Insomnia is a sleeping disorder characterized by persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep despite the opportunity. It is typically followed by functional impairment while awake. Insomniacs have been known to complain about being unable to close their eyes or "rest their mind" for more than a few minutes at a time. Both organic and non-organic insomnia constitute a sleep disorder.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 60 million Americans suffer from insomnia each year. Insomnia tends to increase with age and affects about 40 percent of women and 30 percent of men.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Four Ways To Beat The Winter Blues

If you like many people who are harsh winter months. Less light and cold weather, tired, sad, even depressed. You might find that difficult to get up in the morning that you have a harder time enjoying the things you normally do and that you do not feel as productive in work.

This is known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and it affects millions of Americans each winter. In mild cases, it is just unpleasant. In serious cases can lead to serious health problems such as insomnia, weight loss, fatigue and even suicidal thoughts.

Seasonal affective disorder has only come to light as a legitimate medical condition in recent years. It is rooted in a nutritional deficiency and is easy to correct, if you know what happens. I have the treatment of patients for the winter blues for years. The treatments are safe, natural and effective. They are also inexpensive and easy to Avoid do.

rules Banish the winter blues the safe way

Because the winter blues have is a pretty new name-seasonal affective disorder-it is increasingly for doctors to recommend recipe as an antidepressant treatment. In most severe cases, which may be appropriate, but for most people, there is a better way to solve the problem.

SAD is triggered by a combination of two things. The first is a lack of exposure to natural light. Your body reacts to sunlight in a number of possibilities. It uses sunlight as a keyword to your natural sleep cycle. Sunlight also affects hormone production. Without regelmaige exposure to sunlight, it is easy for you is tired, sluggish and irritable.

So, the first step in the fight against SAD is to be left out in the sun more often.

One I often hear complaints from patients with SAD is That it is dark when they go to work in the morning, and then the sun is on its way down when they are finished for the day. This can be achieved with few opportunities to go out in the sun. I recommend that they take advantage of the work breaks and lunch breaks whenever possible, and that they always try to spend some time outside on weekends day ... provided it is sunny, course.

Another way to more light, the installation is full spectrum lights in your home or office. These lamps provide light similar to sunlight and can help boost your mood.

The second component of SAD is a vitamin D deficiency. During the winter months, in most regions, the sunlight is not intense enough as a catalyst for vitamin D synthesis in the body. Each cell of your body uses vitamin D. It strengthens your immune system, keep your bones strong, and it promotes healthy sleep.1 It is also an important nutrient for hormone balance and balanced hormones needed to even the healthy moods.

During Winter months if you suffer from SAD, then you need a vitamin D supplement. In one study, the researchers found that daily vitamin D3 supplementation during the winter months significantly improved both mood and sleep quality.2 Another study showed that light alone was not sufficient to ensure that the symptoms of SAD. Adding a vitamin D supplements had dramatic results, reducing the symptoms of SAD of up to 74% .3

In addition to these two crucial steps, I also recommend that a group exercise class such as yoga or dance. Not only will you move can promote the production of endorphins, it will get you in a social environment. Supportive social situations can help alleviate the symptoms depression.

Seasonal affective disorder disrupts the winter months for millions of people. If you are one of them, to understand the causes and combat it with light, vitamin D and the activities that you can enjoy the fun back into your winter season. v

 

Mark Rosenberg, M.D.
Institute For Healthy Aging

http://www.vitalmaxvitamins.com
http://www.vitalmaxvitamins.com/blog

1 Kiefer, Dale. "The Textbook of Bioidentical Hormones," Life Extension Magazine. 12/2007

2 Lansdowne AT and Provost SC. "Vitamin D3 enhances mood in healthy subjects during winter," Psychopharmacology 1998; 135(4): 319-23

3 Gloth FM 3rd, et al. "Vitamin D vs broad spectrum phototherapy in the treatment of seasonal affective disorder," J Nutr Health Aging 1999; 3(1): 5-7

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Rosenberg,_M.D.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

A Great And Unusual Cure For Insomnia

Are you one of the 23% of people who has trouble getting to sleep at night?

Do you toss and turn for hours each night trying to grab just a few blissful hours in dreamland before the alarm clock wakes you from your slumber?

If the answer is "yes", then I"ve got a wonderful solution for you that has worked wonders for me for many years, and I know it"s been highly effective for thousands of other people too.

And here"s the really great news. It"s not pharmaceutical, it"s not illegal, and it"s not addictive. Sounds too good to be true doesn"t it?

What is this magical cure for insomnia?

It"s the wonderful world of old time radio. Let me explain and you"ll understand just why it is so incredibly effective.

The reason most people who suffer from insomnia struggle to get to sleep is that their mind is not in a restful state. It might be replaying what has happened that day. It could be worrying about events, past and present. It might be fretting over something coming up. It could be worrying about a loved one or a relationship that has gone bad. There are a million and one reasons and these will very from person to person.

That"s where old time radio comes in with a wonderful solution.

Old time radio shows from the 1930s, 40s and 50s help to quickly take your mind off whatever is occupying it. Remember when you were a child and your parents read to you to help you to get to sleep - it"s exactly the same, but for adults.

Now, you might scoff at this, but don"t. Try it out for yourself and it"s highly likely that it will work like a dream - literally. Before you know it you"ll be enjoying a good night"s sleep.

There are several reasons why old time radio shows are far better than listening to music, today"s talk radio, or a typical audio book.

Firstly, they have an innocence that is like chicken soup for the sleepless.

Secondly, the story lines are usually relatively simple and easy to follow so they don"t challenge a mind that is already raising with thought.

Thirdly, they act like a form of meditation. It"s impossible to focus on two things at the same time, so if you are listening to the story you can"t be thinking about whatever it was that was keeping you awake.

Fourthly, a typical old time radio show is just thirty minutes long. If you nod off half way through (which is the objective) it"s easy enough to pick up where you left off.

Lastly, old time radio offers something for everyone. It doesn"t matter whether you enjoy a thriller, a romance, a drama, a comedy or a quiz show. There is just so much to choose from.

So, if you"ve tried everything and are still finding yourself tossing and turning all night give it a try. Get hold of some old time radio shows today and put them to the test tonight. What have you got to lose.

Oh, and there"s one more major benefit. If they don"t cure your insomnia at least you"ll be entertain all night.

Autor: Ned N. Norris

Ned Norris is the webmaster of RUSC Old Time Radio (rusc.com) one of the most popular old-time radio sites on the Internet. It's a place where you can journey back in time to the golden days of old-time radio whenever the fancy takes you. You can download or listen online to thousands of classic shows, and read editorial features on the stars of time.


Added: August 2, 2008
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/A-Great-And-Unusual-Cur~

The Long-Term Consequences of TBI

Imagine: Your loved one has survived a terrible auto accident. After the car with the jaws of life, it is life-flighted to the nearest hospital trauma. Their physical wounds are treated professionally, but she remains unconscious more than a week. Finally, she opens her eyes. The worst, certainly, is over, is not it? Maybe. But a recovery of TBI (traumatic brain injury) can take up to five years after the initial trauma. And the consequences of such an injury can take lifetime.

What are some of the long-term issues TBI patients might? It depends on the severity of the injury and what parts of the brain were damaged, but these are just some of the problems TBI victims might face:

Cognitive impairment (based on thinking, thinking, remembering, etc.)

Short memory problems but also gaps in the past memories

Language struggles, including difficulties in finding the right word, as well as problems with reading and writing

Attention deficits, problem-solving impairment, and slowed thought processes

Struggles in the evaluation or appraisal of their own situation

Difficulties in decision-making and planning

Behavioral changes

Depression and reduce anxiety

A inhibitions

Anger normal, irritability, and lashing out

Impulsiveness

Self-centeredness and difficulties in connection socially

Neurological difficulties (in terms of the nervous system and the brain)

Loss of sensory functions (such as hearing, smell, taste, touch and vision)

Exhaustion and /or variety of physical insomnia

A Complications, including epilepsy and seizures

Walking, balance and coordination problems

Sexual dysfunction

Other issues

Possible inability to driving

Problems to find and /or maintaining a job

Lingering physical limitations

Difficulty on the resumption of former relational roles (such as spouse, parent or friend)

Financial due to ongoing health problems issues

Recovering after a TBI is not an easy task. It may even years various therapies, and even after this, TBI victims might face considerable difficulties for the rest of their lives. The assistance and support from loved ones is an essential prerequisite for a person with such a fight problems.

 

Lisa Clark is a freelance writer. She is the author of various factual articles as well as short stories. She is currently working on a novel about a TBI survivor.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_Clark

 
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