Information and opinions on health from healthgal at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/86903/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/86903/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/86903/index http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/86903/65582/sleep-awry Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:23:48 -0400 healthgal When Sleep Goes Awry   When we look at infant and toddler sleep patterns, there are often simple clues that explain why a sleep pattern (if it is in place) has become disrupted.  Causes can include: -Stomach discomfort due to gas or a type of food that was eaten -Illness -Dirty or wet diaper/bed-wetting in older children -Scary incident during the day -TV programming -Teething -Growing... http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/86903/65582/sleep-awry http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/86903/65581/nightmare Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:17:37 -0400 healthgal Sleep is probably the most scrutinized and discussed aspect of a baby-child-teen's care.  Of course we all expect newborns to wake up....a lot.  And since they cannot tell us what's wrong, we often have to depend on our own instincts, and the advice of doctor's and friends, as we navigate those early days and weeks.  Those struggles can impact the quality and duration of our own sleep, but again, we typically expect it to ease up... http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/86903/65581/nightmare http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/86903/63046/good-sleep Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:18:13 -0400 healthgal I've written extensively about insomnia, but since so many of us have a bout of insomnia at some point during our lives, it continues to feature prominently in topics that I track.  If the insomnia is short-lived, it's considered a part of life and we usually know that stress, anxiety, worries, some life transition, a sudden change in our lives is the cause.  But when you continue to have trouble either falling asleep or staying... http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/86903/63046/good-sleep http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/86903/53863/rhinitis Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:01:42 -0500 healthgal Two new health headlines on sleep offer the following:   (1) If you have a sleep disorder called REM sleep behavior disorder, which means that during REM phase of sleep, you have excessive muscle activity like punching/kicking/crying out (instead of the normal lack of muscle tone expected) then you may be at greater risk for neurodegenerative disease.  In fact more than 50% of patients observed to have this sleep disorder, and... http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/86903/53863/rhinitis http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/86903/53298/arteries Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:52:00 -0500 healthgal One extra hour...just one extra hour of sleep seems to lower the risk of developing calcifications, a precursor to heart disease.  The converse is also true, namely, chronic partial sleep deprivation may be a risk factor for an array of common problems including weight gain, hypertension and diabetes - which all correlate with an increased risk of heart disease.    The study cited in the December 24th issue of JAMA, looked at... http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/86903/53298/arteries http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/86903/53144/calories Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:16:00 -0500 healthgal This next discussion ended up being classified as weird science.  Experts have found that people who snore at night seem to be better calorie burners at rest during the day, than non-snorers.  HOWEVER - the snorer's calorie burn does not seem to be significant enought to offset the obesity that often accompanies sleep apnea.  Typically most sleep apnea sufferers struggle with obesity as well.  So that slight calorie burn... http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/86903/53144/calories http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/86903/52877/encourage Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:02:00 -0500 healthgal If you are the parent of a teen(s) you've heard them grumbling and complaining and dragging themselves out of bed, with true suffering every school morning!!! And there is no doubt that due to text messaging, and computer time and homework and after school acitivities AND partying on the weekend (sometimes) - teens are tired.  Well according to a recent journal article in the Journal of Sleep Medicine, after a one-hour delay of school start... http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/86903/52877/encourage http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/86903/51915/smoking Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:46:00 -0500 healthgal Smoking is considered one of the worst addictive vices you can have.  Enormous efforts have been made to extoll the virtues of "kicking butt" but most experts acknowledge that it is one of the most difficult habits to give up.  That being said, we do know how dangerous smoking can be to a growing fetus.  A mother who continues to smoke while pregnant puts her health at risk, while also running the risk that her baby will be have... http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/86903/51915/smoking http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/86903/51496/cognition Sun, 07 Dec 2008 23:26:00 -0500 healthgal   It's hard enough to cope with the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and also be hopeful.  With no significant treatment at this time, the only therapy options include Aricept, good lifestyle choices including adequate intake of omega-3 fatty acids and of course, brain and physical exercises.  Any therapeutic interventions that might help other ongoing health issues and also improve the cognition of an... http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/86903/51496/cognition http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/86903/51146/workers Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:12:00 -0500 healthgal In these tough financial times - every job is now considered precious.  But as anyone who has done it knows - night shift work can be gruesome when it comes to sleep issues.  The challenge night shift workers face is trying to relax their body for a good "day's sleep" as the rest of the world answers the call of natural light and goes off to a day's work.  Well, listen up if you are truly suffering with sleep issues!!   A... http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/86903/51146/workers