SLEEP DISORDERS

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AMAZING BENEFITS OF WATER

A good night's sleep is vital for women if they want to remain physically and mentally healthy. Getting out on the "wrong side of the bed" has long been blamed for giving people a hostile behavior; but now a study has shed light on what the real cause of grumpiness may be - and though it's related to your sleeping habits, it has nothing to do with how you get up.

Researchers at North Carolina's Duke University Medical Center have found that poor sleep may increase the likelihood of developing a raft of health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression.

Not getting enough sleep can also contribute to feelings of hostility and anger, though the researchers found women were more likely to be made grumpy by a lack of sleep than men were.

"This is the first empirical evidence that supports what we have observed about the role of gender and its effects upon sleep and health," said Edward Suarez, an associate professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke and the lead author of the study.

"The study suggests that poor sleep - measured by the total amount of sleep, the degree of awakening during the night, and most importantly, how long it takes to get to sleep - may have more serious health consequences for women than for men."

Study participants were asked to complete a sleep quality questionnaire and to rate various aspects of their sleep over a period of one month.

Additional measures assessed the extent of any depression, anger, hostility and perceived social support from friends and family.

Both men and women participated in the test, although women on hormone therapy treatments - which have been shown to alter sleep patterns in some people - were excluded from the study.

All of the 210 participants were apparently healthy non-smokers.

Although none had a history of sleep disorders, the researchers found 40 per cent of participants took more than 30 minutes to fall asleep and woke frequently during the night - the mark of a "poor sleeper", according to the study.

And while their sleep quality ratings were similar, men and women were found to have dramatically different risk profiles.

"We found that for women, poor sleep is strongly associated with high levels of psychological distress, and greater feelings of hostility, depression and anger, said Suarez.

"In contrast, these feelings were not associated with the same degree of sleep disruption in men."
Blood samples taken from the participants were measured for levels of biomarkers associated with increased risk of heart disease and diabetes, including insulin and glucose levels, fibrinogen (a clotting factor) and two inflammatory proteins, interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein.

The study showed that women who reported they had trouble falling asleep also had higher insulin levels and higher levels of the inflammatory proteins associated with heart disease.

"Interestingly, it appears that it's not so much the overall poor sleep quality that was associated with greater risk, but rather the length of time it takes a person to fall asleep that takes the highest toll," said Suarez.

"Women who reported taking a half an hour or more to fall asleep showed the worst risk profile."

Suarez plans to conduct further studies into the relationship between health risk and poor sleep in men and women.

"Good sleep is related to good health. More research needs to be done to define gender-linked responses to poor sleep, including the role that sex hormones play over a lifetime and how sleep needs and responses change from childhood to maturity," he said.

GOOD-POOR SLEEP IS RELATED TO GOOD-POOR HEALTH

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Kim is the co-author of Your Body, Your Life: The 12-Week Program to Optimum Physical, Mental & Emotional Fitness.

The International Health & Fitness Symposium brings together twelve of the world's top health, fitness, nutrition and lifestyle experts in an exclusive one-of-a-kind event to share their knowledge-and secrets-to better health, happiness and longevity. United in our passion to improve and extend lives.

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On your own it would take years of work and thousands of dollars to research and discover all the valuable information revealed at The International Health & Fitness Symposium. Our panel of experts cut through the clutter and misinformation to deliver hundreds of answers that you can use in your life today. Read More...

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We live in a "quick fix" world. Everywhere we turn, there are miracle cures for whatever ails you.

Whether you have a headache, backache, depression, bladder infection, or anything under the sun, there is usually some quick remedy to make it better.

What happens when your problem doesn't fall under the scope of traditional ailments? What happens if your problem is snoring? Have you ever heard of an apnea sleep pillow? If you have problems with snoring, you know how frustrating the habit can be. Not only does it disturb your spouse or partner's sleep, it also leaves you feeling tired and drained the next day. No, that's not your imagination.

You may have been puzzled at how you can be tired after having a full eight hours sleep. The bottom line is that when you snore, you actually don't enjoy a good night's rest. That's where an apnea sleep pillow can help.

It's true that snoring interrupts your normal pattern of sleep. Those people who suffer from sleep apnea have snoring patterns that vary in volume. They are interrupted by silences that are then interrupted by odd sounds such as a gasp or a snort.

This is because the snorer is actually experiencing a lapse in breathing. Apnea sufferers often go without breathing for more than ten seconds. That gasping and wheezing sound or that snort is a sign that the person is struggling to catch a breath.

This is just one of the reasons why people have turned to apnea sleep pillows for relief. Sleep apnea pillows are specially designed to help you stop snoring. Since snoring occurs as a response to an obstructed airway, apnea sleep pillows are equipped with elevated foam panels designed specifically to open the airways as much as possible and provide for even, uninterrupted breathing.

If you are dismissing the idea of an apnea sleep pillow by telling yourself you'll just continue taking an over-the-counter sleeping pill, think again. Any type of sedative can actually worsen your snoring symptoms. So, although the pill may help send you straight to sleep, it won't boost your quality of sleep. You could still experience apnea episodes.

Each time a person has an apnea episode, his or her body actually shifts into a lower, less restful state of sleep. This explains why patients report being tired and drained all day. Many times it is not about the quantity of sleep but rather the quality. An sleep apnea pillow can help you enjoy a more restful sleep. You'll be shocked at the difference a pillow can make.

Sleep apnea pillows don't work for everyone, but countless people have enjoyed the benefits. If you think you suffer from sleep apnea, you need to keep in mind that this is a serious condition that could lead to other illnesses. You should seek medical expertise in order to garner a proper diagnosis. Only your physician can truly give you the best advice on the treatment path you should follow.

GOOD-POOR SLEEP IS RELATED TO GOOD-POOR HEALTH

Many people sleep with their mouth open. Gradually, muscle tissues in the mouth and throat are stretched beyond their intended range. When this happens, snoring and the health risks associated with OSA increase.

An effective jaw supporter holds the lower jaw forward and helps re-train tissue in the mouth and throat, allowing it the opportunity to contract and return to it's original condition.

Like allergies, you probably weren't born with a snore. Rather, you acquired it over time. For many the Jaw Supporter alone helps eliminate snoring and the symptoms associated with mild cases of OSA. For some, there may be times when snoring still occurs. In most cases, this can be caused by seven contributing factors.

How A Jaw Supporter Helps Prevent OSA Episodes.

The Jaw Supporter is based on the same principle as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The airway must be opened to allow air to pass through the throat. A constricted or collapsed airway causes snoring and/or OSA. The Jaw Supporter holds the lower jaw in a forward position so that it does not fall open during the night and cause the airway to collapse. Maintaining a clear airway improves breathing and reduces snoring.

The Jaw Supporter helps provide healthy REM sleep and helps maintain normal jaw position and reduce OSA associated health risks without the need for surgery, medications, cumbersome devices or therapy.

SLEEP STAGES AND SUCCESSFUL SLEEP

Human sleep can be described as a succession of five recurring stages: four non-REM stages and the REM stage. A sixth stage, waking, is often included. Waking, in this context, is actually the phase during which a person falls asleep.

WAKING

In this stage the body prepares for sleep. All people fall asleep with tense muscles and their eyes moving erratically. As a person becomes sleepier, the body begins to slow down, muscles relax and eye movement slows to a roll.

STAGE 1

Stage 1 sleep, or drowsiness, is often described as first in the sequence. The eyes are closed during Stage 1 sleep, but if aroused from it, a person may feel as if he or she has not slept. Stage 1 may last for five to 10 minutes.

STAGE 2

Stage 2 is a period of light sleep during which the heart rate slows and body temperature decreases. At this point, the body prepares to enter deep sleep.

STAGES 3 AND 4

These are deep sleep stages, with Stage 4 being more intense than Stage 3. Stages 1-4 are non-REM sleep stages and lasts from 90 to 120 minutes, each stage lasting anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. Stages 2 and 3 repeat backwards before REM sleep is attained. A normal sleep cycle has this pattern: waking, stage 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, REM. Typically, REM sleep occurs approximately 90 minutes after sleep onset.

STAGE 5 - REM SLEEP

REM sleep is distinguishable from NREM sleep by changes in physiological states, including its characteristic rapid eye movements. Intense dreaming occurs during REM sleep as a result of heightened cerebral activity, but paralysis occurs simultaneously in the major voluntary muscle groups. It is generally thought that REM-associated muscle paralysis is meant to keep the body from acting out the dreams that occur during this intensely cerebral stage. The first period of REM typically lasts 10 minutes, with each recurring REM stage lengthening, and the final one lasting an hour.

SLEEP CYCLE
The five stages of sleep, including their repetition, occur cyclically. The first cycle, which ends after the completion of the first REM stage, usually lasts for 100 minutes. Each subsequent cycle lasts longer, as its respective REM stage extends. So a person may complete five cycles in a typical night's sleep.

BE NATURAL - BE HEALTHY

The study group consists of 10 people who, from December 2000 through December 2002, underwent sleep study testing (polysomnography) at Provena St. Mary Hospital in Kankakee, IL.

At the conclusion of the testing some of the participants were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and were prescribed a Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) machine to assist him or her to obtain restful sleep.

Some of the participants were not diagnosed with OSA and their information is posted for the purpose of comparing the number of snores during the separate studies.

In December of 2002, the same 10 patients returned to Provena St. Mary Hospital to participate in an additional polysomnography test during which the participants slept through the night using the MySnoringSolution.com Snoring Stopper Jaw Supporter. The jaw supporter was used instead of their CPAP machine. The comparative results are significant.

60% of the patients experienced:
*   A substantial reduction in the number of sleep apnea events
*   A substantial reduction in the number of snores
*   Lower blood pressure readings in the morning

80% experienced:
*   An increase in their oxygen saturation level

POLYSOMNOGRAPHY, SNORING AND OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA DEFINED POLYSOMNOGRAPHY

A Polysomnography is a diagnostic test during which a number of physiologic variables are measured and recorded during sleep. Physiologic sensor leads are placed on the patient in order to record:

*   Brain electrical activity
*   Eye and jaw muscle movement
*   Leg muscle movement
*   Airflow
*   Respiratory effort (chest and abdominal excursion)
*   EKG
*   Oxygen saturation
*   Apnea episodes
*   Hypopneas
*   Snores

Information is gathered from all leads and fed into a computer and outputted as a series of waveform tracings, which enable the technician to visualize the various waveforms, assign a score for the test, and assist in the diagnostic process. Seven electrodes (labeled C3, C4, A1, A2 O1, O2 and Ground) are placed around the cranium to record electrical activity across the brain. These leads are used to determine the stage of sleep the patient is in during any given period of the night.

One electrode is placed above and to the outside of the right eye, and another electrode is placed below and to the outside of the left eye. These leads record the movements of the eyes during sleep and serve to help determine sleep stages.

Three leads are placed on the chin (one in the front and center and the other two underneath and on the jawbone) and two are placed on the inside of each calf muscle 2-4cm apart. These leads serve to demonstrate muscle movement during sleep. This is helpful in documenting a wake period, an arousal, or just a spastic movement.

Two electrodes are placed on the upper chest near the right and left arms. These record the heart rate and rhythm and serve to alert the technician to a possible emergency situation. They also demonstrate whether or not apneic desaturation leads to arrhythmias.

A thermistor or thermocouple sensor device that looks similar to a nasal cannula is secured just under the patient's nose. This device senses the amount of air moving into and out of the airways and sends a signal to a physiological recorder. This tracing is used to determine the presence and extent of apnea episodes.

Two Velcro bands, one placed around the chest under the breasts and one around the abdomen, serve to determine chest wall and abdominal movements during breathing. Each band is joined together by a piezo crystal transducer. The force of chest/abdominal expansion on the bands stretches the transducer and alters the signal to a physiological recorder.

These leads, combined with the airflow sensor, are how apnea is demonstrated and categorized during the test.

Oxygen saturation is measured by a pulse oximeter probe placed on the patient i.e. finger, earlobe, etc.

BE NATURAL - BE HEALTHY

Dental Surgeons Say They've Found Why Snoring Can Kill

Snoring can indicate serious upper airway disorders. Blocked airways increase blood pressure, damaging arteries and leading to stroke.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Dental surgeons discover why snoring can kill: It can actually cause damage to the arteries.

Although considered harmless, snoring can actually indicate a serious medical condition called sleep apnea. Marked by irregular breathing, sleep apnea often causes sufferers to stop breathing completely for up to several seconds and has even been linked to stroke and heart disease in some patients.

"When persons with sleep apnea fall asleep, their tongue falls back into their throat, blocking their airway," Dr. Arthur Friedlander, an oral surgeon who worked on the study conducted at University of California's School of Dentistry, said in a statement.

"As they struggle for breath, their blood pressure soars...This rise in blood pressure damages the inner walls of the carotid arteries lining the sides of the neck," he added. "Cholesterol and calcium stick to the injury sites and amass into calcified plaques, which block blood flow to the brain. The result is often a massive stroke."

According to Dr. Friedlander, these deposits of calcium deposits are merely the tip of the iceberg. "The X-ray can't show the true size of the plaque, which is also made up of fat, platelets, and other soft tissue." When a person is suffering from sleep apnea, air cannot flow in or out of the nose or mouth. Oxygen is not taken in so carbon dioxide builds to dangerous levels in the blood.

"It's like pressing a pillow over someone's face," Friedlander said.

Are Kids Snoring Their Way To ADHD?

CNN Headline News Researchers conclude sleepiness and apnea may be exhibited as symptoms of ADHD.

CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- New research suggests children who snore face nearly double the risk of being inattentive and hyperactive, providing fresh evidence of an intriguing link between sleep problems and attention deficit disorders.

CNN Headline News recently reported on a study that new research suggests children who snore face nearly double the risk of being inattentive and hyperactive, providing fresh evidence of an intriguing link between sleep problems and attention deficit disorders.

Children's behaviorial problems may be linked to their sleep habits, according to a new study. Children who snore often are nearly twice as likely as other children to have attention and hyperactivity problems, found a new study by the University of Michigan Health System. The results, published in the March issue of the journal Pediatrics, provide some of the most solid evidence ever of a link between sleep problems and behavior. The link is strongest in boys under 8. Snorers in this group were more than three times more likely than non-snorers to be.

The National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research estimates that 38,000 cardiovascular deaths, due to sleep apnea, occur each year in the US. Over the long term, serious sleep apnea conditions have been linked to a greater risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. However, sleep apnea was not well understood or recognized by the medical community until recently. And only a fraction of sufferers have been diagnosed and treated.

Depression and Insomnia in Women

One of the main concerns with lack of sleep for women is depression contributed to lack of sleep. If you suffer from sleep apnea your unable to get the needed rest to handle the day-to-day activities.

This affects a woman's hormone level, which will cause more sensitivity, mood swings, and irritability. Many women who are in search of more satisfying slumber are buying a hormone called Melatonin. Doctors have found that a high percentage of depressed patients suffer from insomnia, which compounds the depression.

Women have a higher chance of insomnia after menopause.

The American College of Cardiology found that 33 percent of 71,779 female nurses aged 40 to 65 who snored were more at risk of developing cardiovascular disease that those who did not snore. Sleep apnea affects up to 2 percent of the female population.

Love Handles and Fat Gain in Men

Men who suffer with obstructive sleep apnea often gain weight in the abdomen due to the process of age.

As men age, they typically get less and less sleep. With less deep sleep or slow wave sleep there is less bodily production of the growth hormone. That deficiency is associated with increased fat tissue and abdominal obesity, reduced muscle mass and strength, and reduced exercise capacity.

Obstructive sleep apnea suffers never get a good nights sleep, because repeated arousals deprive the patient of deep-sleep stage, leading to chronic daytime exhaustion and long-term risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

How Does Snoring Affect Our Sex Life?

Snoring can be fun. But only in the movies and in cartoons. In real life, it can ruin lives and destroy marriages/relationships. That's why it's no wonder why many researches have focused on this issue.

A recent study, commissioned by the hotel chain Travelodge, revealed that about 75% of the British adults are snorers, and 33% snore so badly that they disturb the sleep of their partner.

The research was made on a poll of 1,788 adult subjects, and revealed that 21% considered that snoring made them feel less sexual attractive in the bedroom. 10% stated that the embarrassment of snoring had impeded them to sleep with a new partner. 20% of the subjects said that snoring had a negative effect on their relationship.

"Modern lifestyles can be blamed for this increase in snoring, with boozing and unhealthy eating to blame. Our research shows that although snoring is often made fun of, it's a real problem that can have important effects on our wellbeing and lifestyle.

Apart from lack of sleep and tiredness, snoring can cause intimacy issues and put an unnecessary strain on relationships. But there are a number of things people can do to prevent and/or reduce snoring." said Chris Idzikowski, a sleep expert from Edinburgh Sleep Center.

Most often, snoring can be caused by decreased airflow to the nasal passages, so sleeping with your head raised off the mattress, or on your side or stomach can help. Starfish and soldier sleeping positions (on the back, with the arms pinned to your sides or around the pillow) turn people more prone to snoring.

Losing weight, and stopping alcohol consumption can also decrease snoring in some cases.

The survey even made a classification of 5 types of snorers:

*   The Snorter, 18% of the cases, is characterized by a specific rapid blowing of air through the nostrils and mouth, like the sound of a snorting horse.
*   The Snorchestra, 12% of the subjects emit long, low snores that gradually climb into a deafening crescendo.
*   The McEnroe type, 10% of the snorers, is characterized by violent grunting sounds, like the noise emitted by tennis stars when hitting the ball.
*   The Walrus, 8% of the snorers, will emit continuous groaning noises during sleep.
*   The Old Banger, 5% of the cases, emits noises similar to a broken car with a spluttering engine.

What Do Snoring And Allergies Have In Common?

Like most allergies, most people are not born with a snore; they simply acquire it over a period of time.

As we grow older, many develop the habit of sleeping with their mouths open. This allows the jaw to relax and drop excessively during sleep. As a result, the skin, tissue, and muscles in the throat are stretched beyond normal ranges for an extended time (several hours each night). It's important to take deliberate corrective action for this habit otherwise, you could be setting the stage for developing serious medical problems such as OSA, artery damage and stroke.

New estimates from The National Sleep Foundation suggest that 24% of adult men and 9% of adult women (approximately 1 billion people globally) are estimated to suffer from some degree of OSA.

OSA is among the most common and most dangerous types of sleep disorders. An estimated 16% of the global population have the condition, which is marked by repeated episodes of cessation of breathing during sleep that over time can lead to high blood pressure, cardiac disease, and disordered thinking.

The closing of the upper airway while sleeping causes OSA. The uvula and soft palate relax and collapse on the back wall of the upper airway. Then the tongue relaxes and falls backward, collapsing on the back wall of the upper airway.

The uvula and soft palate form a tight blockage, preventing any air from entering the lungs. The effort of the diaphragm, the chest and the abdomen only cause the blockage to seal tighter. In order to breathe, the person must arouse or awaken, causing tension in the tongue thereby opening the airway, allowing air to pass into the lungs.

The arousals usually offer hundreds of times each night, but they do not fully awaken the person who remains unaware of the loud snoring, choking, and gasping for air that are typically associated with OSA.

As a result, OSA sufferers never get a "good nights sleep" because repeated arousals deprive patients of REM (deep sleep stage) leading to chronic daytime exhaustion and long-term cardiovascular stress. People who are obese are likely to have OSA due to the excess tissue around the throat and neck. Those with receding chin lines are also at higher risk for developing obstructive sleep disorder.

"Virtually all heart attacks come down to a failure to deliver oxygen to the hardworking heart muscle,1" Philip Stavish, M.D. OSA causes a drop in blood oxygen saturation (SaO2) and an increase in the blood's carbon dioxide (CO2). When the SaO2 drops, the heart will start pumping more blood. With each beat, the SaO2 continues to drop and the heart beats faster and faster. As the CO2 increases the brain will try to drive the person to breathe. The effort and action of the abdomen and chest will increase. Eventually that action can become severe enough to cause an arousal, (but the arousal does not fully awaken the person) causing the person to "catch their breath," clearing the upper airway blockage and allowing the person to breathe. Then it happens all over again.

It is also important to remember that when the immune system is compromised by a lack of oxygen, we are more susceptible to opportunistic bacteria, viral, and parasitic infections and colds, as well as flu. Oxygen deprivation can also lead to life-threatening disease, such as cancer. Cancer and most other infections or

BE NATURAL - BE HEALTHY

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

With the increased awareness in the doctor and patient communities, a growing number of new OSA patients are expected to be identified in the next few years.

Researchers and clinicians have recognized OSA as one of the most common sleep disorders and with perhaps the greatest medical and social impact on society in terms of morbidity and mortality. The syndrome strikes all sexes and all races, ages, socioeconomic strata, and ethnic groups, though it is less common in women prior to menopause, and may be more common in blacks than in whites.

Czech Doctors to Treat Snoring with Magnets

A new surgical treatment of snoring and sleep apnea has been performed for the first time in the world by Czech doctors in the west Bohemian town of Domazlice. The method was developed by the American company Apneon, which chose the Czech doctor Vaclav Pavelec on the basis of his published specialist studies.

"Snoring itself can only be a social or a cosmetic problem. The worse situation occurs when there is a hidden problem behind snoring and that's apneas - blockages of the airways during the night that cause the decrease of the oxygen saturation in blood."

So that's when you need to treat it with some surgical methods.

"Up to now the treatment of choice was the so-called CPAD - continuous positive airway pressure - that's a ventilator that pushes the air into the airways during the night through a mask. But this treatment is of course not tolerated by quite a large amount of patients. That's why surgeons all around the world are trying to find something more acceptable for the patients and one of the ways is magnetic system."

How does it work?

"Basically we implant internal magnet into the tongue of the patient. When the patient is healed he comes for external fitting where we adjust the external magnet on the patient's chin. This external magnet drags the internal device forward and opens the airways behind the tongue. So it solves the reason of the blockages."

Doesn't it bother you when you have a magnet in your mouth for example when you eat with a spoon which is made of metal? Doesn't it stick to your tongue?

"That was the most important question for us at the beginning of the study of course. Fortunately we have operated five patients up to now and none of them suffers from these problems. They have no foreign body sensation. It doesn't interfere with any metal things including spoons."

And you only attach the outer magnet at night...

"Yes, exactly. One of the advantages of this method is that this device can be "switched off" when the person get up in the morning."

BE NATURAL - BE HEALTHY

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Eliminate Snoring - How to?

As innocent children armed with our trusty toolbox of crayons and markers, we often depicted a snoring person as someone lying in bed with a series of "Z's" casually emerging from a peacefully sleeping body.

However, what we neglected to draw - and again, rather innocently - was the severe underlying damage that was occurring in that ordinary picture.

The Damage is Far-Reaching

Damage to whom? Well, damage to at least one person, and potentially many more. Primarily, snoring has the very real potential of causing health damage to the snorer him or herself.

This damage can range from relatively mild sleep disturbances, to outright fatal Sleep Apnea (described further in this book). Indeed, when looked at under this light, those innocent Z's in our childhood drawings don't seem quite so harmless, anymore.

Yet is that where the suffering ends -- with the snorer? Hardly; and this is where the dilemma of snoring - and it is indeed a dilemma - takes on an added hue of suffering and misery.

To understand this in its painful clarity, let's return quickly to that childhood drawing of the sleeping person (usually a man) slumbering away after a hard day of work, possibly dreaming about something pleasant, as Z's floated up from his peaceful, sleeping body.

Now, how many of us took the time to draw the person trying to sleep next to that snoring partner? Hardly any of us, I would venture to presume, took the time to accurately depict the total anguish that the non-snoring partner of a snorer undergoes on a nightly basis.

But really, that's where a great deal of snoring-related suffering is contained: in the life of someone trying to live (and love!) a snorer. We'll take a deeper look at the tragic dilemma faced by these people later on in this article.

Snoring must be Solved! Eliminate Snoring now...

Of course, non snorers who have valiantly slept in the same bed, or even in the same house, as a chronic snorer know precisely how severe this problem is, and they don't require any convincing that snoring is a problem that requires a solution!

Yet there are some, perhaps, who haven't yet experienced the true violence of living with a snorer; and for those people, I humbly invite you to try sleeping with any of the following devices; all of which have been ranked as emitting the same or fewer decibels than the average snorer:

*   An operational lawn mower (and not the super-quiet luxury kind, either)

*   An industrial vacuum cleaner (the kind that picks up nails and glass!)

*   A running motorcycle (these things have no muffler, really, and you can hear them from blocks away!)

*   A passing jet (the kind that wakes up babies, scares cats, and sets off car alarms)

*   An operational chain saw (hopefully you haven't actually slept while one of these things are operating%u2026unless you were a horror movie actor)

*   A blender, food processor, or hair dryer (not one; all three at once!)

BE NATURAL - BE HEALTHY

How to stop snoring?

*    The little known reason (you've probably never thought about) why you only snore while asleep.
*    Warning: Don't let anyone talk you into surgery before you read this.
*    3 ways oral appliances will stop your snoring habit. What they are and where you can find them.
*    7 key categories your snoring remedy may fall under.
*    Why men snore louder than women. And why woman have an unfair advantage.
*    11 reasons to say no to surgery. Even if it does claim to fix your snoring problem.
*    Why some people snore louder than others.
*    10 anti-snore foods you can find at the supermarket. Stock up on these!
*    Sleep positions that can stop your snoring habit cold.
*    How the climate in your bedroom can effect your snoring.
*    How allergies (that you don't even know about) can be causing your snoring problem.
*    Reported problems that have come from 4 different types of surgery.
*    4 minor changes in your day to day life that can stop snoring where it starts.
*    9 down in the dumps emotions snoring may be causing you. Spot these before they make your life miserable.
*    How to exercise your throat before you slip into bed - and possibly put an end to your snoring habit.
*    7 common devices for stomping out your snoring problem that you can buy. Which ones work and why.
*    14 major health and lifestyle factors that may be causing you to snore.
*    9 reasons why snoring can be bad for your health. Even dangerous and sometimes fatal.
*    3 important functions of drug therapy and what they can do for your snoring problem.
*    3 ways snoring reveals itself. What are your symptoms?
*    When snoring can be a sign of something fatal - it doesn't get more serious than this. Possible damage: heart disease, stroke, or brain damage.
*    6 real-life emotionally damaging problems snoring may lead you to.
*    Why losing weight might do the trick.

Seventy-six percent of Americans are lacking something right now. No, it's not the latest fad fashion, electronic device or even money in the bank. It's sleep. Thomas Edison invented the light bulb so that people could work at night, and there are now 25 million night shift workers in U.S.-occupied territory.

Thanks to the light bulb and the later invention of television, sleep quantity (per person) has decreased by about 20 percent since 1900. Furthermore, 76 percent of Americans have a sleeping disorder at least a few days per week, contributing to our society's epidemic of daytime sleepiness, depression and adrenal fatigue, sleep therapist Dr. Rubin Naiman said in his lecture at the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Conference (CAMCON) in Tucson, Ariz.

Modern Western society doesn't comply with our natural biorhythms. Humans are built to nap, according to Dr. Naiman. When we override our natural desire for midday rest, the conflict carries over to sleep disturbances at night.

Furthermore, similar to the problem of our junk food-laden diets, we're overfed yet undernourished when it comes to light. During the day, we receive dampened light from fluorescent bulbs rather than the vitamin D-rich sunlight that our bodies need.

Then, during the night when we need the dark to trigger essential melatonin production, excessive light at night (LAN) erodes our "lunar consciousness" and throws our body rhythms out of balance. In short, we have too much light when we don't need it (at night) and too little when we do during the day).

Melatonin, a neurochemical released from the pineal gland, is as essential to the human body today as it was during our evolution. Accordingly, Dr. Naiman talks in great detail about this product of serotonin, even looking back into the ancient Greco-Roman perspective of it and sleep in general.

From a purely biological standpoint, melatonin, which is produced during absence of light, communicates the fact that it is night to our bodies, triggering the release of GABA, our bodies' natural tranquilizer. LAN suppresses melatonin production, hindering this entire process and setting the stage for a phenomenon many of us know all too well: Daytime sleepiness.

Even though we're tired during the day, rest is somewhat of a taboo topic in modern society. We tend to associate it with laziness and, as Dr. Naiman points out, "When we rest, we experience the opportunistic emergence of our shadow issues."

In other words, resting often gives us time to think about everything we'd rather forget, which is one of the reasons why many people don't like to rest. It's the common "I-don't-have-time-to-think" phenomenon.

Unfortunately, as adrenal fatigue expert Dr. James Wilson explains in his lecture at the First Arizona Choices Exposition in Tucson, Ariz., "Our lifestyles have changed, but our bodies haven't." We may not like to rest, or perhaps have time for it, but our bodies still desire it.

In fact, napping can provide amazing health benefits. It lowers diastolic blood pressure, improves mood, improves work and school performance (bosses and educators take note) and helps readjust our nighttime sleep patterns back to the way our ancestors slept before the Industrial Age and, according to some experts, the way our bodies were designed to sleep at night.

Historian A. Roger Ekirch of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute found that, before the Industrial Age changed everything, people slept in two phases: "First sleep," a period of being awake shortly after midnight, and "second sleep."

Using this historical data as his guide, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) psychiatrist Dr. Thomas A. Wehr set out to learn if the human body would revert back to this segmented sleep pattern, given natural, pre-Industrial conditions. In Dr. Wehr's study, 15 healthy adults were prohibited from using any artificial light from dusk to dawn and given 14 hours (6 p.m. to 8 a.m.) for sleep. They slept 11 hours each the first few nights to presumably catch up on lost sleep, but then eventually settled into a pattern beginning with a few hours of nighttime rest.

This nighttime rest is "an essential bridge to night consciousness," according to Dr. Naiman. We have to slow down before we can fall asleep and experience hypnagogia, a sleep-onset dream. Unfortunately, many of us don't take the time to pursue nighttime rest for psychological and sociological reasons.

After a few hours of nighttime rest, Dr. Wehr's volunteers then fell into REM asleep for three to five hours ("first sleep") before awakening. During REM sleep, the brain is as active as when it is awake. Due to this alertness without daytime constraints, regularly awakening from REM sleep is significant in itself, as it allows people to remember and reflect on their dreams in a semiconscious state, according to Dr. Wehr. In fact, he attributes modern society's disconnection with dreams, myths and fantasies to our lack of midnight reflection.

Following this hour or so of quiet time, the volunteers then slept for about four more hours before finally awakening. In conclusion, the NIMH study reinforced Ekirch's historical data, making it seem likely that the human body would naturally like to sleep as it did before artificial lighting, and that waking up midway through the night is innate, rather than a disease meant to be treated with sleeping pills.

Given that most of us are not getting the quality or quantity of sleep our bodies require, and that our schedules often don't allow time for naps, what are we supposed to do about our daytime sleepiness? Many of us turn to high-glycemic carbohydrates like white flour or refined sugar as the answer, putting our bodies at risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes. We also mask our sleepiness with caffeine, making it what Dr. Naiman calls the "fuel of industrialized culture."

Three hundred million cups of coffee are consumed in the United States each day and it is the second-most commonly traded commodity in the world. Unfortunately, our misguided "solution" to daytime sleepiness only adds to the sleep disorders we experience at night, as caffeine's half-life is 7.5 hours, meaning that you still have half the amount of caffeine in your bloodstream more than seven hours after you drink or eat a caffeinated product. No wonder we can't fall asleep at night, or even get a "good night's sleep" when we do.

Lack of sleep eventually leads to fatigue, which is much more serious than everyday drowsiness. By Dr. Naiman's definition, fatigue is a "sustained state of exhaustion, a lack of physical or mental energy." As you might imagine, fatigue is all too common today, accounting for 10 million outpatient physician visits in the United States per year, mostly associated with depression. Ironically, Big Pharma's answers to depression, SSRI drugs, actually worsen the sleep-related problems they were designed to relieve. Pharmaceuticals like Prozac cause reduced REM latency, which actually promotes depression, Dr. Naiman explains.

The real solution to fatigue is easy enough: Make time to rest. Taking a break from time to time doesn't mean that you're lazy; it means that you want to be healthy. Plus, keep in mind that attaining healthy sleep will actually increase your overall productivity and your enjoyment of life.

BE NATURAL - BE HEALTHY

With insomnia, it all basically boils down to endocrine system imbalances. Sleep is a physiological function that is controlled by hormones, and these hormones are of course released by endocrine system glands according to a natural cycle. A person who is having trouble sleeping is merely experiencing a disruption in this natural cycle.

To answer this question, it is helpful to look at what promotes healthy sleep cycles in the first place. Perhaps the single most important influencing factor in setting these cycles is exposure to natural sunlight. In fact, simply getting natural sunlight during the day often corrects the problem outright. I know it sounds simple, but exposure to sunlight is fundamental to healthy sleep cycles.

A lot of this, of course, has to do with the production and suppression of melatonin, which is also called the sleep hormone. Melatonin levels normally rise at night, and peak during sleep. Once a person wakes up and goes outside to get natural sunlight exposure, melatonin levels are suppressed. This tells the body that daylight is here, and that we should be awake and alert during the day.

But when a person avoids sunlight -- if they have an office job and only get fluorescent light or other forms of artificial light during the day -- these melatonin levels are not suppressed during the day. They remain unnaturally high, and this tells the body that it may still be night. This is why a lot of people tend to feel drowsy during the day or have a lack of energy, and subsequently, they can't sleep at night either. It's all due to the unnaturally high levels of melatonin during the day which cause unnaturally low levels at night time as well.

So once again, the most effective strategy is to get sunlight --- to suppress those melatonin levels during the day and let them come back strong at night. If you live in a climate where you can't get a lot of natural sunlight, you can help yourself through the use of light boxes. However, light boxes are not a replacement for natural sunlight. In fact, nothing comes close to the intensity of light you receive from the sun. Even high-powered light boxes only provide a fraction of the light energy of natural sunlight. So make sure you get natural sunlight on your skin. And by the way, getting it through a window is not the same as getting it outdoors. Windows filter out ultraviolet light, so you have to expose your skin to direct sunlight.

(This is why many of the kings and queens in European history went mad, by the way: they wanted to keep their skin pale by avoiding sunlight. Nearly all royals were chronically deficient in vitamin D -- and that causes schizophrenia, depression, aggression and other mental disorders...)

There could be other problems causing insomnia as well. You might have low melatonin production. Maybe you're getting sunlight during the day, but at night your body isn't producing melatonin in the way that it should. A shortcut to solving this is to take melatonin supplements. These are available at health food stores or vitamin shops online.

Melatonin supplements should be taken an hour or so before bedtime, and they will typically help people sleep more soundly.

But understand this is just a stop-gap measure. If your body isn't producing melatonin, there's something imbalanced in your system, and you need to get back to the fundamentals of health in order to recreate an environment in which your body will naturally produce the required levels of melatonin that support healthy, sound sleep.

continuing from part 1

A reader asks, "Are there any foods, vitamins, herbs, etc, that can help with insomnia? I've had sleeping problems for years, and I would really appreciate any kind of useful information."

In part one of this Q&A, we talked about how lack of exposure to natural sunlight causes hormonal imbalances that result in chronic sleeping problems. In part 2, we're moving on to talk about the dietary influences of sleep disorders:

As far as the main imbalancers of hormones in the body, the primary culprits are dietary stimulants, or what I call metabolic disruptors. Perhaps the most frequently abused stimulant of all is coffee and caffeine. A person who is taking caffeine on a regular basis typically does so because they feel drowsy in the morning since they haven't had a good night's sleep in the first place. But by drinking coffee to wake up, a vicious cycle is created. The caffeine perks them up in the morning, but at the same time, it overstresses the adrenal glands and the endocrine system, which causes imbalances later on during the day, especially when used over a long period of time. So if you are a regular consumer of caffeine, you're going to find that your production of melatonin and other hormones is disrupted in the long term, even though caffeine may make you feel more awake in the morning.

The trick to all this is getting off caffeine permanently and never ingesting this neurotoxic substance ever again in your life. One of the best ways to do that is to pick up the book by Dr. Jonathan Wright called The New Detox Diet. This book teaches people how to get off caffeine and also informs them of some of the very good reasons why you need to stop poisoning your nervous system with this insecticide (caffeine is created by plants to kill insects).

There are other nervous system stimulants that tend to disrupt healthy function of the endocrine system. These include sugar and MSG (monosodium glutamate). MSG is something you have to look for on food labels because it's hidden in a lot of grocery store products. This is a highly toxic ingredient. It will not only cause sleep disorders, it will also tend to cause migraine headaches and can even lead to Alzheimer's disease. MSG does not belong in the human body. It can even interfere with normal appetite regulatory functions and make it almost impossible for people to lose weight, especially if they are currently obese. So MSG is one thing to avoid, and refined white sugars are another because of the way they overstress the pancreas and other organs involved in hormone regulation throughout the body.

Carbohydrate Cravings

An interesting side note to all of this is that if your insomnia is being caused by imbalanced melatonin levels, it is very likely that you are also suffering from carbohydrate cravings due to suppressed serotonin levels in the brain. When melatonin levels are too high in the brain, it naturally results in the suppression of serotonin. This makes a person feel down. They get the blues. They feel drowsy. And one of the quickest ways to self-medicate and raise the levels of serotonin in the brain is to eat carbohydrates (and the more refined the carbohydrates, the better). Refined white flour is going to perk up those serotonin levels very quickly. Drinking a soft drink will also do the same thing. And if that soft drink has caffeine in it, then a person is getting a double dose of medication through the caffeine and the high-fructose corn syrup contained in that beverage.

So I think you get a pretty clear picture here of how people can easily create a destructive cycle of dependence on psychoactive food ingredients and drugs like caffeine just to make it through the day, when typically the source of the problem is really something relatively simple, like lack of sunlight. If you are a person who is consuming caffeine on a regular basis, if you find yourself experiencing carbohydrate cravings, if you need sugar to elevate your mood, then these are signs that you need a fundamental detox in order to get back to the basic foods that support human health and will naturally create healthy hormone balance.

Once you do that, you will find yourself sleeping quite soundly. You will fall asleep easily, you will sleep restfully, and you will wake up fully energized without any need whatsoever for coffee in the morning. I know this from personal experience. Typically, I sleep 8 hours a night. I think long-duration sleep is very important, especially if you're involved in strength training or gymnastics or other forms of intense physical activity like I am. Eight hours of sleep is great for the human body, and when I wake up, I feel fully energized and ready to go, ready to take on the projects and challenges of the new day. I'm not a coffee drinker and I never have been. I don't consume caffeine, and I strongly urge those who are on caffeine to consider doing whatever it takes to get off that drug. It will make your life far easier in the long run.

Herbs For Sleep

One last comment on all of this --- the question posed at the beginning of this article asks if there are any vitamins or herbs that can help with insomnia. Of course there are herbs that can help you sleep. Those include chamomile, hops, or valerian root, but these are really just herbs being used like drugs. It's no different from taking Valium, which is in fact a derivative of the valerian medicinal herb.

If you're using drugs to get to sleep, then you have a serious problem. Drugs are not going to give you sound sleep. They are only a temporary mask for the root cause of the problem.

Remember, the human brain already creates the hormones or "drugs" that you need to get plenty of sleep. It does that naturally on its own. A healthy human being should never need to supplement human brain chemistry with outside drugs or pharmaceuticals in order to fall asleep.

I strongly encourage you to avoid the seduction of using herbs or drugs to get your sleep. Instead, take the more difficult journey: a journey of detoxing your diet, of taking a good, hard look at everything that's going on in your life, what foods you're putting into your body, what drugs or psychoactive substances you might be consuming, how much physical exercise you're getting, how much sunlight you're getting, how much water you're drinking on a regular basis, and so on. This is a difficult journey for a lot of people, but it is the only journey that can really cure insomnia.

At the same time, you'll be happy to know, the side effect of this journey is that it will also prevent practically every chronic disease known to mankind.

Remember, health is simple -- it's not necessarily easy to get to it, but it is fundamentally simple, and once you pursue that path in an effort to solve one particular problem, you will find that virtually all your health problems are helped at the same time.

BE NATURAL - BE HEALTHY

A sleep disorder characterized by violent dreams, often acted out while sleeping, may be more common in people taking antidepressants, new research suggests.

Although REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) typically occurs in patients in their 50s, doctors are noticing a trend of more frequent RBD in 30-something patients taking antidepressants.

During REM sleep, muscles are usually paralyzed, but antidepressants may affect neurotransmitters that keep muscles paralyzed -- allowing for RBD to occur, say researchers at the Mayo Clinic.

"Our findings suggest that RBD in younger patients -- in the 30s instead of the usual age of the 50s or older -- is frequently linked to antidepressant use," lead researcher Dr. R. Robert Auger, sleep medicine specialist at the Mayo Clinic, said in a prepared statement.

But he cautioned that the findings can have multiple interpretations.

"I'd interpret this to mean one of three things: 1) in younger patients, antidepressants can cause RBD, or 2) in younger patients, RBD results in psychiatric diagnoses that then result in antidepressant prescriptions, or 3) a common factor is causing both the RBD and the psychiatric diagnoses, which in turn results in antidepressant prescriptions," Auger said.

"If medications are implicated in a direct manner, it may be an idiosyncratic effect, it could be related to the dose of the medication, or the medications simply may be unmasking an underlying predisposition to RBD," the Mayo expert added.

Researchers studied 20 patients under the age of 50 between 2002 and 2005 who had been diagnosed with RBD. Patients with neurological diseases such as Parkinson's or dementia were excluded from the study. These patients were compared to patients over age 50 diagnosed with RBD.

Eighty percent of the younger RBD patients were being prescribed antidepressants, the researchers noted, while only 15 percent of RBD patients in the older age group were taking antidepressants. Females also appear more likely to experience RBD at a younger age -- 45 percent of the younger patients were female, compared to just 13 percent of older patients.

Findings from the study were to be reported Monday at the Associated Professional Sleep Societies' SLEEP 2006 meeting in Salt Lake City.

"From the results of our study, it appears that young-onset RBD is frequently associated with antidepressants. It nevertheless appears to be a relatively rare phenomenon, so I don't think one should hesitate to take an antidepressant based on this particular risk," said Auger. "Physicians should be aware of this potential side effect, however, particularly in patients who complain of sleep disturbances. I'm hoping these findings will create a greater awareness, as practitioners generally would not link medications with RBD."

Counseling proven better than sleeping pills for chronic insomnia; drugs actually worsened condition

(NaturalNews) According to a new report in the Journal of American Medical Association, therapy is more effective than some sleeping pills for treatment of chronic insomnia in older adults.
Researchers from the University of Bergen in Norway assessed the quality and quantity of sleep for 46 people over the age of 55 who suffered from insomnia. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), zopiclone (a sleeping drug), or placebo. Participants received treatment for six weeks, and afterwards researchers tracked their progress for the next six months.

In the period following treatment, the CBT group increased the amount of time spent in bed actually sleeping from 81 percent at the beginning of the study, to 90 percent at the conclusion. Patients also increased the length of time spent in the deepest stages of sleep.

Zopiclone, sold under the trade name Imovane, actually worsened insomnia for most patients. During the study, sleep efficiency dropped from 82.3 percent to 81.9 percent for patients in the zopiclone group.

CBT is a method of counseling that stresses thinking and behavior modification. Each week, patients in the CBT group participated in 50-minute counseling sessions, learning about lifestyle factors that influence sleep. Participants were encouraged to stick to a strict sleep schedule and use progressive relaxation techniques, among other behavioral modifications.

Cognitive behavioral therapy appears more effective than sleep medication for treating insomnia

Patients with insomnia who implemented cognitive behavioral therapy interventions such as relaxation techniques had greater improvement in their sleep than patients who received the sleep medication zopiclone, according to a study in the June 28 issue of JAMA.
Insomnia is usually defined as subjective complaints of poor sleep accompanied by impairment in daytime function. It is common in people aged older than 55 years (9 percent-25 percent are affected) and is associated with reduced quality of life, depression, and more physician visits. Despite these links to individuals' lives and societal costs, most people with chronic insomnia-up to 85 percent-remain untreated, according to background information in the article. Two-thirds of individuals with insomnia report having poor knowledge of available treatment options, and as many as one fifth resort to either untested over-the-counter medications or alcohol in attempts to improve their condition. Among primary care physicians, the treatment of choice for insomnia has commonly been prescription medication. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most widely used psychological intervention for insomnia. No studies have compared the newer non-benzodiazepine sleep medications with nonpharmacological treatments.

Borge Sivertsen, Psy.D., of the University of Bergen, Norway, and colleagues conducted a randomized controlled trial between January 2004 and December 2005 to compare the short- and long-term clinical efficacy of CBT and the non-benzodiazepine sleep medication zopiclone. The trial included 46 adults (average age 60.8 years; 22 women) with chronic primary insomnia. The participants received either the CBT intervention (information on sleep hygiene, sleep restriction, stimulus control, cognitive therapy, and progressive relaxation technique; n = 18), sleep medication (7.5 mg zopiclone each night; n = 16), or placebo medication (n = 12). All treatment duration was 6 weeks, and the 2 active treatments were followed up at 6 months. Clinical polysomnographic data and sleep diaries were used to determine total wake time, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and slow-wave sleep (only assessed using polysomnography [PSG; monitoring of physiological activity during sleep]).

BE NATURAL - BE HEALTHY

A snoring disorder is a very common health problems among Americans, although many of those affected by it may not even be aware of it. Sleep is an important part of everyday life, but many people do not get enough of it as they should due to overly busy schedule and too many obligations.

However, lack of sleep can cause problems because it can strain relationships, result in lower job productivity, and affect general health. Snoring is one of the common factors affecting sleep, but it is not an untreatable condition. In most cases, it is very easy to deal with a snoring disorder without resorting to more drastic treatment options.

Snoring Disorder Dangers

A snoring disorder can be both irritating and dangerous, depending on how severe it is. Snoring is essentially caused by vibrations in the breathing passages, which are usually a result of an airway that becomes restricted in some way. In some cases, the tongue can partially or completely block the airway, while in others the airway can just be naturally restricted as a result of allergies, excess weight, the effects of cigarettes, etc. Snoring is often times the main problem in itself, but in some instances the snoring disorder is only a symptom of a bigger problem like sleep apnea. It is important to determine the probable cause for snoring before attempting any serious treatment options because the disorder could be corrected with small lifestyle modifications.

The most common complaint about a snoring disorder is that it affects or interrupts the sleep of roommates or bed partners. Many snorers do not realize that they snore because they do not hear the sounds they make, but other people nearby can be very aware of the disturbance.

However, even though those who snore may not be conscious of the sleep interruption, their sleep is often affected, resulting in persistent fatigue and difficulty awaking in the morning. These effects are what make snoring a dangerous disorder because when fatigue continues day after day, people can fall asleep at dangerous times, such as when driving, operating machinery, etc. This lack of energy can also result in poor job performance and in severe cases cause people to even lose their jobs.

Although snoring is a condition that should not be ignored, in many cases there are simple ways to help correct the problem. People who smoke or who are overweight should stop smoking and lose weight because these changes often help open up airways and facilitate better airflow. Alcohol consumed late at night can also close airways, so snorers should take care to limit their alcohol consumption close to bedtime.

If you are a chronic snorer, you might want to consider looking into a snoring appliance. Snoring appliances range from only a few to several hundred dollars and are certainly cheaper, easier, and less invasive than surgery to correct the problem. Even more amazing is that several of these products actually seem to work!

In the next few paragraphs, you will find out about the four most commonly used snoring appliances, as well as tips on what to do in case none of these techniques work. Keep reading!

What to Expect from a Snoring Appliance

Most people do not know what to expect from a snoring appliance; they think that whatever method they choose will clear their problem almost instantly. Then, when this instant gratification is delayed, they become frustrated and stop trying. Try to remember that, regardless of which product you choose, snoring will probably not completely cease during the first night.

The two most common forms of snoring appliances are nasal strips and throat sprays. Both advertise the ability to open up the nasal passages, making it easier for air to pass through. If these over-the-counter methods do not work, hwoever, consider taking a trip to you dentist, who probably sells snoring appliances that fit into the mouth like a retainer, serving to keep the lower jaw jutted slightly forward.

If none of these methods work for you or if you think you might be suffering from sleep apnea, consult a qualified health care professional immediately. He or she may tell you that your snoring is not dangerous and simply offer you an optional surgery. On the other hand, however, sleep apnea can be very dangerous and frequently leads to death from heart attack or stroke.

If snoring is tremendously affecting the quality of your life, consider joining a support group either online or in your community. This will give you a place to speak with others who are going through similar structures and listen to the methods that worked and didn't work for them.

Finally, take into consideration that it is not "wrong" or "bad" to sleep in a different bedroom than your spouse. If her or his quality of sleep is deteriorating along with yours, you might want to just consider making time for intimate moments before you go to sleep as opposed to making him or her suffer needlessly through the noise.

Good luck in your journey towards silent nights with the aid of a snoring appliance!

Many children snore. In fact, it is estimated that between 3% and 12% of preschool age children snore. The majority of these children are well, without other symptoms, and have primary snoring.

Other children that snore, about 2% by some estimates, have obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), a condition that is being increasing recognized as leading to school and behavior problems in children.

A recent guideline from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Diagnosis and Management of Childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, should help Pediatricians more readily recognize, diagnosis and treat children with OSAS.

How do you know if your child is just a normal snorer or if he has obstructive sleep apnea? Children who snore and do not have OSAS should be otherwise well, without daytime sleepiness and they should have normal sleep patterns. In contrast to normal primary snoring, children with OSAS usually have disrupted sleep with short 'pauses, snorts, or gasps' in their sleep. Children with OSAS may also have behavioral problems, a short attention span and problems at school.

Other signs or symptoms might include:
large tonsils and/or adenoids with frequent mouth breathing, hyponasal speech and nasal obstruction
poor weight gain
being overweight
high blood pressure

Testing can be done if it is suspected that your child has OSAS, including an overnight sleep study (nocturnal polysomnography). Unfortunately, it may be hard to find a hospital or central that does pediatric sleep studies unless you live in a large metropolitan area.

Other testing may include audiotaping or videotaping your child's sleep, although you would likely need a specialist to interpret the tapes, use of overnight pulse oximetry to measure oxygen levels while he sleeps, or just performing a sleep study during a day time nap. These other tests have been shown to be useful if they do show OSAS, but a child may still have OSAS if these tests are normal, so further testing may need to be done if the testing is normal but it is still suspected that your child has sleep apnea.

Once it is determined that your child has obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, it will be time to discuss treatment options, which usually include removing enlarged adenoids and tonsils (adenotonsillectomy). Other treatments might include treating a child's allergies and helping overweight children lose weight.

CPAP therapy with a nasal mask is another treatment option for children who can't have surgery or who continue to have obstructive sleep apnea after their adenoids and tonsils are removed.

Doctors that specialize in treating children with OSAS include pediatric otolaryngologists (ENT specialist), pulmonologists, and neurologists. If your Pediatrician diagnoses your child with obstructive sleep apnea, you will likely need to see one of these doctors. Be sure to find one that has experience taking care of children with this problem. You might also see a specialist if you suspect that your child has OSA and testing is negative or if you are unable to get any testing done.

Remember to be especially suspicious that your child may have OSA if he regularly snores and has apnea, daytime sleepiness, and/or school and behavioral problems.

A child's snore may sound cute, or even funny, but habitual snoring in children may contribute to problems ranging from bed-wetting to poor school performance.

In fact, some children with sleep disorders associated with snoring are mistakenly diagnosed with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, when what they really need is a good night's sleep.

Dr. David Gozal, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Louisville, and director of the Pediatric Sleep Center at Kosair Children's Hospital, has studied the link between learning difficulties and what is known as sleep disordered breathing.

Below, Gozal discusses the signs and symptoms of sleep disordered breathing, and available treatments.

What causes snoring in children?

Snoring in children can result from three things. First, there is an anatomical component, such as a small jaw or a small airway that the child was born with. Secondly, there's the possibility that the muscles and the nerves controlling those muscles are not well integrated during sleep and therefore do not open the airway enough. But the most common reason children snore is enlarged tonsils and adenoids.

How common is the snoring in children?

It's a very common condition. From our studies in the US population and other populations around the world, habitual snoring affects about 11 percent to 12 percent of all children between the ages of 1 through 9.

With habitual snoring, a child will have snoring, at least three to four times a week, that is loud enough that the parents will know about it.

Why should parents of children who are habitual snorers be concerned?

Parents should be aware of it because snoring can be associated with significant disruption of the quality of sleep and other underlying conditions that can affect the brain and the heart.

With habitual snoring, many parents will say, 'Oh, I don't care too much,' and I've had parents who actually were very proud of it, saying, 'My child is a little adult because he snores as strong as his grandpa.'

Well, that's not a funny thing to me. That actually indicates that the child may be having significant problems, and that their snoring needs to be evaluated.

How is snoring different in children than in adults?

The principle is about the same. In other words, snoring is noisy breathing that results from the vibration of air going through the upper airway.

So in itself, it's just a sound. But what it indicates is that there are increases in the upper airway resistance, meaning that the resistance to air passing through the upper airway is high.

During sleep, the muscles go to sleep a little bit, and that relaxation makes the airway collapse a little bit more. Consequently, the same amount of air has to go through a smaller space.

Snoring may reflect other, more serious conditions such as sleep apnea or upper airway resistance syndrome. About 3 percent of all children between the ages of 1 though 9, have sleep apnea or upper airway resistance syndrome, and those conditions can lead to substantial consequences.

What is the difference between upper airway resistance syndrome and sleep apnea?

Children with upper airway resistance syndrome sometimes wake up because of the resistance in the airway, or because their snoring is loud, or because the snoring requires so much effort. But there are no changes in the oxygen levels or the carbon dioxide levels within the blood or in the tissues in the child.

In sleep apnea, the airway sometimes collapses and doesn't open, and the child struggles to breathe and can't get any air in.

As a result, the carbon dioxide goes up, the oxygen goes down, and then finally the child has to wake himself or herself up in order to catch his or her breath. We've seen children with 500 and 600 awakenings in the night just to be able to catch their breath and go back to sleep.

Is chronic snoring in children ever harmless?

We don't know. Snoring is not normal, but that doesn't mean that it always needs to be treated. Clearly, if a child wakes up because of the snoring - that is, if they have upper airway resistance syndrome or sleep apnea - they need to be treated.

What increases risk for sleep apnea in children?

Obesity is the predominant risk factor. If you lay down and you have a mass of fat in your neck, that puts even more pressure on tissues that are already relaxed, and makes the pharynx, or airway, even smaller.

Children who are born into a family that has a high risk of sleep apnea are at increased risk. And children with Down syndrome, children who have significant hypotonia - that means that their muscles are relatively very weak - and children who have neuromuscular diseases are at much higher risk for sleep apnea than other kids.

Obviously, if you get allergies, you get substantial swelling of the lining of the nose, and that can lead to enlargement of adenoids, and altogether this makes it more likely that a child will have difficulty breathing through their nose.

Some kids who are asthmatic, obviously, can have sleep apnea. But if two diseases are common, then they are likely to coincide even though they may not share any common mechanisms.

However, in children whose parents smoke, we see a major risk factor for snoring.

What are some of the short-term consequences of sleep apnea in children? The short-term consequence of it is very simple. If you have sleep apnea, you wake up after what is called unrefreshing sleep.

You're tired, you have difficulty with concentration, and you feel very groggy in the morning. Through the night children may wet their bed because they're so anxious to sleep that whenever they feel the pressure to urinate, they don't care. This may also lead to nightmares and night terrors.

How does sleep apnea affect behavior and learning?

Children with sleep apnea have difficulty concentrating, and they may, in many ways, behave as if they have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. For example, kids who don't like to sleep resist sleep by becoming hyperactive. They start fighting with everybody, and then finally they crash.

The next day, these kids are having difficulty paying attention and staying put, and behave as if they have ADHD. We have shown recently that a substantial number of children who are diagnosed with hyperactivity disorder have sleep apnea, and if you treat the sleep disordered breathing their hyperactivity disappears.

Sleep apnea also affects learning.

If you don't sleep well at night and your brain suddenly does not receive enough oxygen, you may start losing brain cells. So during a period of brain development, the cognitive abilities of the children are affected by sleep apnea.

In a study that we did several years ago we found that children who were not doing well in school were much more likely to have sleep apnea than normal children. We also found that if you treated those children for their sleep apnea, their grades came up.

We have also found evidence in some of the studies that we've done, both in children and in animals, that the consequences can be life-lasting. So if you don't treat sleep apnea early enough, then the brain has suffered and this could be an irreversible loss. In other words, children may not be able to compensate, and therefore lose IQ points, for example, that they will never recover.

What are other biological consequences?

When you are going through these episodic periods of awakening and low levels of oxygen, the nervous system also gets turned on and there's a strain on the heart. Over time it may lead to changes in the blood pressure that may, if an individual is predisposed to have hypertension as an adult, lead to much more severe hypertension.

Another consequence is what I call the vicious cycle of sleep apnea and eating. If you don't sleep well, the next day you're much more hungry for calories, especially fast calories such as fat and sugars. And if you're tired, you don't exercise.

You become more obese, and obesity can even make the sleep apnea worse. So that leads to substantial problems with cholesterol, with prediabetic conditions, and risk for cardiovascular disease at a much earlier age.

What are treatments for sleep apnea?

In children, it's a little bit different than it is for adults. In general, adults, because the major cause is obesity, will require a machine that is called CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure).

In other words, there's a little mask with pressure that essentially will keep the airway open.

In children, because the most common reason for sleep apnea is enlarged tonsils and adenoids, the best way to treat sleep apnea is by sending them to an ear, nose and throat surgeon to have them removed. In about 85 percent to 90 percent of the cases, we'll see complete resolution, at least for a few years, of that problem.

That doesn't necessarily mean that sleep apnea will not recur during adulthood.

If surgery is not effective, which is true in about 10 percent of the cases, such as in the more obese children or in those with more severe or complicated conditions, then CPAP and/or BIPAP (bi-level positive airway pressure) are the techniques that we use.

What about orthodontic measures?

That's an important question, because obviously the proportions of how the jaw is positioned is very important in defining the size of the upper airway. There's one study out of Italy that has shown that application of orthodontics can make sleep apnea better in children.

But the first line of treatment in a child with enlarged tonsils and adenoids is to first take care of the tonsils and adenoids, and then if there's residual sleep apnea, I would do the orthodontic treatment.

Is surgery risky in some children with sleep apnea?

There are some groups of children, including the very young, children with severe apnea, or those with other disorders that may be contributing to the sleep apnea, who we usually retain for at least 24 hours' monitoring in the hospital after surgery, instead of doing the procedure as an outpatient procedure.

What advice would you give to parents whose child is habitually snoring? First of all, they should recognize that snoring is not something that we would call a benign condition.

They should be concerned if their child is tired in the morning, has very restless sleep, has difficulty performing at school or has behavioral issues. Other issues are having a lot of nightmares, morning headaches, or, in older children, having a lot of bedwetting that is unexplained.

All of these characteristics, in addition to snoring, should raise the suspicion in the parents that they should pay more attention and have their child seen by a pediatrician and evaluated for potential sleep disorder breathing.

Do you feel like you've tried every anti-snoring device on the market, but you still snore? Does this habit interrupt your sleep? What about your spouse? Has he or she been waking you up multiple times a night lately?

If the above scenario sounds like your life, you are probably feeling frustrated, confused, and alone. Maybe you think that no one else in the world snores like you do, or you worry that eventually your spouse will have to start sleeping in another bedroom. However, you are not alone; approximately 25% of the population of the United States have a snoring problem. That's 50 million people!

Unfortunately, though, there still are not many "simple" cures for snoring on the market. Nose strips work for some people. Likewise, throat sprays help relieve symptoms in others. Nevertheless, many individuals soon discover that they will have to take a more drastic approach if they are to resolve their problem.

Dental and Surgical Anti-Snoring Devices.

Once you discover that over-the-counter remedies are not working for you, consult your dentist. He or she may recommend an anti-snoring device called Silent Partner. Silent Partner fits into the mouth and covers the teeth. Additionally, it keeps the lower jaw slightly forward and the mouth slightly open, helping to keep the airway open. Dental insurance policies differ on whether or not they cover such procedures, so please check with your company before deciding on a purchase if finances are an issue for you.

If even the Silent Partner does not help, surgery may be your only option. Anti-snoring laser surgery is now being used in Australia and may soon be available in other parts of the world. Unfortunately, though, even this is not a perfect technique; only 70% of patients treated thus far have had a complete or near-complete cessation of snoring.

If you find that none of these techniques, including surgery, help your problem, you might want to consider joining a support group in your community or online. This is an excellent way to meet others going through the same difficulties as you, as well as find out what methods have helped them throughout the years. Additionally, do not be afraid to allow your spouse to sleep in another bedroom. While it may not be conventional, you can still make time for intimate moments before you nod off. Good luck!

Stop Snoring Before Your Relationship Has Problems

Snoring problems are a major source of sleep disturbance. Unfortunately, however, snoring disturbs not only the snorer himself, but also his spouse, roommate, etc. Being woken night after night, in addition to the crankiness and irritability that lack of sleep often creates, can cause marital unhappiness and disharmony. If you are one of the fifty million Americans who snores, you do not want this to happen to you! The best way to avoid this relationship stress is to either cure your snoring symptoms or prevent snoring altogether.

Even though this advice seems relatively simple, curing or preventing snoring may be much more difficult than it appears. However, if you follow our advice, we are quite certain you will be on your way to a more peaceful night's sleep in no time at all!

Curing and Preventing Snoring Problems

Usually, the only way to prevent snoring problems is to follow the old, well-known wives' tales. These include such things as making the snorer avoid sleeping on his back, making him avoid late night snacks, and asking him to lose weight. Some solutions are a little wilder, however: One proverb suggests putting an axe under the snorer's pillow, and another says a piece of the snorer's hair must be buried under a willow tree on a moonlit night.
If none of the more common prevention techniques works for you, your next step should be to try some over-the-counter products, such as nasal strips or throat sprays. If neither of these works, many dentists also create custom-fitted dental devices that work to relax the jaw.

Remember, though, that these devices are frequently expensive and are generally not covered by insurance. Because this is the last step before surgery, though, many people still opt for this in hopes of avoiding a painful and invasive medical procedure.

Unfortunately, even surgery is not always effective. If, in spite of all your efforts, snoring is still disrupting both your sleep and that of your partner, you might want to consider sleeping in separate bedrooms. There are many documented cases of couples with wonderful marriages who simply make time for intimate moments before turning in for the night.

If snoring is disrupting your life to the point that you must sleep in a separate bedroom from your spouse, you might want to consider joining an online support group for people with sleep apnea or sleep disturbances. This will not only allow you to relate to those with similar difficulties but will give you a way to find out what has worked for other people in your situation.
Good luck, and sweet dreams!

Nearly everyone has occasional sleepless nights, perhaps due to stress, heartburn, or drinking a lots of caffeine or alcohol. Chronic insomnia is defined when you have concerns falling asleep, maintaining sleep, or encounters nonrestorative sleep that occurs on a regular or frequent basis, often for no apparent reason.

How much sleep is enough varies from one person to another. Although 7 1/2 hours of sleep is about average, There are people doing well on four to five hours of sleep. Other people need nine to 10 hours of sleep each night.

Insomnia can affect not simply your fuel storey and mood, but also your health as well because sleep helps bolster your immune system. Fatigue, at any age, leads to diminished mental alertness and concentration. Lack of sleep lead to insomnia is linked to accidents both on the road and on the job.

Insomnia is a common hassle that may be temporary or chronic. As many as one in 10 Americans have chronic insomnia, and at least one in four has problem sleeping sometimes. But that does not mean you have to only put up surrounded by sleepless nights. Some simple changes in your daily behaviour and habits may result in better sleep.

Insomnia symptoms may include:

Difficulty falling asleep at night
Waking up during the night
Waking up too early
Daytime fatigue or sleepiness
Daytime irritability

Common insomnia causes include:

Stress. Concerns about work, school, health or family can stay with your mind too active, making you unable to relax. Excessive boredom, such as after retirement or within the duration of a long illness, may arise and in addition can create stress and keep you awake.

Anxiety. Everyday anxieties as well as severe anxiety disorders may keep your mind too alert to fall asleep.

Depression. You may either sleep too much or have trouble sleeping if you are depressed. This may be due to chemical imbalances in your brain or while worries that accompany depression may keep you from relaxing adequate to fall asleep.

Stimulants. Prescription drugs, including some antidepressants, high blood pressure and corticosteroid medications, can interfere with sleep. Many over-the-counter (OTC) medications, as well as certain pain medication combinations, decongestants and weight-loss products, contain caffeine and other stimulants. Antihistamines may initially make you groggy, but they can worsen urinary problems, causing you to get up more through the night.

Change in your surroundings or work related schedule. Travel or working a late or early shift can disrupt your body's circadian rhythms, making you not able to get to sleep when you seek to. The word "circadian" is made up of two Latin words: "circa" for "about" and "dia" for "day." Your circadian rhythms act as internal clocks, guiding such things as your wake-sleep cycle, metabolism and person temperature.

Insomnia can be difficult to diagnose due to the fact that the kind of sleep patterns and degree of daytime fatigue that some folks consider indications of insomnia of what some people consider normal.

Your doctor may be concerns about your sleep patterns, such as how long you have had to deal with your symptoms and whether they occur every night. Your doctor may as well ask about whether you snore, how well you function for the duration of the day, whether you take any medications and whether you have other quality of life disorders. You may be asked to fill up a questionnaire to determine your wake-sleep pattern and your level of daytime sleepiness.

Your doctor may require you to spend a night at a sleep disorders center. These places are accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. A team of personal at the center can monitor and record a variety of person activities during the night, combined with brain waves, breathing, heartbeat, eye movements and body movements. But for a good number of people whose main complaint is insomnia, polysomnography does not provide useful information.

Sleep is as important to your quality of life as a fine diet and regular exercise. Whatever your reason for sleep loss, insomnia can influence you both mentally and physically.

The impact can be cumulative. People with chronic insomnia are more fragile as opposed to others to substantiate psychiatric problems, such as depression or an uneasiness disorder. Additionally, lack of sleep slows your problem-solving skills and may trigger you to take unnecessary risks. Long-term sleep deprivation may substantiate the severity of chronic diseases, such as elevated blood pressure and diabetes.

Insufficient sleep can as well be the cause of monumental or even fatal accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number more than 100,000 crashes every year are due to drivers falling asleep at the wheel.

If self-help measures do not help or you agree that another condition, these kinds of as depression, restless legs syndrome or anxiety, is causing your insomnia, consult your doctor. He or she may recommend insomnia treatments that may include behavioral therapies or medications to promote relaxation and sleep.

Behavioral therapies

Behavioral treatments teach you new sleep behaviors and ways to prepare your sleeping environment more conducive to sleep. Some studies have confirmed behavioral therapies are equally or more effective as opposed to sleep medications. They can too be used in combination with prescription sleeping medications.

Medications

Taking prescription sleeping pills, these kinds of as zolpidem (Ambien), eszopiclone (Lunesta), zaleplon (Sonata) or ramelteon (Rozerem), until there is moderated worry in your life may assistance you get to sleep until you notice benefits from behavioral treatments.

Ramelteon is the newest sleep medication, and it doesn't arrive to experience the same likelihood of dependency and rebound insomnia overly the other sleep medications do. However, all of these types of medications may instigate grim allergic reaction, facial inflating and complex sleep-related behaviors such as sleep-driving and preparing and eating food while asleep.

Doctors generally don't recommend relying on prescription sleeping pills for more than a few days because they may cause side effects, and developing your ability to sleep without the benefit of medication is the goal. In addition, sleeping pills can, rarely, be habit-forming and become dwindled effective once a while.

The antidepressant trazodone (Desyrel) also may help with insomnia. Over-the-counter sleep aids contain antihistamines overly can induce drowsiness. They're OK for occasional sleepless nights, but they, too, often squander this effectiveness the more you take them.

Many sleeping pills contain diphenhydramine, that can cause quandary urinating and a drowsy feeling in the daytime.

No matter what your age, insomnia usually is treatable. The key often lies in changes to your routine during the day and when you go to bed. Try these tips:

Stick to a schedule. Keep your bedtime and wake time on a constant schedule.

Limit your time in bed. Too much time in bed can promote shallow, unrestful sleep. Try to cut the time you spend in bed by one hour a night for two weeks to see if it helps you sleep.

Avoid trying to sleep. The harder you try, the more awake you'll become. Read or watch television until you become very drowsy, then go to bed to sleep. Get up in the morning at the same time as usual.

Hide the bedroom clocks. Set your alarm so that you know when to get up, but then hide all clocks in your bedroom. The less you know what time it is at night, the better you'll sleep.

Exercise and stay active. Get at least 20 to 30 minutes of vigorous exercise daily, preferably at least five to six hours before bedtime.

Avoid or limit caffeine, alcohol and nicotine. Caffeine after lunchtime and using nicotine can keep you from falling asleep at night. Alcohol, while it may initially make you feel sleepy, can cause unrestful sleep and frequent awakenings.

Reset your body's clock. If you fall asleep too early and then wake up too early, use light to push back your internal clock. During times of the year when it's light outside in the evenings, go outside for 30 minutes or obtain light via a medical-grade light box.

Check your medications. If you take medications regularly, check with your doctor to see if they may be contributing to your insomnia. Also check the labels of over-the-counter products to see if they contain caffeine or other stimulants, such as pseudoephedrine.

Don't put up with pain. If a painful condition bothers you, make sure the pain reliever you take is effective enough to control your pain while you're sleeping.

Find ways to relax. A warm bath or light snack before bedtime may help prepare you for sleep. Having your partner give you a massage also may help relax you.

Avoid or limit naps. Naps can make it harder to fall asleep at night. If you can't get by without one, try to limit a nap to no more than an hour and don't nap after 3 p.m.

Minimize sleep interruptions. Close your bedroom door or create a subtle background noise, such as a running fan, to help drown out other noises. Keep your bedroom temperature comfortable, usually cooler than during the day. Drink less before bedtime so that you won't have to go to the toilet as often.

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Learning to be physically and mentally relaxed before going to bed will help you to fall asleep more quickly. You can't quiet your mind and body immediately, so start winding down at least an hour before bed. Some people find that reading a book, taking a bath, playing solitaire, or working a crossword puzzle slows them down from the activity of the day. Other people benefit most from structured relaxation or stress management techniques. In addition, many relaxation techniques can help you get back to sleep when you wake up in the middle of the night.

Try some of the following techniques until you discover what works best to get you relaxed and ready for slumber.

Progressive muscle relaxation and Autogenic Training

Progressive muscle relaxation is easy to do. Starting at your toes, tense all the muscles as tightly as you can. Then, after tensing, completely relax your muscles. Continue to do this for every muscle group in your body, working your way up from your feet to the top of your head.

Autogenic Training uses specific exercises that can make your body feel warm, heavy, and relaxed. These techniques have more benefits than progressive muscle relaxation, but are more difficult to learn.

Visual imagery

Close your eyes and imagine a place or activity that is calming and peaceful for you. It could be a beach of warm sand, or your childhood bedroom, or the image of yourself golfing or horseback riding. Concentrate on how relaxed this place or activity makes you feel, and "remain" in this imaginary place until you can completely wind down from your day.

Engaging your mind in counting or spelling

Try your own variation of "counting sheep". Engage your mind in something unimportant like spelling or counting backwards can help you relax. The secret is to numb your brain by making it perform a dull, boring task.

Abdominal breathing

Most of us don't breathe as deeply as we should. When we breathe deeply and fully, involving not only the chest, but also the belly, lower back, and ribcage, it can actually help our parasympathetic nervous system, which controls relaxation. Close your eyes, and try taking deep, slow breaths, making each breath even deeper than the last.

Meditation

Meditation has been proven to induce deep relaxation, which can in turn reduce insomnia. Meditating is an active process involving focusing on breathing, a word, an object, or your body's own sensations to "quiet your thoughts" and unwind.

Stress and anger management

Stress and anger from your day can stay with you and plague your mind consciously or unconsciously, making it hard to relax at night. Managing your time effectively, handling anger and stress in a positive way, spending time with other people, exercising, and maintaining a positive outlook, can stop stress and anger from disturbing your sleep.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and insomnia

The significance of one's thinking about sleep is often underestimated. For example, on nights when you absolutely must sleep, you are apt to have a harder time sleeping. Similarly, one or two nights of sleeplessness can quickly turn into more because of your anxiety and worry about sleeping well. Sleep problems that start as isolated incidents can become chronic because of mental hang-ups.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy, including stimulus control therapy, paradoxical intention, and sleep restriction, can help you reframe your current way of thinking about sleep. Your new sleep practices can help you create positive associations about sleep.

Stimulus Control therapy reassociates the bed and bedroom with sleeping by limiting the amount of time spent in the bedroom for non-sleep activities.
Paradoxical Intention therapy urges you, rather than trying unsuccessfully to fall asleep night after night, to do the opposite: try to stay awake. Turning your attention to doing something else can help remove the fear of not being able to sleep.

Sleep Restriction therapy reduces the amount of non-sleeping time a person spends in bed to strengthen the connection of the bed with sleep.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) involves confronting, and changing, your beliefs, assumptions, and behaviors regarding sleep, all of which may be preventing you from getting the sleep you need. CBT can reduce your misconceptions about sleep, as well as teach you positive sleep behaviors. It is often used in conjunction with stimulus control, sleep restriction, and good sleep hygiene.

The following are examples of thoughts common to those suffering from insomnia, and how using CBT can help alleviate these worries:

I need a minimum of 8 hours of sleep per night to function effectively during the day.

CBT response: I don't necessarily need 8 hours of sleep every night. Every person has a different optimal amount of sleep.

I can't sleep, tonight and that means I won't be able to sleep tomorrow night or the next night, etc.

CBT response: I will sleep fine tomorrow night. I can get up and read for a little while and try again later. Tonight's experience doesn't have to determine the future.

I won't be able to get back to sleep if I wake up in the middle of the night.

CBT response: My night isn't ruined - I will be able to get back to sleep. I might be able to get back to sleep more easily if I get up and do yoga or some relaxation exercises.

Melatonin is a widely used over-the-counter supplement that's marketed as a way to help you overcome insomnia. However, your body already produces melatonin, releasing it into your bloodstream in increasing amounts starting at dusk and tapering off toward the morning, and it's not clear that adding more melatonin will help you sleep. More research is needed to help evaluate how melatonin works and its potential long-term risks.

Valerian is another dietary supplement purported to be a sleep aid. However, a recent government review of studies done on valerian found the evidence was inconclusive.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine is funding studies on both melatonin and valerian to better assess their safety and whether they are effective sleep aids.

Be sure to talk with your doctor before taking any herbal supplements.

Do you think that you are gaining weight lately? Are you leading a healthy lifestyle? Well! Do ask yourself how well do you sleep. For how many hours you give your body sufficient rest? Our body requires atleast 8 hours of sleep every night as it is during sleep that our body is at complete rest. Sleeping less than 8 hours can adversely affect your waist and overall body weight.

Some people believe in the concept that too much sleep contributes to weight gain. However, the opposite is true. Inadequate sleep contributes more to weight gain. It is noticeable that people working at odd shifts and parents who recently had a baby gain weight within a short while as they have to compromise with a bizarre schedule that deprive them of sufficient sleep during the night.

They all put on weight due to lack of adequate sleep and altogether as a consequence of less sleep in the night they tend to eat more. Since they do not sleep when they are supposed to do so, they pass their time eating.

Getting sufficient sleep is very important as we become dull and inactive and cannot function properly when our body is weak. Further, when our body lacks sleep, the hypothalamus which controls our sleeping, body temperature, thirst, hunger and blood pressure in the brain is activated. Ghrelin and leptin are two hormones associated with our food intake. As the body is deprived of sleep, there is a change in hormones where in the Ghrelin level is up. It sends the signal of hunger and hence we feel hungry all the time.

In order to satiate our hunger when we eat, we consume more than what we need. We keep on munching at something all the extra awaking hours that result in weight gain. Therefore, to be fit, active and to trigger off weight loss, quality sleep is needed and also a change in the insomniac lifestyle which we so blissfully desire is a necessity.

Obesity can turn into an epidemic if we continue with the way we are today. It is the second leading cause of death. In America alone, 65% are obese and overweight and as such it is apparent that 65% of Americans are at high risk of suffering from diabetes, heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure and other ailments. The only solution to the problem is losing weight by sticking to healthy diets and exercises.

Having a good, refreshing night sleep is very important for those that travel a lot. It may not seem like a big thing, but business persons that are always travelling are often complaining about not being able to sleep enough because of their neighbors or because of the hotel staff. Here are some tips on how to make sure you will have the chance to get a good sleep overnight in order to be completely fresh for that morning meeting!

The first important travel tip is choosing the right hotel room. Make sure your room is not placed near an elevator or near the ice machine. It may not seem to be a big deal, but feeling the elevator's vibration all night long will not help you sleep after a long tiring day of travel. Neither will help you sleep the sound of the hotels' ice machine used by all the other persons on your floor. And, most important, always ask at the hotel's reception if your room is placed near the disco club. Make sure you put at least 3 floors between your sleep and the hotel's disco!

Another travel tip is to check if your hotel room has a Do Not Disturb sign. If it doesn't, ask the reception to give you one, or even make one yourself. Otherwise, the hotels' cleaning staff will wake you up for the usual changing the towels operation. And this is extremely annoying, especially when you are about to start another long day of travel.

In case there is a party carried out next door, don't bother to complain to the hotels' receptions staff. All they can do is to send the hotel security to ask the party animals to keep it down. Therefore you should ask the front desk staff to give you another room. Insist if they claim there are no more rooms. Do the same thing if there is a couple next door training for the world sex Olympics. And, early in the morning, before leaving the hotel, you can have your own little revenge by calling the loud room. They will be most likely sleeping!

And, a final piece of travel advice: always pack a pair of earplugs whenever sleep over night in hotels. They will stop you from hearing all the disturbing noises any hotels may be dealing with.

Enjoy a good night sleep on your travels!

Have you ever wished that you could look as young and alive as you feel? There are countless men and women all over the world who have the same basic desire - to look and feel great. But surgeries are expensive (and can be dangerous), and Botox injections do not last; this means numerous trips to your dermatologist's office and yet still not address the true cause of lines and wrinkles in your skin.

CollageneLife Intl (the makers of Natural Collagen beauty line) believe in getting to the heart of the matter, or collagen in this case. When the fibroblasts (the beams for cell walls) in collagen protein cells begin to break down, the outward result is wrinkles. We want to keep the fibroblasts from checking out so soon, thus restoring the smoothness and glow in your skin. That is where Colvita steps in.

Colvita is one of the most exciting and proven collagen dietary supplements on the market today! It is certainly break-through in treating collagen loss, and also the first of its kind anywhere! This amazingly created and designed collagen pill works from the inside out to give you an enchanted sense and look of boundless youth. While is not a magical "overnight wonder" supplement, the positive outcome of Colvita will not be fading into the setting sun anytime soon.

What makes Colvita so singular and unique is our own very special recipe for success. Extracted fish collagen, algae, and Vitamin E for a dietary supplement and nutricosmetic (beauty/health product) that is able to turn back the clock for a host of years to come. Colvita capsules nourish the collagen proteins and builds them up inside from the beginning. You will be more than satisfied with how smooth and firm your skin becomes after only weeks of beginning your daily regimen of Colvita.

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How is your epidermis doing today? Does it feel as fresh and vibrant as the rest of you? Your skin is the largest (and most delicate) of your organs, and it is just as important to keep that organ healthy and rejuvenated as it is the heart or lungs. Unfortunately the skin tends to showcase its wear and tear with spotlights, and also long before your heart stops beating like a frisky twenty year old.

At CollageneLife Intl, we do not believe that anyone should just accept the lines and wrinkles as a part of life. Throw a rally or a tantrum; whichever would be the best way to get the attention of the Dermatology Gods. Who says you have to look old just because you are not eighteen years old anymore? We think that you deserve to look and feel your absolute best. It is for this reason that CollageneLife Intl developed the highly successful and sought after Natural Collagen Q5-26 Platinum gel.

Natural Collagen Q5-26 Platinum was created based on the science of how our bodies function. We at CollageneLife Intl wanted to find a way to improve and even stop the cause of your skin's flaccid appearance, not just smooth out the affects of collagen loss and aging. Our Platinum gel does just that - it absorbs into your skin's tissue and gets to work on a deeper cellular level. The results are lasting and will leave you very satisfied.

The beauty of Natural Collagen Q5-26 Platinum is that it is not solely intended to stave off wrinkles and lines. We are very glad that our formula is so effective against the aging process, but there are many other uses for the Platinum serum. We recommend using it for normal skin irritations, melanoderma (darkening of skin), after being in the sun, to treat skin eczema, and after any deep cleansing treatments and/or facial skin peel.

And even more surprising was the discovery that Natural Collagen Q5-26 Platinum can be used in the genital region to rejuvenate and tighten skin cells. Many pre and postmenopausal women have found the Platinum gel to be most helpful for maintaining a proper balance of nourishment to the vaginal skin
cells.
Natural Collagen Q5-26 Platinum is a truly amazing and versatile serum to be used allover maintenance of your skin.
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Could you imagine being a fly on Aphrodite's wall the morning she found her first gray hair and wrinkle? Hades hath no fury like a like an unhappy diva deity. Or maybe the love goddess never had to deal with the same maladies as her mortal devotees. After all, she was divine; her secret anti-aging weapon was immortality. If we could all be so lucky. The pursuit of beautiful skin and a youthful appearance has been going on before any of those fickle Greek deities set up shop on Mount Olympus.

One popular legend states that sultry Egyptian queen Cleopatra would bathe in mules' milk in order to maintain those enchanting features. Yummy. Unless she had a wagon full of Oreos next to her tub, that just sounds like a waste of some really good milk. But you have to give Cleo props for her innovative skin care ideas. Another fun anti-aging fairy tale involves a little place in China known as Shangri-La, which held the secrets and potions for eternal life and eternal youth. Before you jump on that bandwagon though, picture yourself at eighteen; would you really want to be that way forever?

History is full of men and women who seemed willing to go to every length (and then some) to find anti-aging secrets and innovative skin care treatments. Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon risked his reputation and his life to find the legendary and very mythical Fountain of Youth. He trekked through swamps galore in marshy Florida (obviously before J. Lo moved to Miami) and apparently only discovered angry Indians, malaria, and poisoned arrows. None of which was a very good combination of Ponce.

CollageneLife Intl. has been a leader in developing innovative skin care products that include a very special anti-aging formula which works to treat both the cause and the effect of wrinkles on your face and neck. Those who say that there is a science to innovative skin care and preventing signs of aging were not just attempting to sound smart; all cells have fibroblasts - think of it as the framework that holds everything in place. When these bad boys start to buckle and go down within your collagen cells, the outward manifestation are lines and wrinkles.

This very amazing anti-aging gel from the Natural Collagen innovative skin care line is all about rolling up sleeves and applying some elbow grease; Natural Collagen Q5-26 comes in three ground breaking formulas that are each specifically engineered for different types of collagen in your body. Unlike other products on the market, CollageneLife Intl. does not have a "one size fits all" mentality. You and your body all have different needs; there is a company and a product that understands that.

The cajoling between science, beauty, and medicine is not as futile as some would think; these collaborations have led to some rather exciting break-throughs in anti-aging studies that do not necessarily require surgery or swimming in donkey milk. And the world heaves a collective sigh of relief.
More info please visit:www.collagenelife.com/page008.html

Skin care has always been an important part of the beauty regimen for women, and some men throughout history. The secret formula or tonic (ancient skin care products) for smooth and fare skin was as much sought after many times as riches and glory. Ancient peoples did not need dermatologists, scary cancer statistics, or Stridex to know that they needed to protect their skin.

Perhaps they did not completely understand that the epidermis was, in fact one of their organs, but those societies did comprehend how fragile and vulnerable the skin really was, and that they could not live without it. Skin care was high on the priority list, although mostly because they wanted to be beautiful and keeping the skin in good shape also kept those ladies and gents pretty as peacocks.
Read more: Cosmetics

Oh how the years slip away. Sometimes it does not seem like so long ago that you were still a twinkle in your mother's eye. Then the glorious day finally arrived that was, in fact your arrival. Like most babies, you probably had the chubby cheeks going full force and too closely resembled a Shar Pei with all of your little rolls of skin. But not to fear, you would grow into your skin soon enough. And you did; you grew and grew, and time sped along like a kid boosting his dad's Beemer for a joy ride.

Collagen had a pretty easy job back when you were younger. It was a strong and sturdy protein with nothing better to do than hang out and keep you together. And of course keeping the collagen cells together were the rough and tough fibroblasts. They were both the framework and the scaffolding of your collagen cells. Life is going well for you, with everything laying and pointing in the proper directions. You are likely not concerned with all the boring scientific jargon about what collagen is and how it works in your body. You have pretty skin without wrinkles, and that is what really matters - right?

Father Time Is Getting A Chuckle

The sands of time continue to pour against you, and your little collagen cells too as the winds of change howl a little bit. Or a lot. A sandstorm might get stirred up at anytime and leave you covered in gritty dirt, and who likes having a mouthful of that? Yuck. It is a safe bet that you will notice those teeny lines before you see the gray hair or the pimple on your chin. Where in the hee-haw did those skin lines come from? Are your collagen cells sleeping on the job?

Unfortunately the mighty collagen proteins have aged right along with you. And while they may still feel as spry as a day old puppy (or maybe a month old puppy), the fibroblasts are being pansies about it and beginning to weaken. Your skin is destined to become more flaccid as time passes. You are not going to end up with jowls (well let's hope not), but you will have lines and wrinkles. Is there a bright side to possibly ending up like Droopy the dog?

Muting The Fat Lady

In skin care there are a few options to help you deter the aging process: cosmetic surgery, Botox injections, and short term skin care products. While surgery is a popular choice for many men and women, it is also expensive and can be dangerous (as with all surgeries). Botox has been the fair-haired darling for a while now and has recently become more affordable and more accessible. But the effects fade much faster than you might prefer, and this means the added inconvenience of several trips to your dermatologist's office.

The skin care industry has been booming lately with a myriad of products to give you smoother and healthier skin. Making a very good name for themselves regarding natural skin care and the prevention of aging signs is CollageneLife Intl. They believe firmly in exploring the science for a solution instead of going with chemically based formulas. They want to find out the "why" and "how" of the skin aging dilemma. The solution, in their opinion, is to build up your collagen cells rather than mask the effects of the cells' break down. Only natural ingredients are used in creating all of their amazing products.

With CollageneLife you have some fantastic choices on how you want to rebuild the collagen cells; the absolutely incredible Natural Collagen Q5-26 Platinum gel works on the whole organ that is your epidermis, from your face to your most intimate areas. It is not just for anti-aging, but can be used to treat sun kissed skin, melanoderma (discoloration of the skin), and even some forms of eczema. And since the gel is so concentrated, you will only need a small amount. You will run out of wrinkles before you run out of Q5-26.

If you would like to learn more please visit this website Collagenelife

Well, the Dead Sea might be long dead and gone but the salts from the Dead Sea are definitely worth their weight in gold! Not sure what I'm talking about then take a look at these facts-

The Dead Sea is literally dead! That means the salt content in the water is so high that no living thing can survive in it! But the salt content in the Dead Sea is very different than ordinary salt! Its bitter!

Regular sea salt contains about 90% sodium which is responsible for its typical salty taste. But salt from the Dead Sea has only about 10% sodium and the remaining is made up of a whole bunch of valuable minerals which are really essential for the proper functioning of skin. A few of the more valuable minerals include salts like Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium, Bromine and a whole lot more!

The main advantage of these salts is that the same ones are present in skin cells. But as we age the salts get depleted and are not replaced causing common aging problems like severe dryness, pigmented patches, wrinkles and crow's feet and old dehydrated looking skin. But regular use of these Dead Sea Salt products can replenish these minerals back into skin. You get healthier, smoother more vitalized looking skin!

The most common use of the Dead Sea salts was in the form of bath salts manufactured from the salt from the sea. Egyptian Queen Cleopatra was so infatuated with the salt that she set up her personal cosmetic factories on the side of the Dead Sea to make her personal cosmetics. Modern cosmetic manufacturers now provide the salts in combination of color and scent to suit nearly every one.

And the salt is not just renowned for its cosmetic value; it has a tremendous health benefits too! Dead Sea salts have been scientifically proven to control skin conditions like Psoriasis, Eczema as well as several other skin diseases which have no treatment.

You can see the advantages are many, but not all of us can go hop, skip , jumping to Israel to have our skin looking really pretty!

The next best thing is to use professional pure Dead Sea salt products which are manufactured with Good Manufacturing Standards and Good Hygiene Standards! You'll get the same great effects of silky smooth ageless looking skin in the comfort of your home.

Although there are several products in the market at present, you have to be aware that not all are genuine! But Collagenelife has a few of the best combinations of Dead Sea salt beauty products, I've ever seen. The price is reasonable and you get a complete package of rare Dead Sea Mud face masks, Peeling gels, nourishing creams, cleansers, toners and a whole lot of under eye care too at the same place.

You'll get Dead Sea products all over the Internet, but very few offer Good Manufacturing Standards and Good Hygiene Standards along with great discounts. Take a look at Beauty of Life and you'll get a better idea of what is suitable for your skin.

No one has perfect skin, but we all want it! If you are anything like me then you know how much you hate to look at ads of pretty, young things in skin care ads that seem to have! But age brings with it the curse of older looking skin. Over the years, I've done quite a bit of research to find out what can make skin look plumper; and the miracle ingredient everywhere seems to be collagen!

Not sure what collagen does to make your skin look 'model perfect!'?
Apparently, quite a lot! Collagen is one of the natural building blocks of skin and it is responsible for the young plump look of adolescent and teenage skin. But as we grow older, the collagen spring like bundles present in skin start to lose their elasticity. There is a gradual loss of water and the springiness of skin decreases! Result- old, tired, saggy looking skin!

Well, we all start panicking by that time, but no need to start just yet!
There is only so much that you can do to keep skin young and if you've religiously followed a good skin care routine of cleansing, toning and moisturizing for all of your life; you've got nothing to worry about! But not all of us were aware of what could happen! As a result, for the people, who now want younger looking skin in an instant, researchers have come up with collagen injections!
Collagen Cosmetics natural collagen in a bottle!
I'm a little scared of needles and wanted something as painless as possible; after all if I can get the same effects with a cream then why bother with needles, right! So when I bumped into this range of natural collagen cosmetics, I was a little surprised! Would it work to replenish the collagen in my skin? Well it works! The Natural Collagen Range has a whole spectrum of ingredients which work really well to retain water inside your skin and make it more youthful looking. A few of the better ingredients which I really liked and do work scientifically are-
MATRIXYL(TM)-3000 - which is also referred to as pro-collagen was recently in the news due to its activities in building collagen. One of its main ingredients is Pal - GHK and Pal - GQPR which work really well together in repairing collagen bundles in skin. cream

GOTU - KOLA contains a whole lot of beneficial compounds like flavinoids, vitamins A, C and E, triterpen compound as well as magnesium. The herb also works well to stimulate the formation of mucin and hyaluronic acid to boost collagen formation.

Aloe Vera is renowned the world over for its beneficial properties and it plays an important role in soothing the skin especially for people who use regular peels.

Can I Use it?
I don't see why not! The product has been manufactured according to Good Manufacturing Standards and Good Hygiene Standards. And the ingredients do work! I would suggest that you take a look at the site to find something which you would work for you. I have taken the COLVITA capsules as a health boost and combined it with the Natural Collagen Therapy Combo Set. And frankly, the compliments are pouring in!

No matter what your age ; it's really necessary for you use a good skin care regime. Cleansing, toning and moisturizing at least once a day form the foundation for future healthy skin. But along with these few steps you will also have to combine a weekly exfoliation routine with your cleansing, toning and moisturizing. If you aren't really sure what exfoliators can do and the benefit they give you then read on for a complete lowdown on exfoliators!
What are facial exfoliators?
Facial exfoliators or scrubs work to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of skin. You might think that this will hurt you or your skin but it isn't like that! The outer most layer of skin is nothing but dead cells which are replaced nearly every day. But sometimes due to excessive oil production, or pollution, dead skin cells remain on the skin surface giving it a dull and darkened appearance. When you use a facial exfoliant you scrub away the dead skin, and this removes the outer layer of skin along with the accumulated dirt and debris. Blocked pores open up and this causes the skin to look fresher and younger! Regular exfoliation can also reduce the emergence of lines and wrinkles. But exfoliation also dries out the skin and thus it becomes extremely necessary that you follow a good skin regime of cleansing, toning and moisturizing while exfoliating once a week.
Tips on Using Facial Exfoliators
It's always best to get a professional store made exfoliators like the Natural Collagen Peeling Exfoliators. This is because the particle size of the granules is standardized and you are less likely to damage your skin. When you are using the Natural Collagen Peeling product you are guaranteed a standardized granule size along with several soothing ingredients which treat your skin as you exfoliate. It contains collagen to plump your skin and thus preventing the dryness which occurs after every exfoliation. Borage oil and Aloe also work to soothe your skin during and after the exfoliation. A few tips you should follow are
Have a warm water bath before exfoliating.
Warm your exfoliator by placing it in warm water as this is more effective in peeling your skin.
Avoid delicate areas like the under eye area and the corners of the mouth.
Rinse your skin well after exfoliation to remove the granules.
Warm a good moisturizer and apply afterwards. Don't forget to use a good sunscreen for the next few days and don't go swimming in chlorinated water to reduce skin irritation.
Use only facial exfoliators like the Natural Collagen peeling effects exfoliator on the skin.

Try to use a combined sequence of skin products on your skin while doing a skin care regime. When you use the Natural Collagen system of facial exfoliator, use the Therapy combo set which has the cleanser, toner, moisturizer and toner together in one set! This way ingredients work synergistically to work more effectively on your skin making it healthier! Do check out the site Cosmetics for more information on how to use exfoliators and how to source the products!

The market is overflowing with different types of face creams. Some promise to restore your youthful skin in 2 days some in 7 days and some over night. However, I am sure just like me, every time these commercials come on telly, you feel so happy and run out to get them from the stores. And after applying them religiously for two days, five days, seven days, it is the same wrinkly face that stares back at us from the mirror. However, the wish to look young and beautiful overtakes our rational thought and very soon we get lured by another set of similar cream and make a beeline for the stores again. And in this manner the buying and the disappointment continues. I am sure you are as tired of this routine as I am and want a cream or serum that will not just be empty promises.
When I first came across the Mineral Anti - Wrinkle Serum, I just dismissed it as one of those products. However, a little hope in my head said what if this really works. Are you not passing on something good out of sheer skepticism? I decided to listen to this voice but still refused to be taken for a ride. I decided to research it to know whether it can really do what it claims.

And what did you find out?
During my research I came across the fact that active serum not only tones the skin but it also speeds up the cell regeneration process and plumps up existing wrinkles and prevents new ones from setting in. Plant extracts, Dead Sea minerals, A and E vitamins, and a special complex work together to help fight the effects of age, sun, environment, and free radicals.

Sounds good but how do I apply it?
I apply it every morning or evening depending on the time I am free to take care of myself, for three times a week. I normally massage it onto my face till it is totally absorbed and follow up with a moisturizing, replenishing or nourishing cream.
After I started applying the cream, I noticed a gradual tightening of the skin and the wrinkles were also on their way out. It is not a fast track promise - it is a gradual process that really does wonders to my skin. I have given up chasing for quick fixes now - I think you should too?
For more info please visit:
Mineral Anti-Wrinkle Serum

When I started with my collagen therapy, I felt after sometime that there was something not right. I mean, I was not feeling as great as I should be feeling. In order to see whether I was doing anything wrong, I read the instruction one more time. And during this time, I came across the fact that for best results I need to use the special day cream after collagen therapy.
The day cream performs an intense moisturizing and revitalizing action on the skin. With regular use of the cream you will notice a shine in your skin. Your skin will look relaxed and you youthful. Its main function is to boost the effects of the collagen therapy and to supplement its actions.
The day cream supplies natural, plant-originated nutrients which helps in improving the general conditions of your skin. Since, it works from deep within, it provides a natural sheen to your skin tone. It also increases the skin's affinity to bond with water. It works towards providing a deep rejuvenation and the end result is an unusual firmness and elasticity, and restores youthful vitality. The cream is very efficient and is sufficient for a long use to enforce the collagen treatment.
Make sure to combine the day cream with the collagen treatment for best results.

I normally spread the cream on my face in a thin layer after the absorption of the Natural Collagen Q5-26. I work it onto my face and neck delicately tapping with my fingers. Try not to rub it in too harder - gently massage your message for better results.
When you wake up in the morning - you feel a visible change in your skin luster. The face looks tight and the usual morning flaccidness lessened visibly. No one likes to look at their puffy face in the morning - and with the daily use of this skin - your mornings will also start on a better note.
For more info please visit: Day Cream

I am sure all of you remember how I raved about Collagen therapy the other day. I have been using that every day but somehow I was not happy with the results. I knew it was not the collagen product I was using, as it has been certified by dermatologists and when I took it to my doctor, he was really wowed by the product too. I realized that maybe the culprit was the night cream I was using after the collagen therapy that was diluting the effect. When I realized that I went back to check whether the company makes any night cream and I was pleasantly surprised that they did.
Did it make a difference?
I was not very sure whether it would make any difference, but I decided to try it out anyway - what had I got to lose? I had tried so many different varieties of night creams that I was game to try another. The reasoning in my head told me that since both the products were from the same company, they are better placed to know what should follow after which. Also, the company was unlikely to come up with a night cream that would undo all the good work of the collagen therapy. Thus argued, I decided to have a dekko at the night cream they were offering.
I bet it was nothing different from the ones available in the market!
I was skeptical too, just like you especially when I read the product description that said, special night cream with an intense anti-wrinkle action. It also said that it was recommended to be used after collagen therapy. It convinced me that it was an advertising gimmick and they were just trying to sell me the night cream along with the collagen therapy.
I told you so, didn't I?
Hold it my friend! My cynicism like yours was proved just that. When I started using it, I realized a great improvement on my skin tone immediately. I could feel my skin de-stress. The collagen film boosts the efficacy of the treatment and supplements the collagen action. It also stimulated the process of production of the skin elements and my face was looking firmer and more elastic - if you know what I mean?
What about the wrinkle removing promise - aren't there anti-wrinkle creams for that?
Definitely there are but if you can get two functions in one wouldn't you prefer that? Why massage two creams when one will achieve the purpose? After using the night cream religiously I found that my small wrinkles were gone while the long and deep ones we barely visible. It also moisturizes and rejuvenates the skin from deep within and accelerates the process of the epidermis regeneration. It makes my skin as smooth as silk and the compliments I receive for it are mind-blowing. I feel like a new woman - the cream has not only rejuvenated my skin but also my confidence and looks.

Can you connect dead sea minerals with skin care? I didn't either. However, dead sea minerals are the best way to keep your skin looking healthy and luscious. When I learn about this, I searched high and low to find out ways of getting my hand on some. And guess what! I came across a ready made cream, made from the same dead sea minerals, to take care of my skin, especially my eyes and neck.
Eyes and neck- what will they think of next?
Eyes are the most sensitive part of our body and we need to take good care of them. They are the mirror through which we see the world, and the world also understands us through our eyes. In today's world where every one works on the computer for almost half the day, eyes need to be taken care of. Using cucumber slices to cool them and exercising them from time to time is fine but you need something more than that too. I, for one, always feel really tired after I finish my day's work on the computer. I sometimes feel heaviness in my eyes and a burning sensation in them. Sometimes, I have difficulties in opening them in the morning. And I know that I need to take good care of them.
What about the neck?
Well, haven't you heard the phrase swan neck? So many poetry and songs has been written, praising a woman smooth, swan like neck. People have fallen in love with a woman's smooth, white neck. And so, it is an important part of a woman's beauty. In fact, there is nothing sexier than a smooth neck, you don't even need a necklace to adorn it. And I think I am lucky that I found a cream that would take care of both my needs.
Sounds inviting, but dead sea minerals --- is it ok to use it?
Of course, it is the best thing that will make your skin sing. The eye and neck cream is made from natural dead sea minerals and it helps in maintaining the balance of moisture in your skin and keeps it looking luscious. It also protects against sun damage with a UV-blocker of 15 SPF strength. And guess what's the best thing about this cream? It suits all skin types.
Do I just apply it like moisture?
Yes. I just rub it in till it is absorbed. I just make sure that I never use it on damaged skin.
Looking good is an addiction and I am sure all you people out there want to look beautiful. To look good, you need to take good care of your skin, especially around the eye and neck area. If you don't take good care of your eyes, you will soon have crow's feet around them, making you look old and worn out. Hence, it is imperative that we massage the eyes and the neck with a eye and neck cream, to continue looking ravishing. And what more does one want if that cream also has the goodness of dead sea minerals?
For more info please visit:Eye and Neck Cream

It's really difficult to find time to have a careful skin care routine! Cleansing, toning and moisturizing two times a day becomes really difficult when you have a little two year old terror roaming about your house! But Skin care is really essential! Experts say that a little judicious skin care routine started as early as your teens can make sure that you don't have problems later on like sagging skin, wrinkly eyes and crow's feet! But not all of us were aware of that, right?
Collagen and its importance for healthy skin!
None of us are really aware of how essential collagen is for healthier looking skin. Think of collagen as a soft waterlogged sponge; that's how your skin is in your teens. The collagen molecules keep water locked into your skin and your skin looks healthier and plumper. Collagen is responsible for the healthier appearance of your joints and its present in varying forms in almost all parts of our body.
But what happens if you've not really taken care of your skin all these years?
There is a lot you can do to make sure that your skin does not dry up and wrinkle! As you very well know collagen injections are the stand by now for women to plump up older skin. But what do all that when there is a better and much more painless method to deliver collagen into your body? COLVITA is just one such formulation which is specifically designed to replace those fluctuating levels of collagen in your body and the effect is felt all over.
How COLVITA works!
Colvita contains the purest form of fish collagen, algae, and vitamin E.
%u2022 Fish collagen used in COLVITA is manufactured by lyophilization or freeze drying by which extra water is removed from the product by placing it in vacuum and then the freeze dried. Collagen derived from this method is remarkably pure and lasts for a long time if stored properly.
%u2022 Algae are another of the valued ingredients of COLVITA which makes it so precious. Algae has commonly been used in herbal medicine is as a source of iodine, which is very essential for the formation of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland. It's also extremely useful in controlling and reducing the severity of symptoms associated with arthritis. It also lowers plasma levels of dangerous cholesterols!
%u2022 Vitamin E is also added to COLVITA and it works synergistically with algae and Fish acollagen. By itself, Vitamin E is a potent anti-oxidant which protects cells from free radical damage. But it also works well to protect skin from sun damage and loss of collagen.
Frankly as you can see, COLVITA not only boosts your skin collagen levels but also protects your body from damage due to its contents of Algae and Vitamin E! Not bad, right! DO check out the site Colvita on how the nutraceutical can work well for you too!

The world's first Certified Organic skin care, hair care,
personal care, health care and cosmetic products

Certified organic beauty and skin care products become a reality in our lives because we want to apply the same principle to our skin care products as we do to our eating habits and if you belong to the school of thought of "you are what you eat" then it's very important to be sure that whatever we put on our skin is clean, non-toxic and good for the earth.

Studies have proven, time and time again, that nothing you apply on your skin stays on the surface unless you immediately rinse it off. This giant sponge is able to absorb anything you put on it. Within 10-15 minutes a product will be completely absorbed into your skin, it is inside your body, which means underneath your skin. By this time, you can't wash it off anymore.

This also means that if you apply cosmetics, lotions, perfumes, make-ups on daily basis they will be absorbed and this way you are feeding your skin with whatever that product is. In other words, if you wouldn't eat it, you shouldn't put it on your skin! Your skin is a living organ, as so many others in your body. Since the skin can be a mirror for what is going on in the body, the chemicals may once again show up on the skin. It also means that the liver has to work harder to process them.

Don't you think it's wise to use organic skin care products if you eat organic foods unless you want to sabotage what you want to achieve?

For more info please visit: Organic Products"

The word "organic" has been thrown around a lot lately, but what does it mean? Are some things considered organic while others are not? Who decides what is organic and what is not? Do any of these things really matter when it comes to your skin? The answer is "yes" -all of these things matter when it comes to finding the right health and beauty products for your skin.

Why does organic matter? Since your skin will absorb any product that you put on it, it makes a lot of sense to consider the ingredients inside of any beauty product. In order for a product to be labelled "organic," it must pass strict standards. Each country has a specific set of organic standards that all products must adhere to, though most countries have the same basic guidelines.

Essentially, an organic product must be safe enough to consume even if you don't intend to consume it at all. Why? Well, just think about it - if you wouldn't put a product in your mouth, why would you put it on your skin? Many people don't think about what their skin absorbs when they purchase various beauty products. However, you should think long and hard about the products that you are purchasing.

For the most part, you won't find any type of strange ingredient listed on the back of an organic beauty product. What you will find are ingredients that you are familiar with. Most of the time, these ingredients consists of things that you have consumed at one time or another. Still, there are some products out there that claim to be organic even when they are not.

For more info please visit: Organic Products

The information and beauty tips provided do not give you exhaustive information on any of the topics written about on this Lens. Always seek the advice of licensed aestheticians, massage therapists, or your doctor before undertaking a beauty or health treatments.