Difficulty Sleeping Tips

There is a distinct relationship between sleeping disorders and your emotional health, both influence each other. Insomnia is a common sleeping disorder, which is generally caused due to stress and tension. Depression and anxiety also account for insomnia. It has been proven by research that people who experience sleeplessness or cases of insomnia are at a higher risk of depression and similar psychiatric disorders.

Insomnia is an important factor which causes depression and many people affected by it commit suicide. Researchers have found dysfunctional activity in the area of the brain where emotions are processed and regulated, among people with insomnia. Their study explains the mechanism by which insomnia affects and influences emotions in people, which leads to depression and other disorders.

Ways in which insomnia affects your emotions

1. There is a clear difference in the brain activities of people with insomnia when compared with normal people who get good sleep. There is usually a great difference between the activities of the amygdala, which are neurons in the temporal lobe of the brain. The amygdala is very important in regulation and processing of emotions.
2. Insomnia disrupts the ability of the brain to process negative emotions.
3. Neural change and problems with regulating emotions are also caused because of insomnia.
4. Insomnia disables the ability of judging or sensing any kind of emotion by looking at the face of a person. It is difficult to judge emotions such as anger and sadness in people suffering from insomnia. This impairment occurs more in women.
5. Insomnia and similar sleeping disorders affect our inhibition and disrupt our impulse control mechanism. An insomniac person is likely to develop increased impulsiveness to negative stimulus.
6. People suffering from insomnia develop a perception towards negative stuff and perceive most things in a negative way, rather than looking at the bright side which a normal person tends to do. People affected by insomnia are characterized by a negative mood and are pessimists in nature.
7. A sleep deprived or insomniac patient shows greater activity around the limbic area of the brain. This is the area where major emotional regulation and processing are undertaken.
8. A person suffering from insomnia develops a cranky personality. The patient is in an irritable mood and is triggered by the slightest and pettiest of circumstances. An insomniac patient is also characterized by swinging moods, high temper and general fatigue, which result due to lack of sleep.

Insomnia is a sleeping disorder which directly affects a person's emotions and the processing and regulation of emotions. There is a direct and important link between insomnia and emotional disorders. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a doctor and ask a free question.

People often underestimate the need for sleep. Sleep is as important as any other activity. Without proper sleep, your performance level can go way down the line. It can even hamper your performance in the bed.
Most people do not know it, but there is a deep relation between sex and sleep. People always tend to cut their bedtime just to get done with a few more things. But, doing this can have adverse effects on your sex life.
Here are some reasons that are tempting enough to make you go to your bed at the proper time and for a proper amount of time:

1. Lack of sleep has a direct impact on libido
Less sleep means that your body does not get the chance to completely revive itself from the earlier day of work. This, in turn, can mean fatigue and crankiness. These feelings can decrease your interest in sex overall. A condition called ‘tense tiredness’, which is caused by the combination of increased tension and decreased energy, can also at times lead to sexual dysfunction.

2. Less sleep can hamper your hormone levels
Even after getting six to seven hours of sleep each night, one can suffer from a chronic sleep condition. A condition like this can affect the testosterone levels in both men and women. Testosterone is the hormone responsible for sex drive. Any disturbance in the hormone level can lead to both bad performance in bed and less of interest in any sexual activity.

3. A sleepless night is equal to a foul mood
It is no breaking news to anyone that a sleepless night results in a foul mood the next day. If you feel sleepy and fatigued all day, there is hardly any way that you would think about having sex in such a situation. For people with a chronic sleep disorder, this can become a regular phenomenon.

4. Sleep deprivation can lead to a weaker immunity system
Studies suggest that people with chronic sleep disorder often are diagnosed with a weak immune system. This makes the person susceptible to diseases. A sick person would have very less or no interest in engaging in sexual activities. Neither would anyone like to be with a person who has the cold most of the time.

5. Lack of sleep can contribute to depression
It is very important to have sound mental health in order to have a happening sexual life. Researchers have revealed that chronic sleep deprivation can lead to depression. In such a case, not only the person loses interest in sex, but also when they engage in sex, they tend to have less pleasure from the act.

People underestimate the need for sleep, and they think it is okay to skip a few hours of sleep. But, if you want to have a good sex life, you just cannot cut down on these hours.

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is defined as “difficulty in falling or maintain the sleep or non-refreshing sleep”. 

Insomnia is a most common disorder in general population and old age. The causes of insomnia are diverse. It includes psychiatric or neurological disorders,medical disorders, substance use disorder, change in environment, side effects of medication etc. 

Here is list of common medical disorders that causes insomnia and there relevant symptoms which impairs sleep.

Congestive heart failure 

Symptoms that impairs the sleep:

• sudden shortness of breath awakening a person from sleep        
• difficulty in getting to lie down

Gastro - Esophageal Reflex Diseases:

Symptoms that impairs the sleep: ·        

• heart burn worse while lying down or eating too close to bed time       
• nocturnal cough

Chronic lung diseases like COPD, pulmonary hypertension and asthma 

Symptoms that impairs the sleep:

• coughing
• oxygen-desaturation
• shortness of breath

Coronary artery diseases:

• Symptoms that impairs the sleep:  ·        
• chest pain at night 

Anaemia

Symptoms that impairs the sleep: ·        

• fatigue       
• poor sleep quality        
• restless legs

Dementia (Alzeihmers and parkisons diseases)

Symptoms that impairs the sleep: ·        

• sleep disturbances with dementia-related sleep behaviors        
• cognitive decline        
• psychiatric symptoms like hallucination

Delireum

Symptoms that impairs the sleep: 

• waxing and waning mental status
• disrupted sleep-wake cycles
• fluctuating psychotic symptoms

Post stroke

Symptoms that impairs the sleep: 

• increase risk of obstructive sleep apnea and increased daytime sleepiness

Obstructive sleep apnea

Symptoms that impairs the sleep: 

• awakenings or arousals with apneic episodes
• daytime fatigue despite adequate time asleep

Pain due to arthritis, cancer, gout, neuropathy, fibromyalgia, musculo-skeletal injury

Symptoms that impairs the sleep: 

• delay in falling asleep
• frequent awakenings
• difficulty finding a comfortable position

Benign prostatic hyperplasia 

Symptoms that impairs the sleep: 

• excessive urination at night time
• urinary retention

Renal diseases 

Symptoms that impairs the sleep:

• excessive daytime sleepiness
• restless legs

Hormonal imbalance like thyroid or menopause

Symptoms that impairs the sleep: 

• hot flashes, night sweats
• night timeawakenings
• daytime fatigue

Diabetes

Symptoms that impairs the sleep: 

• increased frequency of urination
• increased thirst and increased appetite
• fluctuating blood sugars episodes (Hyper and hypoglycemia)

Wrinkles and fine lines aren’t the only changes that occur with age; your sleep cycle is affected as well. It is a common misconception that the amount of sleep you need declines with age. Sleep needs remain constant throughout our adult lives but with age, people often find it increasingly difficult to fall asleep and have trouble staying asleep. Not getting enough sleep can trigger other conditions and hence it is essential to have a good night’s sleep.

Occupational therapy is often used to treat sleep disorders faced by elderly people. With the help of bedding management, sleep hygiene and choosing the right nightclothes they reduce involuntary napping and help patients regulate their sleep wake cycle. They also train patients on how to use equipment such as a sleep apnea machine to facilitate better quality of sleep. Analysing the problem is the first step by occupational therapist use to developing sleep routines. Here are a few common sleep problems that are experienced by people as they age.

1. Insomnia: Wanting to go to bed earlier at night and waking up early in the morning is a normal effect of aging. With age, you may also feel the need for an afternoon nap to supplement your sleep. There are many conditions that could trigger insomnia in the elderly. Primary amongst these are stress, poor sleeping conditions, lack of exercise, side effects of medications, menopause and pain or medical conditions.
2. Sleep apnea: Sleep apnea can be defined as breathing that stops for a few seconds or minutes while asleep. Along with age, being overweight also puts people at a risk of suffering from sleep apnea. 
3. Restless leg syndrome: The need to continuously move your leg is known as restless leg syndrome. This is often accompanied by throbbing, itching, pain, cramping or burning in the legs that can be relieved by movement. These symptoms are more acute at night make falling asleep difficult. 
4. Periodic limb movement disorder: Many people move their limbs while asleep without realizing it. With age, this condition can worsen with movements lasting for anywhere between a few minutes to a few hours through the night making him wake up tired and irritable. 
5. Circadian rhythm sleep disorders: Circadian rhythm is the natural wake-sleep pattern followed by a person. With age, this pattern gets disturbed due to changes in hormone levels, activity levels and social activities. For many people this results in shorter sleep cycles and can cause sleep deficiency.
6. REM behavior disorder: In very rare cases, people act out their dreams. Though this movement is uncontrolled, it differs from sleep walking as the person is most likely to remember the dream on waking up.

Yes, salads help sharpen your eyesight. Spinach, red lettuce and a few other veggies, are loaded with vitamin A carotenoids, zeaxanthin and lutein. These nutrients help in preventing your body against high-energy light that may have caused eye damage. Make sure you add it to your daily meal if you don’t want to be wearing spectacles all your life.

1. Helps you Sleep well
Having trouble while sleeping? Well, research suggests that if you consume salad on a regular basis, it not only keeps you healthy but also treats insomnia. Lettuce is loaded with sleep inducing substance called ‘lectucarium’, which has been used to treat insomnia. Try adding it to your daily diet.
2. Lowers Calorie Count
Eating fried food and items full of sugar only increase the calorie count in your body. Eat salad and you will be surprised to see the amount of calories reduced from your body. The catch is, you do not have to add dressings or fried ingredients in your salad. Add items that have a great nutritional value and are beneficial for your body.
3. Adds Fibre to the Body
Well, your body does need a lot of fibre. Eating healthy foods helps the body in feeling energetic. Salads add fiber to the diet, this in turn reduces cholesterol and constipation to a great extent. High fiber salads eaten before a meal helps you in consuming higher calorie foods served afterward.
4. Good For Digestion
Whenever you consume a really heavy meal, you tend to feel super full and it is often accompanied by bloating. The best part about salads is that they do not cause bloating. Salads are definitely filling and keep your stomach full but they don’t make you feel lazy like you often do by every meal you take.
5. Boosts Immune System
The best way to boost your immune system and keep yourself free from diseases is by eating salads. Eating salads regularly is a great way to not only increase your vegetable intake but the antioxidants present in the salad also boost your immune system.

Surya Namaskar literally translates to 'bowing to the sun'. It is a combination of 12 yoga asanas, where the body, mind, and soul are brought into complete synchrony. Surya Namaskar is performed in sets, depending on each person's endurance. Scientifically too, there are multiple benefits from Surya Namaskar. Read on to know the most prominent ones.

1. Stretching and flexibility: The 12 asanas which are a part of the Surya Namaskar ensure that every part of the body is stretched. The flexibility that comes with it is an experience that is to be loved. Surya Namaskar is extremely beneficial for the bones, joints, and ligaments of the entire body and spine.
2. Improves internal organ functioning: The various stretching improves blood flow to the organs and improves their functioning. The result is a better functioning digestive system and kidneys, which help in better absorption of nutrients from food and thorough elimination of metabolic wastes. Detox happens naturally, with the release of trapped gasses and improved enzyme secretion.
3. Weight loss: One of the best-proven ways to lose weight is to do the 12 asanas regularly on a daily basis. It is a perfect workout involving the complete body and is great for losing weight around the belly. It also is proven to improve the thyroid gland functioning, which plays a significant role in metabolism and leads to weight gain.
4. Bone health: Traditionally, it is done during the early morning hours, during sunrise, which ensures the body gets the required amount of vitamin D. This is essential for good bone health.
5. Stress buster: Stress release happens in multiple ways. Deep focused breathing is one of them. During the asanas, control over breathing is very essential and so stress control is ensured. Various muscles and bones get tense with stress, and thorough stretching helps relieve the stress buildup. The mind is also calmed during the workout, and so stress relief is further enhanced.
6. A cure for insomnia: People who are not able to sleep should do Surya Namaskar on a regular basis and ensure sound sleep regularly. Both stress relief and the perfect workout ensures good sleep is guaranteed.
7. Helpful in menstrual cycles: Women who have cramps during their menstrual cycles have shown very good improvement with the inclusion of this exercise. It also is shown to benefit people with irregular menstruation via the improved circulation. Pregnant women, regularly doing Surya Namaskar (under the guidance of an expert), are more likely to have a normal delivery.
8. Glowing Skin: With the release of toxins and stress, a glowing skin is but natural.

Try Surya Namaskar regularly and see the change in yourself. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Sleep is the normal physiological process of our body which is as important as respiration and digestion. Sleep is vital for maintaining our physical and mental health. Normal adults require 8 hours of sleep every day, whereas it 14 to 15 hours of sleep is recommended for for infants and toddlers.

What are the different stages of Sleep

Every human has a natural circadian clock in their body, which is responsible for maintaining our sleep - wake homeostasis. The different stages of sleep include REM and NREM that is rapid eye movement sleep and non rapid eye movement sleep respectively. REM is the deep sleep stage in which it is very difficult to wake up the person as this stage includes the sensory inhibition and all voluntary muscles along with almost all interactions with the surroundings are inhibited. Therefore, a person’s physical stress and tiredness also gets relieved during this stage of sleep. NREM sleep is the stage between REM and awakening and here the person may have sensory connection with his or her surroundings, but may not respond.

Sleep and its benefits
Sleep and stress have a very strong connection with each other. The best way to relieve stress and any other mental disturbance is sleep. It is essential to have knowledge about sleep psychiatry for almost all physicians as they face many sleep deprived patients in their day to day practice.

1. Sleep is not only responsible for relieving mental stress and depression, but has other benefits as well
2. Sleep is also essential for the normal physiological growth in early infancy and it is vital for development of normal alertness, attention and knowledge
3. It also relaxes our voluntary muscles and thereby, relieves us from physical stress
4. Sleep disturbance may also aggravate diseases in our body. Sleep is also the state of recovery and healing.

Sleep psychiatry also insist on meditation and ensures that people have normal pattern of sleep, in order to maintain the mental health of the person in a normal state.
 

Frigidity is commonly referred to as low sex drive in women. But it is often emotionally mistaken as on Non-responsiveness to partner's sexual advances. It is often considered as the psychological problem in person's subconscious mind. This has to be addressed at the earliest. 

It has been differentiated into two types:

1. One is the condition where the women fail to respond .
2. The other is the condition where the women may have difficulty in being aroused. This causes feeling of pain and discomfort. 

CAUSES OF FRIGIDITY: 

Most common causes are menopause-related hormonal changes. Few other causes are : 

Emotional Causes of Frigidity: 

1. Past traumatic sexual experiences such as sexual assault or rape.
2. Fear of pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases.
3. Emotional distance from the partner.
4. Emotions like depression, anxiety or boredom in a relationship.
5. Communication problems like an unresolved emotional issue that takes place between partners.
6. Lack of confidence or low self-esteem.

Physical Causes of Frigidity: 

1. Discomfort or pain during intercourse. 
2. Lack of foreplay. 
3. Poor sexual performance in male. 
4. Fatigue or Exhaustion, Insomnia and Vaginal dryness.
5. Effects of prescribed medications, alcohol abuse.
6. Hormonal imbalance 
7. Menopause.

TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT:

(I) Natural Treatment 

1. Intake of avocados, eggs, oysters, olive oil, soy, sesame oil, pumpkin seeds, nuts, sprouts chocolates, Zinc rich food and Vitamin E in your diet. 
2. Include Herbs such as Siberia Ginseng, Chive, Damiana, Kava, Muira Pauma, Wild Yam, Ginger root, Sarsaparilla.
3. Dong Quai are very effective in curing women frigidity. 
4. Regular yoga and exercises boost overall sexual health. 
5. Read erotic books or watch erotic movies along with your partner. 
6. Quality sleeps and de-stress spas and body massage. 
7. Avoid sugary food items, red meat and poultry. 

(II) Seeking professional help

1. Eradicating relationship issues with the help of counseling. 
2. Psychotherapy in order to get rid of your hidden fears. 
3. If required, do see a gynaecologist for proper examination and assessment. 

(III) How can your rekindle her lost passion

Here are pointers as to how to help a woman know she is loved. From this will flow astounding benefits, including bringing her to the peak of her sexuality.

1. Praise her. Regularly find things you like about her physical appearance, her character and her abilities, and verbalize your admiration. Appreciate all that she does for you and freely express your gratitude.
2. Be loyal to her. Don’t say negative things about her behind her back. Defend her if anyone speaks negatively about her. Don?t undermine her authority in front of the children.
3. If you use humor that puts her down, be extremely careful. She might, laugh but at times your words could be damaging her. Try to wean yourself off such humor.
4. Seek to discover her inner feelings. Try to be sensitive to her needs. This is a huge challenge for most men.
5. Giver her time: Recognize and make allowances for times when she is tired or upset or not her usual self.
6. Respect her opinions. You might not always agree with her, but try to. Thoughtfully consider her views. Never rubbish them.
7. Consult your wife before making decisions. Share your plans and dreams with her. Be open and honest with her about every aspect of your life
8. Regularly ask her such things as:
   • What can I do to make you feel more loved?
   • What can I do to boost your confidence and help you feel good about yourself?
   • What can we do to make sex more exciting and fulfilling for you?

Perhaps you are scared to ask such questions for fear she will say something like, “Help more around the house”. Be brave! If this really is high on her priorities for feeling loved, then it is important. More is at stake than a bit of housework. It touches her emotional well-being and your entire marriage. Only she knows the critical elements in making her feel loved. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

The human circulatory system is a highly complex and well-orchestrated system designed with two sets of channels. The arteries are a chain of vessels which carry oxygenated blood to all parts of the body from the heart. The venous system, on the other hand, carries impure or deoxygenated blood from each of the end organs to the heart. These start from minute branches in the distant parts of the body and gradually grow in size until they reach the heart.

These two channels do not interact unless either created artificially or in disease conditions. Naturally, these could be due to developmental anomalies or as a result of an aneurysm and would require a surgical correction. The AV fistula is, however, commonly created naturally in people who have to undergo hemodialysis.

Why an AV fistula: Generally, an artery in the forearm is sewn into a vein in the forearm. This AV fistula may take about 4 months to heal or mature, and a needle is then inserted into the vein during dialysis. When an AV fistula is created, there is a decrease in the peripheral resistance as the blood does not have to exert as much pressure as before, and there is an easy movement of blood into the veins.

How to care for it:

1. There could be initial limitations on the amount of weight that can be lifted
2. Keep the dressing in place for 1 to 2 days
3. Do not sleep on the fistula arm
4. Do not wear jewelry on the arm
5. Always wash hands before touching the access
6. Avoid lifting heavy objects using the hand
7. Avoiding damage to the arm like cuts or bruises
8. Regular checking for the pulse or thrill in the arm
9. Monitoring for signs of infection (redness, blood clots, swelling, pus formation, etc.)

Advantages:

1. Uses the body’s own blood vessels, no artificial material (as in catheter for instance)
2. Reduced chances of clotting
3. It provides good blood flow for dialysis
4. Is more effective than other types of access (graft or catheter)
5. Lesser complications compared to other access types
6. Is done on an outpatient basis and are less expensive
7. Usually last longer than other access methods

Disadvantages:

1. Longer maturity time (sometimes up to 4 months), so are not available for ready use
2. Stenosis or narrowing of the vessels is common, sometimes leading to blood clots.
3. If they fail to mature, a fresh fistula may need to be created
4. Usually created on the forearm, so are quite visible

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Sleep disorder is the condition where a person loses his night sleep completely or is able to sleep only for few hours or minutes. They feel a sudden restlessness when they go to sleep, or they naturally do not get any good sleep. Sleeping disorders can be of various types and they are not just only about the person's inability to fall asleep.

Some common types of sleeping disorders are:

• Sleep apnea
• Restless leg syndrome
• Loss of sleep due to excessive snoring
• Insomnia and sleep deprivation

All the disorders have one thing in common. They generally make the person feel tired all day long, due to complete or partial loss of sleep.

Sleeping disorders cannot be identified from the day one. The slow build up of symptoms are the only clue to the fact that one is suffering from this condition.

Some of the very common symptoms that would help the person to identify the problem are:

• Falling asleep during the day and during work
• Irritable sensation all throughout the day
• Loss of patience during work
• Loss of concentration during the day

The homeopathic remedies involve the use of natural herbs and their extracts. All these are recommended by the doctors in prescribed dosages.

Some of the commonly used homeopathic remedies are:

• Chamomilla: People suffering from sleeplessness due to pain and irritation prefer this.
• Coffea: This particular herb is considered to be ideal for coping with sleeping disorders. This is more commonly suggested for people, who find it difficult to fall asleep due to over excitation, or else due to sudden mood swings.
• Belladona: This herb is used in cases where the person has trouble falling asleep due to nightmares or headache. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!