As any chronic pain sufferer knows, a common side effect of their affliction can be sleep problems. Whether it's difficulty in getting to sleep or waking in the night, pain can lead to exhaustion which makes it still harder to function during the day. Even if your pain cannot be [...]
Sufferers of Fibromyalgia are often frustrated by the lack of knowledge of the condition. Tests may prove little, often showing no reason for the debilitating pain and discomfort that people report. Symptoms include debilitating pain in many parts of the body and tiredness that seems to go on and on [...]
The Parkinson’s Disease Society estimates that around one in 500 people have Parkinson’s disease with 10,000 diagnosed in the UK each year. Although symptoms generally appear after the age of 50, one in 20 of those diagnosed each year are under 40 with men slightly more likely to develop the [...]
Multiple Sclerosis affects thousands of people and usually begins in early to middle adulthood, affecting more women than men. An autoimmunine disease, where the immune system mistakenly attacks normal tissues in the body, it affects the myelin which covers the nerves responsible for transmitting messages between the brain and other [...]
Sufferers of teeth grinding or bruxism may be unaware of the condition until they are affected by some of the symptoms. It mainly happens during sleep, although it can occur during the day. It can accompany all sleep stages but is most common in stages 1 and 2 of non-REM [...]
Most people are familiar with the feeling of drifting off into sleep and being woken by a loud noise or other distraction. It is hard to imagine what it must be like to have Exploding Head Syndrome, a condition where sufferers experience a loud noise in the head before falling [...]
Sleep deprivation has been used in wars and terrorism as a form of torture to force victims to disclose information. Sleep is a stronger basic need than food and water. Simply, the human body cannot do without sleep. Many people believe they have little or no sleep during the night. [...]
The more dramatic examples of Sleepwalking can be seen in the news. Sleepwalkers are able to perform complex movements and have been known to drive, talk, urinate and act out dreams which they are unable to control. In extreme cases they may be involved in falls, accidents, fights or other [...]
We have come a long way from the institutional care that many still associate with mental illness. In the last twenty years treatment and support has been transferred into the community and drug and psychotherapy have been transformed. Current estimates claim that 1 in 4 people experience mental health problems [...]
Why does stress interfere with sleep? The night should be a time for the body and mind to recover and prepare for the next day. Unfortunately the stresses that we face during the day are immediate and easily resolved. The responses that make the body and mind react to events [...]
Bedwetting is upsetting for children and parents. It is very common and often runs in families. Adults may be embarrassed by any memories of bedwetting or might not even remember their own experiences. Children rarely discuss the problem with other children so may feel that they are unusual and feel [...]
Many parents accept that sleep will be a thing of the past when they have a baby. Sleepless night’s early risings and adjusting to baby's needs means that many people ignore their own sleep needs. Sleep is important for physical and mental health. Even short term sleep loss can affect [...]
Most people will have some experience of how eating late at night can affect sleep. A large meal late at night may mean lying awake as the body works hard trying to digest too much food. Too little and you feel hungry and unsatisfied and find it hard to sleep. [...]
A baby sleeping is a wonderful thing to behold but they're not like adults; A baby will sleep at different times to the rest of us. It seems that as soon as they are settled down and you are preparing for a rest, they start to wake up again... New [...]
Most people are familiar with the occasional involuntary muscle movement. It is not unusual to experience a sudden jerky movement just as you are falling asleep. These are known as hypnic jerks or sleep starts and may wake you out of a light sleep. Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is a [...]
Apnea comes from the Greek word 'without breath'. Sufferers of sleep apnea stop breathing during their sleep. This can happen repeatedly during the night and may last for a minute or longer. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep related breathing disorder (SBD). Breathing stops as the upper airway collapses [...]
The increase in long distance travel means that more people are experiencing the condition known as Jet Lag. Jet Lag is caused by flying across time zones in a short space of time. This causes the body's 'internal clock' to fall out of sync with the present location. It may [...]
Shift Work is defined as work that is outside the normal 9 -5 working day and involves a change in sleeping pattern. This usually means working through the night and sleeping during the day. This may be a permanent arrangement or might be a short term situation. Researchers are increasingly [...]
Many people admit to feeling drowsy while driving. A number of recent studies have shown the relationship between sleep and accidents. A study in the USA concluded that 52% of accidents involving heavy trucks were related to driver fatigue! The connection between sleeping and risk of accidents is strong. Lack [...]
Sleep paralysis in children is frightening for the child and the parent. Children experiencing sleep paralysis wake from their dreams and are unable to move. They are conscious but still involved in their dream. Dreaming happens during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. This is the light sleep where the mind [...]
Most of us experience feeling drowsy during the day or may even take a short nap -given the opportunity. Imagine what it must be like if you literally fell fast asleep several times a day, regardless of the time and place. Narcolepsy is a rare condition where the sufferer falls [...]
Insomnia is a common problem. Most people suffer from an occasional sleepless night. There are also a number of other problems which can affect the length and quality of your sleep. An accurate diagnosis will mean giving some time and thought to the problem. This is often difficult as you [...]
It can seem like a long distance run when you have sleepless nights. Preparing yourself to face the night you become more and more dispirited, knowing that for the next 8 hours you will lie in bed tossing and turning. When it is time to get up, you know you [...]
Night terrors can be distressing not only to the sufferer but also to anyone observing or trying to help. Victims of night terrors may appear severely upset, terrified and even be screaming with fright. Although confused and upset, any efforts to comfort are futile as the sufferer is unable to [...]
Many people experience nightmares at some time during their life. They can cause anxiety and confusion as the disturbing images and events are often remembered when awake. Nightmares happen during REM sleep. This is when sleep is lighter and accompanied by eye movement. They usually occur during the last half [...]
