Have you ever been jerked out of sleep by a sudden twitch or uncontrolled muscle movement, or noticed jerks and twitches in your sleep partner? You are not alone, since these movements during sleep occur in up to 70 percent of people. They are commonly called sleep starts or hypnic … Read More
Sleep apnea is obstructed breathing at night. For most people it is an anatomic problem, so medications or supplements are not helpful. Sleep apnea can range from mild to severe. For moderate to severe cases, the most effective treatment is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). [1,2] CPAP is a machine … Read More
You no doubt have found yourself tossing and turning at night, failing to get comfortable enough to fall asleep. If that sounds too familiar and happens too frequently, you may be suffering from insomnia. Any insomnia definition describes an inability to fall asleep. However, the condition—which effects an estimated 60 … Read More
If you snore, and you’ve tried sleeping on your side and various other "tricks" to quiet your nighttime breathing, you may want to consider a snoring mouthguard, also called a snoring mouthpiece. It’s a dental appliance that keeps the jaw pushed slightly forward while you sleep to help ensure that … Read More
There may be a scientific reason why some people are night owls: delayed sleep phase syndrome. It’s a sleep disorder in which your body’s clock tells you to fall asleep a few hours later than most people hit the sack. The problem is that this delayed bedtime makes it difficult … Read More
What kind of medical condition could possibly be triggered by something like anxiety, fear, depression, joy, or even laughter? The answer is cataplexy—a sudden loss of muscle strength, tone, and control. Muscle tone is what keeps our bodies upright and moving, as the Narcolepsy Network puts it. And why is … Read More
Whether you’re working nights or binge-watching Game of Thrones, skimping on sleep is bad for your health. The consequences of sleep deprivation extend far beyond midday yawns and drooping eyelids (think diabetes and stroke). No wonder so many people are asking, “How can I catch up on sleep?” Should you … Read More
Lewy body dementia symptoms are often confused for signs of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Both conditions are characterized by declines in thinking skills, and both can lead to mood changes and difficulty communicating. But while AD always results in significant memory loss, Lewy body dementia doesn’t always cause serious memory problems. … Read More
A tension headache can be short and episodic (lasting for about 30 minutes and occurring on 10 to 15 days every month) or chronic (a more severe version that lasts for a day or longer, and occurs more frequently). The onset of chronic tension headaches is usually preceded by the … Read More
You slept for seven hours last night, but today you still feel tired. Sometime overnight, your bed partner retreated to the couch, unable to tolerate your snoring and recurrent awakenings. Trouble is, you don’t remember a thing. All signs point to obstructive sleep apnea, characterized by brief halts in breathing … Read More
