Know More About Sleeping Disorders In Children

Lack of sleep shows obvious symptoms that could be recorded by attentive parents. Having your child suffer from a lack of sleep is bound to keep him/ her low on energy and dull throughout the day. Some of the most common symptoms to keep an eye out for include:

1. Falling asleep in the car, most of the times.

2. Being unable to wake up in the morning, in spite of regular wake up calls and a constantly ringing alarm.

3. Being extra sensitive by over playing emotions, aggression, and crankiness.

4. A recurrent need for sleep during the noon.

The most major factor that could cause a sleeping disorder in children is 'sleep hygiene'.

What is sleep hygiene?

Sleep hygiene refers to all the behavioral and environmental factors that may interfere with sleep. The general areas that you could consider bringing about a substantial change include:

1. Personal habits- Getting your child into a consistent habit of sleeping and waking up at a fixed time.

2. Sleep environment- Keeping the bedroom cool and ensure there is no added source of light or any disturbance in the form of sound.

3. Pre-sleep activity- Ensure your child does nothing active before hitting the sack. Instead put him/ her in the habit of reading before sleeping. Doing so sets the tone for the child to calm down and get ready for a wholesome nap.

4. Other intakes- Try and reduce the intake of foods, liquids, or medicines; if any. This too may be contributing negatively in your little one's sleeping pattern.

Some of the common sleep disorders that occur in children include:

1. Sleep deprivation- Sleeping in accordance with the age of the child is extremely important. However, many a times, children in their teens tend to get lesser sleep than required posing as a sleep deprivation issue.

2. Sleepwalking- Some children tend to walk in their sleep when going through a sleeping disorder. It's nothing to panic about, however, ensure you make your child aware about the same. This will keep him/ her a little more conscious and could avoid the situation completely.

3. Separation anxiety- Once the child is shifted into a new room, all by himself/ herself; they tend to get separation anxiety leading to sleeplessness. This means that the child is unable to overcome the fact that he/ she has to sleep without the parents around. It does take some time for kids to defeat this anxiety; however, it does eventually fade away.

If you have a child who is suffering from a sleeping disorder, wait no longer. Look for natural or alternate sleeping disorder remedies to help your child get over this exhausting disorder. Helping your child cope up with a disorder of this sort will require you to know more about how you can help... So, log on to the internet and type in the keywords Children Sleep Disorder Remedy to get a deeper understanding of what should and can be done. Irrespective of what steps you take, make it a point to only opt for natural remedies for sleeping disorder, as antibiotics and other chemical drugs are something you want to keep your timid child away from!

Types of Sleep Disorders & What Not to Do If You Are Looking to Get More Sleep

There are a number of factors that cause sleep to be disrupted. There are also many different types of sleeping disorders, and the causes and the symptoms can vary. Sleep disorders usually occur because of stress and anxiety, sadness, grief, alcohol and caffeine use, and other environmental factors.

Other types of sleeping disorders have to do with your health. If you are suffering from depression, chronic diseases, pain and alcoholism, you are at risk for insomnia. Many when have certain types of sleep disorders because of problems related to menstruation and pregnancy.

There are four types of sleeping disorders. The first is dyssomnia. It occurs when the body's natural resting is interrupted. This can be caused by external factors such as noise and light.

Parasomnia is caused when you have trouble with arousal or sleeping stage changeover. In these instances, bed wetting, grinding of teeth, night terrors, and sleep talking or walking can disturb your sleep. Medical or psychiatric problems are also among the different types of sleeping disorders. They disturb sleep often come from alcoholism, ulcers, asthma and anxiety.

The final entry in our list of the types of sleeping disorders is proposed disorders, which are rest-related disturbances. Some people need to sleep more than others. But if these sleep periods are unusual, then it is a sleeping disorder. This goes for people who do not get enough sleep, and those who get too much sleep.

If you are not getting enough sleep, you need to look for some natural cures. You do not want to rely on sleep medication in order to get more rest. Sleeping pills are highly addictive, and they really are just muscle relaxants. They do not give you the rest you need.

Three Tips to Get Children with Sleeping Problems Asleep

According to the American Sleep Association 70% of all babies and infants at one time or another suffer from sleeping difficulties. So if bed time is a difficult time for you and your baby you are in good company. Rest assured that there is probably nothing wrong but of course when you are in doubt seek professional care. Jodi Mindell, a researcher and sleep expert at the Institute, has 3 tips for worried parents.

1. Put your baby to bed when he/she is sleepy but not yet asleep.
   That way you teach your infant to fall a sleep by himself. When baby is able to do that around bedtime chances are he or she will wake up once oTARGET="_new"r twice per night. But because the baby is trained or used to falling asleep in his own bed you don't have to "rock or swing" him to sleep. Going back to sleep comes naturally. And you will be much fitter the next day.



2. Define a strict bedtime regimen.
   That way your child learns to get "tired" every afternoon and evening at about the same time. Also it's a good idea to extend this predictability to other areas of the baby's life. Certainty and safety will make the baby more relaxed and will help him to grow to be a healthy adult. Make sure your baby does go to bed early enough. Exhausted babies have trouble falling asleep.



3. Make strict use sleep rituals
   Start at a young age with a bed time routine. Use a specific system in which three or four activities are always done in the same order. For example, wash first, then put on pajamas, and last but not least a bedtime story or song. That way you create a predictable order of activities that make the change from daytime activity to the slower pace of going to bed more gradual.


If you want to know more about this interesting topic read Jodi Mindell's book "Sleeping through the Night". In my opinion this book is a must-read for parents who worry about the sleeping habits of their little one. The book is very readable and is packed with tips, tricks and explanations.

One warning never give young children a sleeping pill unless you really have discussed this deeply with your general practitioner.

Insomnia And Other Sleep Disorders With Home Remedies

Insomnia is not the only one among sleep disorders, there is a long list of sleep disorders but the most common among them are Insomnia, Sleep apnea, Bruxism, Excessive sleepiness and Restless legs. But the most found is Insomnia.

Now, what is insomnia after all?

It is lack of good quality sleep during night leading to numerous sleeping problems like waking up too early, waking up off and on throughout night and restlessness. It may be temporary or chronic. But to add to your knowledge, insomnia is a symptom, and not a disease.

Insomnia Causes

1. Stress

This stress could be related to work among adults, school among children, health or family concerns.

2. Depression

If you are depressed due to some personal, physical, social or professional reasons, then your sleeping patterns are bound to be affected adversely. When your mind is not relaxed, how can sleep!

3. Excessive use of stimulants

Too much or excessive intake of stimulants like caffeine, nicotine, herbal supplements, over-the-counter and prescription medications also leads to insomnia.

4. Alcohol

Regular intake of alcohol will definitely disturb your sleeping patterns. This is because you get addicted to it and without it, you won't be able to get a good timely sleep. Hence, your natural sleep has vanished.

5. Change in environment or work schedule

New room, new bed, new mattresses, new lighting, new atmosphere will obviously affect your ability to sleep in a normal way. Its a natural thing. Some cope up with these new changes soon while some are incapable of this adaptation and therefore, fall into the trap of insomnia.

6. Dependence on sleeping pills

Sleep medications reduce your natural tendency to sleep properly and in time.

7. Chronic medical problems

There are some chronic disturbances in your body like fibromyalgia or complex diseases of the nerves and muscles

8. Behavioral insomnia

It occurs when you worry excessively about not being able to sleep well and try too hard to fall asleep. Most people with this condition sleep better when they are away from their usual sleep environment.

So, concluding all the above discomforts that lead you to a torturous world of insomnia, it becomes necessary for you to go for something that could draw you out of its bloody claws forever... And to your amusement and luck, here you will find two different ways to get rid of insomnia.

Children of Alcoholics - Effectively Managing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

With the U.S. Congress' passage of "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day" on June 27, 2011, attention is being drawn to a debilitating condition which affects 3.5% of the adult population in the U.S., 36.6% of cases which are classified as "severe" according to the statistics provided by the National Institute of Mental Health. While PTSD is largely associated with war veterans, the fact is, it is not solely connected to or exclusive to those in or returning from combat. One area which is largely overlooked, primarily because of the lack of research or education in this matter, is the issue of PTSD in children of alcoholics.

Children of alcoholics are a population who has not been clearly defined. I have not found any recent statistics which can pinpoint with accuracy any type of percentage. The latest statistics I found date back to January of 2000 where, in an issue of the American Journal of Public Health, it was estimated that 15% of all U.S. children were currently exposed to alcohol abuse and/or dependence in the family.

Children of alcoholics are considered to be any child whose parent (or caregiver) uses alcohol in such a way that it causes problems in the child's life whether physically, emotionally or socially. Children of alcoholics are at a higher risk of developing PTSD either in childhood or as an adult, simply because of the unpredictable and often chaotic behavior that goes on within the home of an alcoholic. Communication tends to be unclear and, at times, non-existent while family life is often quite stressful with high rates of domestic violence and sexual abuse as well as neglect.

Even long after the child is no longer living with the alcoholic parent for whatever reason, perhaps divorce or death, sometimes removal by child protective services, they continue to feel the impact well into their adulthood. Children of alcoholics learn at a very early age how to survive as best they can. While each person is different and uses different coping mechanisms, the fact remains that these children are exposed to traumatic life-altering events as a result of a parent's addiction.

Some children develop maladaptive coping skills because they are too young to understand or to emotionally rationalize within their minds what is actually going on. The early experience of just surviving within the home of an alcoholic is traumatic for the young mind which has not emotionally matured to a place of understanding nor has the coping skills to deal with an addictive personality.

Children of alcoholics are not able to understand that the alcoholic parent's behaviors and mood swings are determined by the amount of alcohol they have consumed, especially younger children, who incorrectly believe it's their fault because of their behavior or because they were not "good." It can leave a child feeling insecure and confused; many experiencing low self-esteem issues that carry on into their adult lives.

These children often suffer PTSD, sleep disorders and flashbacks; they are at a higher risk of anxiety and depression, symptoms usually associated with victims of war crimes. Many live in fear, never knowing what will happen next, one particular person who comes to mind, now an adult, recalled that as a teenager she screamed at her father to pull the car over so she could drive; her father was so intoxicated that she feared for her life and that of her mother, who was in the passenger seat. These children carry with them a legacy passed on from the alcoholic parent and, unless treated for the emotional damage that living in this kind of environment has produced, the adult is destined to create a life less than desirable with physical and emotional issues such as:

· Co-dependency

· Relationship issues

· Stress and anxiety

· PTSD

· Depression

· Headaches

· Migraines

· Gastrointestinal disorders

· Asthma

An adult woman of an alcoholic parent is more likely to marry an abusive man and is at a high risk of being re-victimized because of choosing men who have substance abuse problems themselves. Women in particular are at a higher risk of anxiety and depressive disorders; often times these disorders have their onset in adulthood when something pushes them over the edge and the nervous system is no longer able to cope with the overload of emotions.

Ongoing research by the EFT community has shown that the emotional freedom technique is effective and has high success rates in treating PTSD. "Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day" is for everyone, not just war veterans. If you, or someone you love, is suffering with PTSD, please reach out for help; becoming aware is the first step to recovery.

Snoring In Children

Is snoring hereditary? If both mom and dad snore, does that make you a snorer too? Children waking up from the noisy snoring of their parents are common in a lot of households. But how about if the parents are the one awakened by their children's snoring?

Some people may find it cute to hear their children make sleep sounds. While some of them are drifting off to a deep slumber and are perfectly healthy, some may not be as lucky. Snoring in children, as with those in adults, can be a health issue as well.

Whether we like it or not, there are children who suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea. So how do we know if they're healthy snorers or if they have sleep apnea? It is not difficult to assess snoring in children. Those suffering from sleep apnea may have interrupted sleep, may gasp and have short stops in breathing.

Snoring in children has been associated with other behavioral problems as well. Those who have sleep apnea are said to have shorter attention span and are the ones who encounter problems in school. Other symptoms would include: enlarged tonsils with nasal speech, overweight/obesity, and high blood pressure.

There are many reasons for snoring in children. One of the culprits is the seasonal allergies. Make sure you know what triggers your child's allergies as these make their nose clogged up causing them to snore while sleeping.

A blocked airway or nasal passage often due to cold or sinusitis can also cause snoring in children. Deviatedseptum, or that tissue and the cartilage dividing the two nostrils, may be curved. If not fixed or straightened out, snoring in children with this condition will persist because this does not allow them to breathe as easily.

Enlarged tonsils as well as adenoids can also result to snoring in children. The adenoid is a gland that can be found near the insides of the nasal passage. Together with the tonsils, they catch bacteria, making them swollen for most of the time. Because of this, snoring in children occurs.

Obesity and too much weight cause the air passages to narrow. That is why snoring in children as well as in adults happen to those with weight problems. Snoring in children is a big health concern because it has been said to cause hyperactivity. Aside from the diseases that coexist with snoring, attention issues are linked with snoring in children.

So even if sometimes it is cute to see and hear our kids snore, this doesn't always mean they are having a good night's sleep. Before long, those sounds won't be as cute as it was the first time we heard it.

Restrictive Lung Sleep Disorders

Getting the right amount of good quality sleep is essential for maintaining the physical and emotional health of a person. Nowadays, many people do not get enough sleep and suffer from sleep disorders. According to a survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, over 40 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders severe enough to affect their daily activities.

Sleep disorders occur due to a variety of causes such as alcohol, drugs, coffee, soda, poor nighttime habits, neurological problems, or problems arising from restrictive lung disease. Restrictive lung disease is a chronic lung disorder that decreases the ability of lungs to expand. It also decreases the ability of the lungs to transfer oxygen to meet the body's needs.

People suffering from restrictive lung disease exhibit a wide range of oxygenation and breathing abnormalities during sleep. Frequent early morning awakenings and more daytime sleepiness are also found in people with restrictive lung disease. The treatment for sleep disorders due to restrictive lung disease should be comprehensive and should consider physiologic and psychological factors as well.

Interstitial pulmonary lung diseases such as sarcoidosis, granulomatous disorder, and extrapulmonary restrictive lung diseases including scoliosis are the most common restrictive lung diseases. Pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, and pneumonia are some of the instances of restrictive lung disease.

Sleep disorders are quite common in patients with both extrapulmonary restriction and interstitial pulmonary restriction. Patients who suffer from extrapulmonary restriction such as kyphoscoliosis are susceptible to develop severe apneas during sleep, mainly during the REM stage of sleep.

Sleep quality is generally low in patients with interstitial lung disease. People suffering from interstitial lung disease breathe in a rapid and shallow manner during sleep. Certain patients with interstitial lung disease have great abnormalities in the sleep structure. Patients with interstitial lung disease are susceptible to develop hypoxemia when snorting.

The use of nebulized morphine is found effective in patients with interstitial lung disease for breathlessness reduction. Oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, lung transplantation, and hormone therapy are other options to treat patients suffering from interstitial lung disease.