Let's Talk About Sleep

There are many factors to consider when evaluating a sleep problem. What you believe about sleep can hinder your ability to get a restful nights sleep nearly as much as an unknown health problem.

Some of the common beliefs about sleep are actually incorrect. For instance, the notion that just a few hours sleep a night are adequate is not a fact. Extensive studies have proven that seven hours per night is the minimum a person should get. Any less results in an increased level of impairment in alertness and clear thinking, as well as decreased response time, regardless of how "great" a person may say they feel.

Another misconception is the belief that over-the-counter sleeping pills will help you get a good night's sleep. It's actually the "belief" that the pill will help, that accounts for any measure of effectiveness rather than any real effects of the pill itself. It's also been found that nearly all sleeping aides lose effectiveness if used longer than recommended, and the medications themselves often may impair good sleep.

The main ingredient in most of these over-the-counter sleeping aids is an antihistamine. This is due to the fact that the main side-effect of antihistamines is drowsiness, so people think that they can use them to promote sleep. In reality, they appear to have very little actual beneficial effects on sleep.

Lack of adequate restful sleep can result in general fatigue, less energy, lowered physical and mental performance, concentration and unexplained mood swings. Sleep problems can become a real life-disrupting problem. There are a variety of factors to be assessed, such as stress in personal areas of life, natural circadian changes, and medical problems, just to name a few.

Insomnia is defined as difficulty falling to sleep, the inability to maintain sleep, or restless sleep that provides no restorative feelings, for a period of at least one month. The daytime fatigue and mind fogginess, caused by the sleep disturbance then results in significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of life.

One type of sleep disturbance is called Narcolepsy, and is characterized by excessive sleepiness, involuntary daytime sleep episodes, disturbed nocturnal sleep and cataplexy, which is a sudden loss of muscle tone that may be induced by severe mental shock. Narcolepsy is believed to affect over 100,000 people in the United States and appears to have a genetic basis. Symptoms most commonly begin in the twenties and treatment can include the use of amphetamines and/or tricyclic antidepressants.

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