor for a prescription. As is my usual recommendation, begin with the lowest priced medication. 

For insomnia treatment, I would recommend trazodone first. Trazodone represents approximately 40% of all insomnia prescriptions. It is very cheap at less than $10 a month. If that is ineffective, go with temazepam. It is also very popular and cheap. It is, however a controlled substance which means there is a possibility of addiction.

Tips how to prevent sleep apnea

In order to prevent sleep apnea, you must first understand the disorder and what causes it. Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes the sufferer to stop breathing on multiple occasions throughout the night. When this happens, the muscles and tissue in the throat are relaxing and causing a block in the airway. The results, which are often symptoms, including heavy snoring, pauses in breathing and waking up short of breath or, in extreme cases, even gasping for air. At first, the sufferer may not realize what happened, but soon will begin to realize a pattern and feelings of fatigue, irritability and lack of concentration during the day. If left untreated, sleep apnea may lead to heart problems, a greater likelihood of a stroke or other serious medical condition.

While all of these things sound very intimidating, the good news is that there are ways to prevent sleep apnea and even control it if already present. Among the ways to prevent sleep apnea are to sleep on your side instead of your back, lose weight if you are over weight or have been diagnosed with obesity, elevate your head using two standard pillows instead of just one, give up cigarettes and alcohol, rid your home of allergens, etc. These are the simplest ways to prevent sleep apnea but, if these prove unsuccessful, a more aggressive approach may be required.

After all treatment methods have been exhausted, including the use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device, a physician may recommend surgery. Before electing for this treatment, however, the patient needs to understand all of the risks associated with any surgical procedure. Many people find success with the CPAP device because it provides pressurized air to prevent the collapse of the throat muscle and tissue during the night. The patient must sleep with their mouth closed to avoid losing the effects of the CPAP. Many users find additional comfort with a product known as the Sleep Genie, which is designed to support the jaw while keeping the mouth closed during sleep. While not intended to prevent sleep apnea, or cure it, the Sleep Genie often provides better quality sleep for sleep apnea sufferers.

Sleep effectively with easy tips to do

A recent study shows that getting less sleep at night may be part of normal aging. But no matter how old you are, if you want to learn to sleep less to get the most out of life, you can do so if you understand the power of power sleep.

Power sleep is all about quality sleep in less time. With this, you can get and enjoy the benefits of a nice long sleep in a fraction of the actual time. You can power sleep effectively if you follow these easy tips and rules:
  • Get enough, continuous block of sleep every night. It's better if you get 6 hours of sleep in 1 solid block than sleep for 8 hours in 4 blocks of 2 hours. Inside this continuous block, you can sleep deeply. The complete process of energy renewal, rejuvenation and healing will also likely take place.
  • Avoid caffeinated and alcoholic drinks before bed time. These drinks tend to disrupt a refreshing sleep.
  • If you wish to learn to sleep less without feeling sleep less, you must set targets clearly in your mind. Decide on the amount of time that you will be sleeping and stick to it.
  • Catch up on sleep. There is probably a time when you need to stay up past your bed time or wake up before your normal wake up time. When this happens, you have to make up the lost sleep as soon as possible. Don't let sleep debt or sleep deprivation cause further "damage." Your goal is to learn to sleep less and stay healthy.
  • Keep your room comfortable, dark and noise free.
  • Set a regular sleep and wake up time. You'll feel better when you're consistent as to when to go to bed and to get up. When you follow this regular pattern, your body will not be confused. You'll know when to sleep, when energy is needed, when to eat, and so on.
  • Make yourself as comfortable as possible in bed. As soon as you hit the bed, relax and clear your mind off of all the worries and the thoughts that will keep you from falling asleep quickly.
  • Eat healthy and well balanced meals. Go for frequent, small meals instead of large and heavy meals. Don't eat 2 hours before bed time to avoid digestion and sleep problems.
  • Follow the 15 minutes rule. If after 15 minutes of lying on bed, you still can't fall asleep, do a relaxing activity. You can read a book or meditate.
  • Use your bed only for sleeping and lovemaking. Try not to work and do other things when you're in bed. Make sure your body associates your bed only with sleep and relaxation.