Sleeping is one of the most overlooked aspects of health. No matter how many calories we burn or diets we survive, without sleep the benefits of healthy living are seriously compromised. For those who cannot get enough sleep or have trouble...
According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults require 7 to 9 hours of sleep to feel rejuvenated the following morning. This is because during sleep, muscles relax and energy is restored to your body. In addition to quantity, sleep quality is...
It is common to have a night or even periods of time when it is hard to get a good night's sleep. If lack of sleep becomes a chronic problem, however, health issues can arise. The goal is to find techniques to help the body get the rest it needs....
Approximately 30 percent of adults suffer from insomnia. Zolpidem (Ambien) belongs to a class of drugs known as sedative hypnotics and works to treat short-term insomnia. Ambien works by slowing activity in the brain to allow users to sleep. While...
According to a survey by B. Sivertsen and associates (2009) published in the "Journal of Psychosomatic Research," insomnia affects about 13 percent of the population. A survey by M. Lee and colleagues (2009) presented in the "Journal of Nutrition,...
A 2010 review written by F. Lopez-Munoz and co-workers published in "Revista de Neurologia" nicely described the history and profile of melatonin. That's a hormone released from the pineal gland primarily at night. This neuromodulator plays a...
A 2010 survey in the "Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine" indicated that 30 percent of people experience insomnia. This paper revealed that the presence of sleep disorders was associated with decreases in health quality. A 2009 study in the...
A 2009 survey by C. M. Cunningham and associates published in "Health Policy" indicated that 1 in 12 people used benzodiazepine drugs. Use was correlated with female gender, low income, older age and poor health. A similar survey by E. Esposito...
Getting a good night's sleep is important to life quality and public safety. According to a 2010 review in the "Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine," sleep disturbances are associated with poor health. A 2010 survey in the same publication showed...
Insomnia is when a person has difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Most people will experience insomnia at one point or another. Missing a night of sleep once in a while is not fatal; however, chronic insomnia can be disruptive and may...
In 2007, the FDA ordered all manufacturers of sedative-hypnotic drugs, more commonly known as sleeping medications, to change their labeling in an attempt to clarify potential side effects caused by these drugs. These changes, however, didn't stop...
A 2003 review in "Social Science & Medicine" indicates that patenting traditional medicines is difficult. Because of the many issues involved, few drugs contain only natural ingredients. A 2009 report in "Sleep Medicine" suggests that people...
A 2010 survey in the "Journal of Sleep Research" indicates that up to 40% of adults experience insomnia. Many treatment options for such sleep disorders are available. Yet a 2008 review in "Prescrire International" encourages people to avoid...
Sleep can be hard to obtain during pregnancy for a number of reasons, such as increased urination and bodily discomfort. After several nights without rest, a woman may want to try an over-the-counter or prescription sleep aid to get some relief....
Sleeping without medication may be easier than you think. If you resort to medication to perform a natural body function, because popping a pill is more convenient, it may be time to look into alternatives. Unfortunately, sleep aid medications can...
New York City is known as the city that never sleeps. Although cities don't require sleep, people do. For some people, however, it's not easy to get a good night's sleep. This might be due to underlying medical problems or the result of taking...
Anti-anxiety medications help to calm those suffering from chronic anxiety, also known as generalized anxiety disorder, HelpGuide.org reports. The person with anxiety continues to suffer from panic attacks and nervousness. Physicians and...
Insomnia is a disorder in which a person has trouble falling or staying asleep. Anxiety and stress are often associated with insomnia. If insomnia is ongoing, a physician may prescribe medications or suggest over-the-counter medications or herbs...
Sometimes it doesn't matter how tired you are, how comfortable your mattress is or how warm and cozy you are, insomnia still has its way of wreaking havoc with your sleep schedule. For some, this condition happens occasionally; for others, it...
Insomnia refers to a medical problem in which people have difficulty staying or falling asleep. Some symptoms of insomnia include tension headaches, daytime fatigue, depression, gastrointestinal problems and depression. Other insomnia symptoms...
According to the National Sleep Foundation, experts estimate that the average adult requires seven to nine hours of sleep per night. During this time, the body replenishes or restores the energy expended throughout the day. Difficulty falling...
Sleep becomes a very important commodity when people cannot get enough of it. Some people have trouble falling asleep while others have problems staying asleep. Counting aloud, wearing sleep shades or closing all the lights are some techniques...
Sleep apnea is a serious medical problem that results when the soft palate or the tongue (or both) obstructs the airway. Besides causing snoring, sleep apnea causes patients to wake up during the night even if they aren't aware of it. The end...
A 2009 review by J. A. Owens and S. Moturi published in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America indicated that insomnia is a common problem in children. These authors noted that sleep disorders are especially prevalent in...
Insomnia is a frequent complaint of pregnant mothers. Rapidly changing hormone levels, increased size, heartburn, and anxiety over the future are all culprits. The FDA rates sleeping pills such as Ambien (also known by the generic name zolpidem)...
Failure to get a good night's sleep is all too common for many people, but getting seven to eight hours of quality sleep at night can improve a person's attitude, ability to concentrate and even overall health. Though sleep may be the last thing...
There are many sleeping medicines on the market, available over-the-counter and by prescription. It is important to follow all directions for taking sleeping medication to avoid an increase in tolerance and physical dependence. Alcohol should also...
Most of the time, insomnia develops as a symptom of a disorder such as anxiety or depression, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. A doctor may prescribe sleeping medication for insomnia, but many times this will not treat the...
Over-the-counter sleeping pills are widely available without a prescription, but many doctors do not recommend using them except for the occasional problem sleeping, such as from jet lag. An estimated 20% of people with chronic sleep problems such...
