Chronic Nasal Obstruction and Sleep Deprivation
Getting tired and sleepy on the road while driving or doing any activity may be signs of severe nasal blockages and improper sleep disorder. The study by Japanese sleep researchers shows that people with the condition are more likely to suffer from Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) and that they are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea. The findings are not considered to be a direct threat to overall health but rather have the ability to impair their social and work communication skills. The study is discussed in more detail by the AAOHNS (American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery). The condition can be caused by a variety of maladies from allergies (pollen, smoke, dust, etc.), deformed septum’s or rhino sinusitis.
The Drowsy Sleeping Quiz
The incidents of accidents on the roads which are attributed to the lack of sleep are growing and the Australian road safety group has published this nifty driving guide which details and checks for signs of sleep deprivation. The ability of the human body to control sleep can only go so much that even with extreme sleepiness we claim to have control over the process which is true and this is what causes accidents. The guide gives you the ability to look for the signs and ways by which it can be alleviated. It also reiterates that the only cure for a sleepy driver is sleep and not even energy drinks, caffeine, nicotine or any other distraction can take that away from you. You will fall asleep it’s just a matter of time and better give into the urge with a nap rather than risk injuring or even adding yourself and your passengers to statistics. The guide also says that if most countries do not allow dunked driving on their roads, why drowsy drivers should be allowed to do so. The similarities of their effects results in poor brain functions leading to poor judgment and thus accidents. Sleep or do it so forever.
Television and Sleep Deprivation
Television programming that has changed a lot during the past years, allows people to enjoy their favorite programs during all times of the day. The advent of cable television worsened the problem by allowing access to programs 24 hours a day leaving most Americans deprived of normal sleep. The biological clocks within our bodies takes cues from the rising and lowering patterns of the sun, coupled with the tons of man-made inventions that have changed sleep patterns forever such as daylight savings time and alarm clocks, etc. The disruption of the normal sleep patterns disrupts the bodies’ normal rhythms thus resulting in abnormal sleep patterns. Ever experienced being sleepy at work, feeling sleepy all the way home and then end up wide awake as you walk into the front door as your favorite show comes to the air. You’re not alone, for as the study shows, there are another couple of millions of sufferers. A good tip would be to take the TV out of the sleeping areas such as bedrooms and child’s rooms. This prevents the lure of watching a late show even if it is way past your normal bedtime.
Psychiatric disorders mainly due to lack of sleep
Studies last year are showing that there is more chances of developing psychiatric disorders if you do not get enough sleep. It has been emphasized again and again that proper and ample sleep is vital for proper development and health. The study done at the Harvard Medical School showed that people who sleep less have brains that get tired easily and tend to become more abnormally emotional. The activity of the amygdale (part of the human brain which is associated with emotion) shows more activity in persons who have had little or no sleep showing greater response to disturbing images thus indicative of psychological distress. Details of the study are posted on the October 23 Issue of Current Biology. The study uses an fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Device) which is similar to standard MRI’s except for the added capability of gathering continuous changes and storing them as data for later analyses.
Infants who sleep less – more prone to obesity
Children who fail to develop healthy sleep habits are more prone into becoming obese as they grow older. This may be due to the link between sleep, energy levels and the amount of food we need for daily activity. Children who sleep less tend to eat more to fuel their tiny bodies which go through food faster due to their faster metabolism. They also have smaller stomachs so they can only store so much food before they need to re-supply themselves to continue to function. Their choices of foods also plays a big factor in their development and the proliferation of junk foods that contain mostly sugars with no other beneficial ingredients also kills the amount of energy they have. Proper proportions of nutrients and foodstuffs are vital for the proper development and growth of the human body so, do start young and help your child become the healthiest they can be.
Women and Graveyard shifts
The shifting schedules of working women have been found to be a contributor to them being more susceptible to breast cancer. The population based study shows that people who work late at night while exposed to artificial lights increases greatly their risk to contracting the disease that infects millions of people around the world. The study shows that women who have worked at least once during the abnormal work schedules a decade before being diagnosed with breast cancer are 60% more likely to get them than those who work during the normal working hours. The possible links being studied are between melatonin, exposure to artificial light at night and irregular sleep patterns as the possible dots that have to be investigated for better understanding of their counteractions.
New Drug found to reverse the effects of Sleep Deprivation
Hypocretin, a naturally occurring peptide which the brain neurons produce in small amounts is found to have an effect on the ability of people who have been deprived of sleep. The so-called sleep regulators are produced in so small amounts but that small amount that is considered to be normal allows people to maintain their levels of being awake to a proper level. This is important for it influences the ability of a person to remain alert even when deprived of sleep. People who suffer from sleep deprivation have their brains try to produce ample amounts of the peptides to maintain their normal function without success. Synthesized as a nasal spray or IV has subjects regain their alertness levels which could be a good sign for those who suffer sleep problems such as narcolepsy administration of which could reverse the dangerous effects thereof..
More Sleep Time for Athletes
New research shows that additional sleep for athletes makes them perform better during their sporting events. Researchers have long emphasized on the ample amount of sleep that is needed for the body to re-generate and allows it to recover from the previous day’s strenuous activities especially for athletes. Researchers found that the additional sleep time made sprinters run faster, basketball players get in more free throws and it also improves their mood. Increased energy levels were also observed which would be very important and timely due to the upcoming Olympics this August. So sports fanatics, get enough sleep…plus an extra hour or so.
Parasomnias (Part 3)
REM sleep disorder is experienced by people who have dreams that are so vivid having them re-enact them just before they wake. This is sometimes associated with withdrawal from exposure to ethanol and other sedatives or hypnotic drugs. There is no known contributory cause for the disorder but it has been associated with dementia. Restless leg syndrome and periodic limb movement disorders commonly co-existent of each other, making them hard to tell apart. A sure sign of restless leg syndrome would be insomnia while the later has the sufferer having excessive daytime sleepiness. The said parasomnias can be caused by iron deficiency, hormonal surges in women during menopause, menstruation and pregnancy. All the above sleep disorders should be taken seriously and medical analysis should be done to determine the underlying causes. As we can see, they can also be manifestations of mental health degradation and other underlying life-threatening medical conditions.
Parasomnias (Part 2)
Sleep terror disorder is quite similar to anxiety attacks except that it usually ends with the person waking up, screaming, throwing and hitting objects which can cause injury to the sufferer. This disorder can be caused by sever fever, CNS Depressant medication, and sleep deprivation. Sleeping Disorder, sleepwalking or somnambulism has the sufferer perform complex tasks for no apparent reason while sleeping. They can be mistaken as being awake with eyes wide open and sometimes even mumbling. Surprisingly, if you have a member of your family that is suffering from the same disorder, you would be a high candidate to also suffer the same. It can also be caused by drugs such as thioridazine, perphenazine, fluphenazine, desipramine, lithium and chloral hydrate. It can also be caused by severe fever, sleep apnea, a full bladder and external stimuli such as loud noises.