Hi Anon,

Anytime pressure is applied to your nerves/circulation it could cause numbness. If you are a side sleeper I would suggest trying to get to sleep on your back if possible.

Check out this link, there is a doctor’s response on the page that might help out…http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Neurology/Numbness-in-right-arm-when-sleeping-at-night/show/297093

Best,

The Sleep Academy

The truth is bed bugs can be an itchy topic.  Bed bugs have been dining on humankind since ancient times, but they have made a bigger comeback than ever.  According to research at the Mayo Clinic, bed bugs had been eradicated with the help of a pesticide known as DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)¹.  Today, DDT use has been banned in the US since it was found to be extremely harmful to human health and toxic to the environment.  Pesticides like DDT can cause serious health effects. In this article we will discuss how to prevent and control bed bugs from entering into your family’s home. We will also discuss the safest, healthiest, and most economical ways to handle these uninvited guests.  

The risk of picking up these little hitchhikers has increased significantly. Bed bugs are typically exchanged where people are coming and going often and/or crowded places. You may be at a greater risk of bringing these uninvited guests into your home if you have spent time (or plan to spend time) in hotels, motels, inns, hospitals, apartment complexes, and college dorms.   

Another factor that may put your family at risk for bed bug infestations is buying second-hand items.  The economy has impacted families across the country, so it is not surprising why more people are buying family necessities second-hand. Be careful! A great bargain may give you a warm feeling in your wallet, but you may find yourself in a severe case of the bed bugs. The following items should not be purchased at a second-hand store unless absolutely necessary: mattresses, box springs, bedding, linens, and furniture.  The list is not all inclusive. Always use your best judgment when shopping second-hand.  The truth about bed bugs is they do not mind if your home is clean or dirty, they simply need you- a host to live off of.

Prevention is truly the key to protecting yourself against these parasites. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), bed bug populations in different geographic areas of the country have developed resistance to various pesticide modes of action². If you are dealing with a resistant population some products may only make the problem worse. The safest way to prevent bed bugs without the use of toxic chemicals in your home is to use a mattress that is a naturally resistant to bed bugs.  The best type of mattress to help fight the war against bed bugs is one made of foam. The bed bugs are less likely to be able to live IN the mattress as they cannot move easily through the foam like a spring mattress that has open spaces within the mattress.

A memory foam mattress is an affordable and easy way to protect you and your family. Another practical method of preventing an infestation is to invest in a research backed, bed bug resistant mattress cover. These covers will incase the entire mattress and trap the bed bugs, preventing them from getting to a host (You!). Bed bugs are very resilient and can live up to a year without feeding! A mattress cover is beneficial so that if an infestation occurs you will not have to throw out your mattress. Remember- bed bugs are visible (dust mites are not) and can be vacuumed away, so be sure to vacuum regularly if you suspect an infestation.

So, “Sleep tight, and don’t let the bed bugs bite!”

Sources:
[1] Staff, Mayo Clinic. “Bedbugs: Risk Factors - MayoClinic.com.” Mayo Clinic. Sept. 2010. Web. 03 Mar. 2011. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bedbugs/DS00663/DSECTION=risk-factors>.

[2] “Bed Bugs | Pesticides | US EPA.” US Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 08 Mar. 2011. <http://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/>.

Some people enjoy sleeping alone, but sometimes it’s unavoidable or unwanted. Several members of the Cimicidae family have moved into the comfort of many homes across the U.S. and into their beds and other comfortable places.  Cimex lectularius, also known as the bed bug, is a parasitical bug that is mainly associated with humans, birds and bats. Although bed bugs parasitize with these different creatures, they adapt best to human environments ¹.

There are many people that don’t know what bed bugs are capable of and why they choose to sleep in beds with other humans. Another question that has also risen to the surface is, what do bed bugs look like in order for someone to recognize them? The answer is this: They are a small bug that has a chestnut brown color to them, dorso-ventrally flattened, and the adult bug usually measures up to c. 5 mm across². Bed bugs can look similar to other small insects such as ticks and fleas, but don’t get confused as to where each bug can hide or even sleep at night.

Bed bugs are known for spending most of their lifetime concealed in harbourages, including around the seams of mattresses, in bed-frames, behind head-boards, behind skirting boards, in furniture, inside electrical fittings, behind pictures and coving, in curtains, under fitted carpets and in wall voids². These small creatures hide and sleep in other places that aren’t exclusive to peoples’ beds. They are also sometimes found on or in clothing and the seams on clothes, but they are almost never found on humans.

Whenever there is an unfortunate event of bed bugs being spotted on someone, one most know what the dangers of that situation are. After someone has been bitten, that person may or may not show a substantial, red, itchy reaction wherever the bite occurs. While some people have extreme and quick reactions to a bite, some people may never have any reaction at all². This can be very fortunate in some cases, but knowing that someone has been bitten only means an early detection of an infestation in your home, apartment, office, etc. Although bites may sometimes become secondarily infected, research has consistently indicated that bedbugs do not transmit blood-borne infections, such as HIV or hepatitis². With this being known, the worse consequence of a bed bug is only irritation, itchiness, and swelling of certain areas.

The infestation of bed bugs can be very annoying, irritating, and also very costly. After some people have experienced bed bugs moving into their homes, their only solution may be to throw out any mattresses, (a memory foam mattress naturally resists bed bugs) furniture, carpet, linens, and many other items that could have contained bed bugs. This only means that replacements are in need for any place or item that has been bothered by this insect. If you ever suspect bed bugs, we recommend contacting a pesticide specialist immediately. COMING SOON: Please read ‘How to Prevent and Control Bed Bugs’ for tips you can use to help prevent and control bed bugs in your home.

[1] Reinhardt, Klaus, and Michael T. Siva-Jothy. “Biology of Bed Bugs (Cimicidae).” Annual Review of Entomology 52. (2007): 351-374. Web. 30 Nov 2010. <http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.114 /annurev.ento.52. 040306. 133913>.

[2] Boase, Clive. “Bedbugs - Back from the Brink.” Royal Society of Chemistry 2001 (2001): 159-162. Web. 30 Nov 2010. <http://www.rsc.org/delivery/_ArticleLinking/DisplayArticleForFree.cfm?doi=b106301b&JournalCode =PO. %3 Cb r>.

Sometimes falling asleep is no easy task, and for many it’s downright difficult to do under any circumstance. Due to its sedative effect, alcohol is a common choice for those who have a hard time finding a way to fall asleep.  It’s important to consider the other effects, however, that alcohol will have—namely on the very sleep these people use it to achieve. Booze before bedtime may appear to ease the transition into dreamland, but what happens after that is well worth taking note of.

Adults function best with anywhere between 7-9 hours of sleep per night. The consumption of alcoholic beverages before bedtime, interestingly enough, will effectively serve to cut the number of hours actually acquired in half. In fact, drinking alcohol at any time three hours or less before bed can lead to both early waking and disruptions in the sleep cycle on the whole. The entire sleep process is advanced by alcohol intake: N-REM sleep [also know as “deep sleep”] increases, incrementally decreasing REM [or “Rapid Eye Movement” rest]. The problem is that you need both types, in very balanced doses. You may be surprised to learn that these facts don’t deter many: in recent studies, some 28% of insomniacs claimed to have depended on alcohol as a means for falling asleep, and fully 67% described the practice as helpful.

The difficulty with this nighttime “medication” approach is plain: alcohol can either make sleep disorders more frequent, or increase your susceptibility to acquire them. The most common sleep disorder that occurs as a result of the consumption of alcohol before bedtime is obstructive sleep apnea, and it’s one of the most destructive in regard to heart health. Drinking alcohol will narrow your air passages and thereby make it harder to breathe at night. As you gasp for the air that’s being blocked, your sleep cycle is deeply disturbed.When air is obstructed in the passages, your heart must work much harder to get the oxygen that it needs, which results in lasting health problems if it persists over a long period of time.

Studies have shown that the consumption of alcohol even just an hour before bedtime causes major disruptions in the second part of the sleep cycle, which will lead to early awakening. As mentioned earlier, drinking alcohol before bedtime will not only shorten REM sleep but increase deep sleep. The resultant physiological state is known as “REM rebound.” After consuming high doses of alcohol, the body becomes sedated, causing you to fall asleep quickly. After you begin to snooze, your body becomes adjusted to that alcohol running through your blood stream. By the time the second part of the sleep cycle is underway, however, your body has metabolized [re: eliminated] the alcohol from your system, and it will attempt to return your metabolism to normal levels. This is where that rebound begins to occur. Instead of successfully returning to physiologically-normal levels [gauged by certain sleep variables such as the amount of REM sleep acquired at night] your body will over-compensate and change its course in the opposite direction, which results in a sleep disturbance. Furthermore, this disturbance will disrupt the proportionality of the various sleep stages. When rebound and its associated disturbances occur, your body won’t feel fully rested the next day. We all know what that’s like: an unclear [or “foggy”] state of mind and a marked inability to perform simple tasks at an optimal and efficient performance level.

Several studies have evaluated next-day performance and alertness in healthy people who consumed alcohol before falling asleep. In one such study, young pilots drank alcohol between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. in quantities sufficient to result in BACs [blood-alcohol concentrations] of 0.10-0.12 percent right before bedtime. The following morning, over 14 hours after consuming alcohol and with BACs reset to 0, the performance of pilots in a flight simulator was significantly impaired when compared to their performance after imbibing a placebo. The lack of continuity and longevity of the sleep they experienced after heavy drinking is the same as what everyone will suffer when doing so: it simply makes people slower and less attentive the following day.

It’s clear by now that the effects of alcohol on sleep can be dire. Though you may believe it’s helping you sleep, the consumption of alcohol before bed will only result in next-day fatigue and an inability to remain alert… and can actually lead to a serious sleeping disorder. Aside from the havoc it wreaks on your system when frequently drunk at high levels, alcohol can also be dangerous to others around you. There’s no question that critical mistakes are made every day by folks in all walks of life due to the effects of alcohol consumption, whether in the intoxicated state or, like the pilots mentioned, well after you think you’ve “slept it off.” Remember that there are several alternatives to alcohol that are both healthier and more effective when it comes to getting the shut-eye you require on a nightly basis. For starters, you might try getting into a sleep routine, which is a tremendously effective way to train your body’s physiological nature into winding down at night. You’re probably already aware that you should avoid caffeine, dairy products, and smoking before bedtime. Finally, consider going to bed an hour or two later—it can help you go to sleep faster because you’ll be more fatigued. And bear in mind that your old mattress may be part of the problem… switching to memory foam will improve your body’s blood circulation and alleviate the pressure points associated with traditional innerspring mattresses so that you get more restful sleep each night. In sum, you can do better for your body than waking up with a hangover every day. It’s time to make strides toward getting some quality sleep without alcohol.

Even if you do own a fine memory foam mattress like ours at www.bedinabox.com, you must be sure to have good sleeping habits to help you fully enjoy it!

Alcohol Alert. National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa41.htm. Retrieved on July 28th, 2009.
Alcohol and Sleep.Loyola Marymount Universtiy. http://www.lmu.edu/PageFactory.aspx?PageID=25070. Retrieved on July 28th, 2009.;

Hohenstein Institute

September, 2009

Case Study: BedInABox.com

When BedInABox.com, a leading manufacturer and e-tailer of premium memory foam mattresses, decided to position their new non-toxic memory foam as the healthiest and safest memory foam mattress in the world, they came to Hohenstein Institute.

Bill Bradley, CEO of BedInABox.com believes the new “Clean Foam” movement is the most important next step for ensuring the continued growth and vitality of the memory foam mattress market. Hohenstein designed the test plan that would provide BedInABox.com with the most compelling data to support their product claims plus provide the certifications that would be influential with consumers.

All testing was conducted under one roof on Hohenstein’s campus in Bönnigheim, Germany and managed through Hohenstein’s USA office in Elon, NC. Through Hohenstein’s proprietary testing capabilities, BedInABox.com foams were analyzed for interaction with living skin cells.

The first phase of testing confirmed that contact with the foams did not cause any damage to the skin cells (cytotoxicity) which could result in skin irritation. The second phase determined that the foams did not elicit a stressful response from the skin cells which would indicate the potential for allergic reaction. By meeting both cellular response criteria, BedInABox.com memory foams were awarded Hohenstein’s “Skin Friendly and Hypoallergenic” certification-the first in history.

Now BedInABox.com has independent, third-party verification to back up their claims that their memory foams are non-toxic and hypoallergenic and safe for the entire family. And their consumers can rest easy in more ways than one.

(Loudon, TN –September 8, 2009) The first bedding manufacturer to offer mattresses and bedding products exclusively containing CertiPUR-US certified foams is BedinaBox, LLC, based in Piney Flats, TN. The company is an internet foam mattress manufacturer and e-tailer that makes mattresses, mattress covers, pillows, adjustable and platform beds available through their Web site at www.BedinaBox.com.

While BedinaBox is the first to exclusively specify CertiPUR-US foams, momentum is building within the bedding and upholstered furniture manufacturers for use of CertiPUR-US registered foam products. There are now four U.S.-based foam producers offering CertiPUR-US certified foams and two additional companies are expected to offer certified foam by the end of this year. Companies offering certified foams are listed in the products section at www.certipur.us.

The CertiPUR-US certification process examines flexible polyurethane foam (FPF) products through a battery of independent laboratory examinations including tests for VOCs and chemical analysis. Compliant products pass the laboratory testing requirements and are certified to be manufactured without use of prohibited content such as ozone-depleting CFCs, PBDE fire retardants, lead, mercury and other materials of concern. CertiPUR-US also sets baseline requirements for foam physical performance that can contribute to foam comfort and durability.

The CertiPUR-US seal can be used as a value-added marketing tool for upholstered furniture and mattresses that contain certified foam cushioning products to help consumers make informed buying decisions.

The CertiPUR-US certification program is open to all foam manufacturers. To earn CertiPUR-US certification, foams must undergo laboratory testing and adhere to the U.S. Voluntary Physical Performance and Environmental Certification Guidelines for Flexible Polyurethane Foam for Use in Furniture and Bedding Items. These guidelines were developed over the past several years by industry members, scientists, members of the academic community, environmentalists and other experts.

BedinaBox.com is a fresh new concept in high quality mattresses offered at fair prices presented simply and delivered quickly and efficiently through e-commerce. Founded by Bill Bradley in 2006, BedinaBox is operated from a modern 150,000 square foot facility in Piney Flats, TN.

Conceived by the Polyurethane Foam Association, CertiPUR-US is now a program of the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam, Inc. The program is adapted from, and closely aligned with, the European CertiPUR program, developed in 2002 by Europur, the association of European flexible polyurethane foam block manufacturers. Two key additions in the CertiPUR-US program include the U.S. minimum physical performance criteria and shorter intervals between recertification testing.

More information is available at www.certipur.us.

Although sleep is something that we all need everyday, there are many misconceptions that abound regarding this nightly necessity.  In an effort to help you ensure a thoroughly restful night, we’ve examined the ten most prevalent myths surrounding sleep.

Incredibly, this idea remains a popular myth.  In today’s fast-paced society that’s overwhelmed by our desire for instant gratification, people all too often attempt to make up for lost time by cutting into their shut-eye.  The truth is that lack of sleep actually cuts down productivity by causing us to make more mental mistakes the next day.  Your body and brain operate far more efficiently when you get at least the recommended eight hours per night, as sleep is how both recover from our daily activities.  Although the brain does not entirely shut down at night, adequate rest allows it to process the information you took in the previous day.

Almost everyone has fallen prey to this belief at one time or other.  I remember that my own favorite way to fall asleep in college was to pop in a movie and wait until I felt drowsy.  The problem with that, as you may imagine, was that I usually ended up watching the whole movie.  It turns out that watching TV or surfing the Internet before bed will disturb your sleep environment and actually makes it more difficult for you to fall asleep.  Furthermore, if you let the television or computer run when you drop off, the ambient light and sound they create will interrupt your sleep cycle because your brain remains unconsciously aware of its surroundings, preventing you from acquiring the deep sleep you need at night.

For years, it was a generally-accepted belief that snoring was just a normal part of sleep for certain people.  Many people still believe that notion because the discovery that snoring is actually hard on the body was only made in the last half-century.  In fact, snoring only occurs when there is a narrowing, or constriction, of the air passages.  Such constriction will cause the soft,  “floppy” tissue in the back of your throat to vibrate, and create the [sometimes very noisy] snoring sound.  Snoring has been proven to be difficult on the heart [causing high blood pressure], and serious cases may lead to a diagnosis of sleep apnea, which can actually be fatal.

I actually used to believe this one myself for a long time, and I avoided taking naps because I felt they only teased my appetite for sleep enough to make me grumpy when I woke up.  The truth of the matter, however, is that naps are a very good way to catch up on lost sleep: studies have shown that people perform cognitive tasks better after napping for one hour or more.  Be sure to time them properly, though, as taking a nap for longer than three hours or past three o’clock in the afternoon can make it difficult to fall asleep that night.

This common sleep myth is possibly one of the worst habits to form, as sleeping long hours on the weekend while cutting down on them through the week can throw your body’s biological clock all out of whack.  Trying to catch up on your rest over the weekend will not actually reduce fatigue during the week either, and can lead to costly mistakes at work.

This lack of sleep may not make you noticeably sleepy during the day, but even slightly less sleep than you’re used to can affect your ability to think properly and respond quickly, and it can even compromise your cardiovascular health and energy balance as well as your body’s ability to fight infections– particularly if the lack of sleep continues.  If you’re consistently not getting enough sleep, a sleep debt will eventually build up that will indeed make you excessively tired during the day.

In fact, your biological clock makes you naturally most alert during the daytime and drowsy as night falls.  Thus, even if you work the night shift, you’ll simply automatically feel sleepy when nighttime comes.  Most people do have the ability to “reset” their biological clock, but only with appropriately-timed cues, and even then, by just one to two hours per day at best.  It can take more than a week, therefore, for you to adjust to a dramatically altered sleep/wake cycle, such as that you’d encounter when traveling across several time zones or switching from first shift at work to third.

No evidence whatsoever exists to prove that any major organ [including the brain] or regulatory system in the body shuts down completely when you sleep.  Interestingly enough, certain physiological processes actually become more active while you sleep.  For example, your body’s secretion of particular hormones is accelerated when you rest, and the activity of the pathways in your brain needed for learning and memory is heightened.

Unlike adults, children who don’t get enough sleep at night actually become more active, on average, than normal during the following day.  They may also show difficulty in both paying attention and behaving properly, so these children may be consequently misdiagnosed as having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD].

Although worry or stress may lead to a brief bout of insomnia, a persistent inability to fall asleep [or stay asleep] at night can be caused by a number of other factors.  Taking certain medications or suffering from a sleep disorder can easily keep you awake at night.  Other common causes of insomnia include depression, anxiety, asthma, arthritis, or a number of other medical conditions with symptoms which become more troublesome at night.

American Medical Network. Top 10 Sleep Myths. http://sleep.health.am/sleep/more/top-10-sleep-myths/. Retrieved 06.15.09.

National Institute of Mental Health. “Power Nap” Prevents Burnout; Morning Sleep Perfects a Skill.http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2002/power-nap-prevents-burnout-morning-sleep-perfects-a-skill.shtml. Retrieved 09.15.09

Eating too much and exercising too little are well-known ways to put on weight, but did you know that losing sleep can also lead to obesity? Interestingly enough, recent studies have proven that fatigue can increase both appetite and vulnerability to weight gain. The percentage of the United States population who are considered obese has been on the rise for many years, and it’s no wonder: it seems everyone now lives high-paced, demanding lifestyles that clamor for instant gratification at all times. In order to accommodate, people are working longer hours and cutting their sleep time by an average of two hours a night¹.

Researchers throughout the United States have found that the reason for the weight gain is due to an increase in hormones called gherlin and leptin. Higher levels of gherlin and leptin contribute to a greater feeling of hunger. Dr Shahrad Taheri from the University of Bristol in the UK and her American colleagues found that in people who slept 5 hours per night compared to those who slept 8 hours, leptin and gherlin levels increased up to 15%².

In another study from author and medical professor Eve Van Cauter at the University of Chicago, 12 healthy men in their 20’s were observed. Those who slept only four hours a night [as opposed to those who slept for 10] experienced an appetite increase of some 24% along with additional levels of the hormones named above, and they tended to crave foods with higher carbohydrate and calorie content such as cookies, candy, and cakes³. Van Cauter’s proof of these increased hormone levels was accompanied by the discovery that less sleep also causes a decrease in metabolism, the process by which your body burns calories. “We found that the metabolic and endocrine changes resulting from a significant sleep debt mimic many of the hallmarks of aging. We suspect that chronic sleep loss may not only hasten the onset, but could also increase the severity of age-related ailments such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity and memory loss⁴.” Sleep deprivation will not only cause you to crave foods with higher calorie and carbohydrate counts, it will lower your ability to process them through metabolism.

Okay, so now we know that lack of sleep can make you gain weight, but can enough sleep help you to lose additional weight? The fascinating answer is yes: studies show that your body actually burns calories while it sleeps, especially when you sleep for more than 7 hours per night. According to the weight-loss calculator at FitWatch.com, a 160 pound person will burn an average of 547 calories during an 8 hour period of sleep⁵. But don’t count on added sleep to help you drop unwanted pounds alone: exercise and a healthy diet are still key essentials to successful weight loss– but having a longer rest will definitely assist your efforts.

Finally, it’s important to understand how to get better sleep. Some suggestions to improve your sleep quality and enhance your night-time calorie burn include the purchase of a memory foam mattress, keeping a set sleep schedule, and turning down the thermostat at night. Memory foam increases blood circulation, which will nourish your heart, lungs and brain, and maximize your body’s capability to burn calories. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule will hold hunger pangs at bay, and turning down your thermostat will increase calorie burn because the body expends energy in order to preserve its regular temperature. Remember that losing weight and sleeping better go hand-in-hand, so your quality of sleep should improve as you work toward your ideal weight.

By: Michael Hopper

[1] Wise-Blau, Lisa. Forget Cranky. Lack of Sleep May Make You Fat: Link may be hormones that regulate hunger. http://myhealth.ucsd.edu/HealthTopics/weight/Dec05wtMain.htm. Nov. 30 2005.

[2] University of Bristol (2004. December 13). Does the Lack of Sleep make You Fat?. Science Daily. Retrieved June 3, 2009. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/12/041206204702.htm.

[3] Wise-Blau, Lisa. Forget Cranky. Lack of Sleep May Make You Fat: Link may be hormones that regulate hunger. http://myhealth.ucsd.edu/HealthTopics/weight/Dec05wtMain.htm. Nov. 30 2005

[4] Easton, John. Lack of Sleep Alters Hormones, Metabolism. The University of Chicago Chronicle. Retrieved June 3, 2009. http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/991202/sleep.shtml.

[5] Calories Burned Calculator. http://www.fitwatch.com/phpscripts/viewexercise.php?descr=sleeping&mets=0.9.

Insomnia is one of the most common sleep difficulties reported in the United States today, as it’s currently estimated that up to 30% of Americans have been diagnosed with some form of the disorder,¹ which is characterized by a problem falling and/orstaying asleep.

Some of the tell-tale signs of insomnia include difficulty falling asleep, waking up during the night and having trouble going back to sleep, waking up too early in the morning and feeling tired upon waking.

There are two particular known types of the disorder: primary and secondary insomnia. Primary insomnia is a condition that affects people who do not otherwise suffer from any other medical problems. Secondary insomnia is a condition, by contrast, that affects people who do suffer from other ailments, the complications from which cause a person to lose sleep at night. People who’ve been diagnosed with asthma, heart problems, depression, anxiety, or arthritis pain frequently suffer from the secondary category.

An important variable related to insomnia is the amount of time that one can suffer from it. Insomnia is either considered “acute” [short-term] or “chronic” [long-term]. Acute insomnia can last anywhere from just one night up to a few weeks, whereas the chronic variety can, in certain cases, last for several months or even years, occurring some three times a week or more².

• Stress: Whether it’s created by your job, schoolwork, or love life, stress can cause anxiety which often keeps you awake at night.
• Health Conditions: Diagnoses such as depression, asthma, heart problems, restless leg syndrome, cancer, and arthritis pain can all contribute to trouble sleeping.
• Disturbing Environment: Attempting to rest in a room that’s too noisy, too hot or cold, or that has too much light can affect your sleep.
• Medications: Those drugs that are prescribed for colds, allergies, high blood pressure, or in the treatment of depression can contribute to sleep loss.
• Caffeine, Nicotine, and Alcohol: Drinks containing caffeine are well-known stimulants, and consuming coffee, for example, in the late afternoon can keep you from falling asleep at night. The nicotine found in tobacco products is another stimulant which can cause insomnia; and though the sedative effects of alcohol may help you fall asleep, drinking it will prevent deeper stages of sleep and often cause you to awaken in the middle of the night³.
• Eating Habits: Either ingesting a big meal just before going to bed or eating something that causes your stomach to become unsettled can keep you up at night. Eating too much can cause you to feel uncomfortable in when you lay down, and eating something spicy can cause you to lie awake suffering from indigestion and heartburn.
• Owning an Uncomfortable Mattress: A worn-out or otherwise uncomfortable mattress can easily keep you awake at night. Those manufactured of spring coils, water beds, and air mattresses can all create both pressure on and stiffness throughout the body. The best remedy is a simple switch to a memory foam mattress, which will increase blood flow and thus create improved circulation… not to mention its unique ability to alleviate pressure by conforming to your unique shape.

If you believe you may have insomnia and would like to find out for certain, the most practical course of action is to seek the opinion of a professional health care provider. An accurate diagnosis of insomnia can typically be detected by a standard physical examination, accompanied by your documented history of medical and sleep problems. In certain instances, the medical examiner may ask to interview your sleep partner, or request that you keep a journal in order to document your sleep habits. Advanced cases may also be referred to professionals who will perform more detailed tests at a sleep center.

Although insomnia is a serious sleep disorder that affects a tremendous number of people every night, you may “rest assured” that it can be both treated and cured– quite often by simply monitoring bedtime habits and making the necessary adjustments. If modest changes to your nightly ritual, etc. do not have the desired effect, however, don’t be afraid to make an appointment with your doctor, who can discuss appropriate alternatives [ranging from a temporary sleep medication prescription to referral to a behavioral therapist] for lasting relief.

1. Vogin, Gary D. M.D.To Sleep, Perchance to Dream: All about Insomnia.http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50772. Last reviewed, January 30, 2005. 1996-2005. Retrieved on June 8, 2009.

2. WebMD. What is Insomnia?. http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/insomnia. Retrieved on June 8, 2009.

3. MayoClinic.com. Insomnia. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/insomnia/DS00187. Retrieved on June 8, 2009.

Watching a person sleepwalk must be one of the most eerie events you could ever experience.  Until I witnessed it myself, I thought sleepwalking was just something that happened on Saturday morning cartoons.  My perception of the phenomenon was changed forever when I was just a kid, and I was woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of our doorbell ringing. I cautiously opened my bedroom door and peered down both ends of our hallway, scared that it could be someone dangerous. My mom and dad followed soon after, wondering what on earth I was up to.  “Nothing,” I remember saying. “I think someone’s at the door.”  We crept together in alarm toward the front door, and then we suddenly heard a loud knock– which really scared me half to death.  Angered, my dad quickly swung open the door… only to find my kid sister standing there in her pajamas. “ASHLEY! What are you doing??” came my father’s booming voice.  My poor sister just stood there, looking terribly confused.  “I don’t know, I don’t know,” she insisted, and started to cry.  Shocked to find his baby girl outside so late at night, my Dad really started to get upset, until my mom finally suggested that Ashley had perhaps been sleepwalking.  Apparently, my little sister had wandered outside while she was asleep, and had ended up locking herself out of the house.  She finally woke up only because it was so cold!

This story presents an accurate description of what usually happens when a sleep walker is awakened, as feelings of disorientation and utter confusion are typical after-effects from this sort of incidents.  But what happens during the rest of the process? What could make certain people suddenly arise and take a midnight stroll– all while fast asleep?  Researchers everywhere are fascinated by this question, and are at last beginning to make some headway in the research of the underlying causes.

Sleepwalking is a particular disorder that occurs when the normal physiological functions of the body are active at what would normally be considered “inappropriate” times¹. In fact, people who sleep walk have been found performing an intriguingly wide range of activities, from simply raising upright in bed to attempting to cook a complete meal in the kitchen.  The unusual occurrence originates during the sleep cycle period known as Non-Rapid Eye Movement, or NREM.  This is the deepest portion of sleep that people experience every night, and is the period that proceeds dreaming.  Because NREM activity occurs more frequently early in life, children are often much more susceptible to sleepwalking events.  Though the reason this is true is still unknown, one thing that’s quite clear is that the condition is genetically passed along from one generation to the next.

Although the mysteries behind sleepwalking are as yet unsolved, there are some interesting theories that are worth talking about.  Some research, for example, suggests that fatigue contributes to the level of frequency at which sleepwalking occurs.  Other researchers have suggested that particular chemicals are released during NREM which tell your brain to perform normal daytime functions.  In a recent study at the University of Montreal, 40 participants were chosen to be observed during two periods of sleep. The first period was referred to as “baseline” sleep which consisted of a normal, healthy night’s rest.  The next period, however, was observed after those in the study were kept awake and monitored for 25 hours.  Out of said 40 participants, fully 32 showed such signs of abnormal activity from playing with the bed sheets to actually attempting to jump over the rails of the bed.  If you’re someone, therefore, who is known to sleepwalk, do make sure you are getting plenty of rest, and this may go a long way to alleviate the condition.

Oftentimes, this “mixed state” of being exists when someone is simply aroused during their sleep mode.  And, to contribute to the idea that fatigue leads to sleepwalking, those that suffer from sleep deprivation disorders [such as insomnia and sleep apnea] are also known to sleepwalk.  A few simple solutions that are worth a try should you find yourself or someone you love having difficulty keeping from nighttime wanderings include getting to bed earlier, watching what you consume in the evening, and avoiding disturbances that could arouse consciousness during the restful state.

Finally, be aware that the conventional wisdom suggesting that awakening a sleepwalker has permanent effects which can be harmful to one’s well being is only a myth.  The worst it could do, in fact, is embarrass the one who’s doing it… and waking them up may help save you from disturbing late-night doorbell rings.

1. Navarro, Carlos. Scientific American Mind. Why Do Some People Sleepwalk?. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-do-some-people-sleepwalk. Retrieved on June 10, 2009.