Overcoming A National Trend - Sleep Disorders Are On The Increase

Inside the United States alone, it's estimated that approximately 60 - 80 million folks have some form of sleep disorder. This quantity continues to rise. Many of the factors for the increasing numbers are the aging of the American population, the change in our way of life along with the obesity epidemic. Naturally you will find other elements which can lead to a sleep disorder, for example, tension, shift work, illness or genetics.

You will find extra than 100 different types of sleep problems. They range in severity from minor to life threatening. Men and women of any age, from infants to the aged, may be affected by a sleep disorder at any time of their lives.

As sleep disorders improve inside the United States, so do the dangers that are associated with them.

Tiredness can lead to slower mental alertness along with a slower reaction time. This could be a really hazardous combination. Between 20 - 25% of all serious vehicular accidents involve a tired driver. Quite a few of these drivers suffer from some form of sleep disorder and may possibly not even be conscious of it. A huge number of accidents that happen at household or at work are also because of men and women with some kind of sleeping problem. Sleep disorder, combined with the price of the accidents and illnesses it causes, results in the American men and women and also the government spending billions of dollars.

Lack of sleep is directly related to a lot of physical ailments and conditions. Individuals that do not get sufficient sleep commonly suffer a lot more form headaches, sore joints and stomach troubles. Usually a sleep disorder is an underlying trigger of heart complications, lung conditions and diabetes. Sleep Disorders may also affect the mental well becoming of persons stricken with them. Mood changes, anxiety, eating disorders and depression can result.

Quite a few people still don't think of a sleeping dilemma as a medical dilemma. Due to this, many by no means tell their physician that they are having a problem with sleep. Even if they see their doctor on a regular basis for an illness or condition, they in no way mention their difficulty sleeping.

As the American public and medical community develop into extra educated and conscious of the symptoms, effects and severity of many sleep problems, far more and additional cases are becoming diagnosed. Sufferers are being treated with medication, oxygen, cpap machines as well as surgery. There are actually superior screening approaches and diagnostic tests which discover sleep disorder troubles earlier. Overnight sleep centers no longer resemble a hospital room. They are now designed to look additional like a hotel room, to create the patient feel additional comfy. In some cases, due to computerization and miniaturization, equipment could be so smaller that some testing can even be completed at residence.

Sleep just isn't an option or a luxury. It's a simple element of living and of great wellness. Should you feel you, your partner or your child might be suffering from a sleep disorder see your physician. A sleep disorder is often a medical challenge that could be helped.
About the Author

Sleep problems might be a worrying issue for the young. Learn more about sleep at our
sleep apnea mouthpiece
website,and get helpful info on a range of goods for sleep apnea, like the
Snoring Chin Strap
products, obtainable for a low cost on the internet.

Can You Really Learn A Foreign Language While You Sleep?

Have you ever seen those ads that say, "Learn English While Sleeping" or that promise "effortless" language learning by listening to a tape or CD while you relax or take a nap? With the continual rise in the study of English as a foreign or second language, (EFL, ESL) progressive TEFL English and foreign language teachers, foreign language learners, and educational administrators need to be aware of the implications posed by claims of "learning English (or another foreign language) while you sleep. To better understand the processes involved let's first look at each of them individually in turn. In this first part of the series, we'll examine the elements of sleep.

What is Sleep?

The state of sleep is generally defined as "the resting state in which the body is not active and the mind is unconscious." A more extensive definition is offered by Webster's New World Dictionary (third ed., 1989); "sleep: a natural, regularly occurring condition of rest for the body and mind, during which the eyes are usually closed and there is little or no conscious thought or voluntary movement, but there is intermittent dreaming".

Sleep is also likened to death. In the Holy Bible (NWT, 1981) at John 11: 11 Jesus says, "Lazarus or friend has gone to rest, but I am journeying there to awaken him from sleep." Then in verse 14 Jesus clarifies his meaning of "sleep", "At that time, therefore, Jesus said to them outspokenly: Lazarus has died." In describing death the bible continues at Ecclesiastes 9: 5 stating, "The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all." Sleep then, is characterized as a condition typically devoid of conscious thought. Have you ever slept through a severe thunder storm, a series of car alarms going off, an explosion, an earth tremor (minor earthquake) or dogs barking loudly at night? Completely unconscious, right? For even further clarification, here are some characteristics of human sleep.

Characteristics of Sleep

Characteristics of sleep in humans are:

o lying down, if possible although sleep is possible in almost any position according to studies done on astronauts and in sleep study centers

o Eyes are closed, but sleep can occur with opened eyes in an environment devoid of light and / or distraction

o You don't hear anything or do not consciously respond to external sounds depending on the level, depth or stage of sleep

o Slow, rhythmic breathing pattern (which might be altered during dream stage)

o Muscles are completely relaxed with the exception of altered states of sleep or reaction to dreams or abnormal physical conditions

o Person may occasionally roll over changing positions

Stages of Sleep

On the average, a person goes through five stages, or levels of sleep. The stages each have distinctive characteristics and determine what the brain and body are capable of.

o Stage One - 4-5% Light sleep. Muscle activity slows down

o Stage Two - 45-55% Breathing and heart rate slows. Body temperature decreases

o Stage Three - 4-6% Deep sleep. Slow Delta waves begin

o Stage Four - 12-15% Very deep sleep; brain produces Delta waves

o Stage Five - 20-25% Rapid eye movement (REM); dreaming occurs

Why Do We Sleep?

For the most part, sleep allows several vital functions to take place. It is an essential physical and mental state with which we cannot do without. Our sleep allows us:

o To repair muscles and other tissues

o To replace aging or dead cells

o An opportunity for the brain to organize and archive memories, that is in part, to transfer data and memories from short to long-term memory

o Lowers energy consumption (balance of enzyme production achieved, i.e. blood glucose levels, electrolyte levels, etc.)

o To recharge the brain (diminished supplies of fluids and enzymes in organs and lymphatic system can be replenished during sleep)

How Much Sleep?

Most young adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night, but the quantity of sleep required can vary depending on age, daily activity, diet, nutrition and other physical and / or psychological factors. Sleep deprivation can directly affect:

o Short term memory

o Performance

o Efficiency

o Physical health

o Emotional health

With 30 to 40 million Americans suffering from serious sleep-related disorders, the effect of sleep on learning and cognitive competencies is of serious concern.

In the next segment of this series, "Learn A Foreign Language While You Sleep: Theoretical Approaches", we'll look at both recent and current language-learning theories and approaches and how some might seemingly provide some support for these claims.

Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an English language teaching and learning expert author and university professor in Cali, Colombia. Now YOU too can live your dreams in paradise, find romance, high adventure and get paid while travelling for free.

For more information on entering or advancing in the fascinating field of teaching English as a Foreign or Second Language send for his no-cost PDF Ebook, "If You Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know", immediate delivery details and no-obligation information are available online now at: http://bettereflteacher.blogspot.com/

Need professional, original content or articles for your blog, newsletter or website? Have a question, request, or want to receive more information or to be added to his articles and teaching materials mailing list? Then contact the author at this website for a prompt response.

About the Author

Children and Sleep: Getting Your Baby to Sleep Like a Baby

You’ve tried lullabies, rocking chairs, late night drives around the neighborhood and your baby still doesn’t sleep. At 3 a.m., your infant starts crying and won’t go back to sleep unless you bring him into bed with you. Your toddler gets up at 2 a.m. and turns on the TV— loud! Homework keeps your fifth grader awake past 10 p.m.And your teens are up until midnight and then sleeping through 8 AM algebra class.

One Sleepless Child, One Tired Family

When a child has sleep problems, parents— and even siblings— also suffer, both from sleep deprivation and worry.Children can suffer the same sleep disorders as adults. Snoring, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and other sleep disruptions in children have been linked to extreme moodiness, accidents, behavioral problems, learning disabilities and even Attention Deficit Hyper-activity Disorder (ADHD).

What's Keeping Your Child Awake at Night?

Newborns (1-2 months):

Babies are not born with a pre-set sleep-wake cycle— their tummies organize their schedules. Newborns sleep 10½ to 18 hours a day, usually one to three hours at a time and waking when they’re hungry.

Infants (3-11 months):

According to the National Sleep Foundation, “Circadian rhythms begin to develop at about six weeks, and by three to six months, most infants have a regular sleep-wake cycle.” Infants sleep 9-12 hours, including one to four naps.

Toddlers (1-3 years):

Toddlers have figured out that things happen at night, and they don’t want to miss out. They’re also mobile and can climb out of bed. They want their independence, but also want to be with their parents. So it’s tough to get toddlers to sleep the 12-14 hours— including one good nap— that they need every day.

Preschoolers (3-5 years):

Good-bye afternoon naps! Most five-year-olds are up all day and sleep 11-13 hours a night. Active imaginations can trigger more nightmares and fears about sleep. And of course, TV and playtime are much more appealing than going to bed.

School-aged Children (5-12 years):

Serious sleep problems can begin here. School kids are busy and barely have 10-11 hours for sleep. Computers, TV, and videogames— particularly those with violent content— are sleep distractions. Junk food, caffeine, and stress can also keep school-aged children up at night.

Teens (13+):

More work, more play, and more socializing combine with stress and biology to make it difficult for teens to get 8 ½ to 9 ¼ hours of sleep. “Circadian Rhythms change in adolescence,” says Jodi Mindell, Associate Director of the Sleep Disorders Center of Philadelphia. “Teens’ brains and bodies are geared to stay up later at night and sleep later in the day.”

What Can Concerned (and Sleep-Deprived) Parents Do?

Know your child and the guidelines for how much sleep they need at every age. Trust your judgment about what’s healthy for your child. Most importantly, help your children to establish good sleep habits early in life. Sure, you’ll struggle through the first few weeks with your newborn. But at 3-11 months, infants know the difference between day and night and are on a sleep cycle similar to their older siblings and parents. The are also ready to learn to go to bed and to sleep through the night. Remember, however, that helping you infant to do this will take time.

What's the Right Approach to Sleep Training?

This depends on your baby and your lifestyle. Some experts say it’s good to comfort your child to get them back to sleep and to even bring the baby into the family bed if it means you will all get back to sleep. On the other hand, there’s the “self-soother” theory. You may have heard of Richard Ferber, director of the Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Children’s Hospital in Boston and author of Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems. His approach, dubbed “Ferberization,” is rooted in the American Academy of Pediatrics’ theory that babies sleep best when they soothe themselves to sleep. Ferber suggests a loving bedtime routine, putting the baby to sleep awake and waiting before responding when the baby wakes up crying.

Rock-A-Bye Your Infant

Develop a Bedtime Routine:

The best nightly routines—bathing, feeding, calming and bonding—according to Laura Davis and Janis Keyser, authors of Becoming The Parent You Want To Be, are enjoyable for parent and child and should be consistent every night. Pediatrician Harvey Karp, author of The Happiest Baby, recommends the “Five Ss—swaddle, shush, swing, suck (a pacifier) and hold your baby while he or she is turned on his or her side or stomach.” All the experts agree on one thing: to learn to soothe themselves to sleep, infants should be put to bed when they’re drowsy, but not asleep.

Create a safe, sleep-friendly environment:

Keep the bedroom cozy, but not overheated, quiet and dark. Choose a crib with a good safety rating and firm mattress. Take precautions to reduce risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by putting infants to sleep on their backs.

Encourage sleep:

If your infant wakes up at night, have a consistent response. If you pick up or feed your baby, always do it in the darkened bedroom. Your infant will respond to changes in light, and needs to know that nighttime is bedtime. You also need to decide if you will bring your baby into your bed, and stick to that decision.

Know when it’s time to call the doctor:

The National Sleep Foundation suggests that it’s time to call your pediatrician if your baby is consistently fussy, having breathing problems, snores loudly, or has daytime sleepiness and behavioral problems.

More Sleep tips at http://www.ezhealths.com

About the Author

http://www.ezhealths.com