Health Expert Lauren Mergen shares health management news and commentary 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/879775/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/879775/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/879775/index http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/879775/150910/national Mon, 05 Mar 2012 14:34:00 -0500 Lauren Mergen This week is National Sleep Awareness Week, an annual public education and awareness campaign to promote the importance of sleep. About 37 percent of American adults report they sleep less than seven hours a night, although the National Sleep foundation suggests at least seven to nine hours. Getting less that seven hours of sleep increase the risk of unintentionally falling asleep during the day, falling asleep at the wheel, self-reported... http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/879775/150910/national http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/879775/149249/sleep Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:28:00 -0500 Lauren Mergen Usually around this time of year, the gym seems to fill with unfamiliar faces; the January Joiners.  Perhaps they have made a resolution to lose weight, tone up, or fit in their favorite pair of jeans. Though the crowded gym is annoying, I applaud the January Joiners.  Since I frequent the gym every day, I decided to make a sleep resolution. Below is a list of habits that can help keep my narcolepsy symptoms in check. ... http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/879775/149249/sleep http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/879775/148067/shopping Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:11:00 -0500 Lauren Mergen With the holidays just around the corner, I’ve compiled a gift guide for those special people in your life.  I am committed to a natural lifestyle and many of the products are 100% endorsed by me.  There’s something for the marathon runner, the yogi, the insomniac and everyone in between.  Staying active is an important part of keeping control of my narcolepsy symptoms.  A new gym bag, yoga mat and BPA-free... http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/879775/148067/shopping http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/879775/147513/symptoms Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:50:00 -0500 Lauren Mergen Have you ever experienced excessive daytime sleepiness?  The most common symptoms of narcolepsy include:             Sleep attacks: these can last for 15 minutes             Hallucinations             Sleep... http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/879775/147513/symptoms http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/879775/146809/exercise Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:56:00 -0500 Lauren Mergen Lately, I was feeling especially bored with my workout routine.  I tried to spice it up by incorporating new exercises, doing more yoga and more interval training.  But I stopped seeing the same results I was this summer.  What was I doing wrong? Frustrated, I decided to meet with a personal trainer to refocus on my goals.    Should I run on the treadmill or outside? Should I work on distance, pace or high intensity... http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/879775/146809/exercise http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/879775/146246/options Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:26:00 -0400 Lauren Mergen Treating narcolepsy can be a tricky procedure.  There are many options, but most are what I call “band-aids”.  There are no cures, but the goal is to help control the symptoms of narcolepsy.  They can help, but won’t cure the condition.  Prescription Medications: When I was first diagnosed, my doctor and I decided that a stimulant would help reduce the grogginess I was experiencing everyday.  I started... http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/879775/146246/options http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/879775/145678/food Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:59:00 -0400 Lauren Mergen Throughout the last few years my eating habits have changed significantly.  I was a faithful vegetarian during high school, before I was diagnosed with narcolepsy.  But about six months ago I had a change of heart and started eating meat.  Here’s how I slowly started incorporating meat into my diet:   A few months ago, my mom introduced me to her friend’s daughter who was then recently diagnosed with... http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/879775/145678/food http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/879775/145214/college Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:12:00 -0400 Lauren Mergen A wise friend once told me, college is made up of three things: grades, a social life, and sleep.  But, he said, you can only pick two and usually, sleep is the first to go.  He spoke from experience, as a mature sophomore, when I was just a freshman.              Between classes, my extracurricular activities, volunteering, my sorority, a part-time babysitting gig and... http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/879775/145214/college http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/879775/144736/central Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:15:00 -0400 Lauren Mergen Hello, HealthCentral readers!   My name is Lauren and I am a junior journalism student at Drake University.  My disordered sleep started just a year ago during my sophomore year of college when I could not fall asleep at night.  This probably sounds pretty typical for any stressed college student, but I couldn't keep up.  My friends would do homework until 2 a.m. and wake up for an 8 a.m. class. My roommates would head off... http://www.healthcentral.com/sleep-disorders/c/879775/144736/central