Nocturnal Sleep Related Eating Disorder

This may sound very strange to many of us that have never experienced a sleepwalking occurrence or even been around a person that sleepwalks, but some individuals actually get up in the middle of the night, while asleep, go into the kitchen, and fix something to eat without even knowing they are doing so. This is known as Nocturnal Sleep Related Eating Disorder or NS-RED.

A person with Nocturnal Sleep Related Eating Disorder can get out of bed, walk into the kitchen fix a sandwich complete with all the fixings, pour a glass of milk, sit at the table, enjoy every last drop of the sandwich, go back to bed, and wake up in the morning not knowing they were up the night before.

Another sleep related eating disorder is known as night eating syndrome. With this condition, a person is fully awake and realizes they are eating during the night, but they are unable to fall back to sleep unless they eat.

Both disorders have similarities with the only real difference being that a person with night eating syndrome is fully awake and knows they are eating while a person with Nocturnal Sleep Related Eating Disorder is asleep and does not recall eating.

Symptoms of both Nocturnal Sleep Related Eating Disorder and Night Eating Syndrome include:

No appetite in the morning
Little appetite for breakfast
Eating more food after dinner than at the dinner table, this includes eating about half of the normal intake of food after dinnertime.
Having this eating pattern for at least two months

Individuals with either of these sleeping disorders can become overweight and develop Type II diabetes. The disorders are more often seen in women. About 1 to 3% of the entire population has this condition. A few people with sleep related eating disorders have a history of alcoholism, drug addiction, and other sleep disorders. Many times, dieters are prone to sleep related eating disorders due to the fact that they are hungry when they go to sleep.

If you believe you have a sleep related eating disorder, you should talk with your doctor. If you are on diet, learn what foods to eat that will fulfill your hunger pains so you are not hungry throughout the night, and begin a bedtime routine.

A bedtime routine can help some individuals especially if the eating is done during sleepwalking. In order to begin your bedtime routine, you should first invest in a few sleeping aids such as a white noise machine or tabletop waterfall fountain. Both of these will aid you in falling asleep and sleeping throughout the night. Remember, your bedroom should be dark and cool without any distractions such as a television.

Drowsy Drivers

In a recent study by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Center on Sleep Disorders Research showed the dangers of drowsy drivers, which may surprise many individuals. We all consider drowsy drivers to be those that drive across the country such as truck drivers or salesmen; however, this is not necessarily true.

Three population groups are at the highest risk, which is very surprising. Young people usually males between the ages of 16 to 29 top the list, with shift workers coming in second, and individuals with untreated narcolepsy and sleep apnea syndrome in third.

The main reason the first group is on the road and is sleep is due to the fact; they are not receiving enough sleep. Since, this group is still at school age, parents can help to reduce the statistics, by teaching their teenagers a good bedtime and sleep schedule. Parents must teach their children the importance of maintaining a proper sleep schedule and bedtime routine. The number one thing is to do is create a sleeping environment. If these teenagers have computers, televisions, or other distractions in their room, they are not going to go to sleep on time, which is a very important aspect of a bedtime routine. A person needs to go to bed at the same time each and every night and wake up at the same time every morning. This allows your internal clock to work properly and your body to stay awake at times it needs to be awake and sleep during the time it should sleep.

The best way to create a sleep environment is to first remove all distractions from the room. I know this will be hard, especially with teenagers, but if they get on their computer, you can bet they will become involved chatting or playing a game, thus missing their bedtime.

Along with this a BioBrite alarm clock can really aid in helping the teens get on schedule. With this alarm clock, the sunset will be simulated at a preset time, normally 30 minutes prior to bedtime and will simulate the sunrise at a preset time. This will allow your child to know that it is nearing bedtime and his body will begin to adjust.

If you believe your teenager is having problems failing to sleep, invest in a tabletop water fountain. This can help them relax and drift off to sleep. On the other hand, if you believe it is a barking dog next door waking your teen up in the middle of the night, then a white noise machine would be the best aid. A white noise machine will absorb all the sounds in and outside of their room, so they can achieve a restful night’s sleep.

Help change these statistics by providing your teen with all the necessary tools to ensure he or she receives the proper amount of sleep.

Sleep Paralysis

Sleep paralysis is beginning to be noticed in the news and many are wondering exactly what sleep paralysis is, what the symptoms are, what causes it, and if there are any cures.

Sleep paralysis is a normal body function that makes us paralyzed while we are asleep. This is actually a precautionary measure of our body to ensure we do not hurt others or ourselves while we are dreaming. Sleep paralysis only becomes a disorder when it is present during the waking state.

Causes of Sleep Paralysis

The cause of sleep paralysis disorder has been associated with stress, anxiety, sleeping on the back, puberty, depression, bipolar disorder, and narcolepsy.

Symptoms of Sleep Paralysis

The symptoms of sleep paralysis include the inability to mover the limbs or the truck which can occur at beginning of sleep or when a person is beginning to wake up. Hallucinations such as seeing things or even auditory when a person believes they hear things. In some cases, odors can also be noted. Feelings of pressure as if someone is holding you down which can bring on fear. Many people feel disassociated with their bodies as if flying above their body.

There are no real cures; however, reducing anxiety and stress has been shown major improvement. Establishing a bedtime routine and sleep environment is one of the top suggestions. A bedtime routine is easy to get into if you have the desire. The main thing is to have a relaxing period prior to going to bed, take a warm bath, or read a relaxing book. You should go to bed at the same time each night and awaken in the morning at the same time.

A sleep environment may be the best thing for anyone that has any type of sleep disorder. For a sleep environment, you will need to have a room that is dark and cool. Take out all distractions, such as the television or computer.

Other great investments are the white noise machine. According to the type of white noise machine you choose, you will be able to have a variety of sound emitted while absorbing all distracting noise inside and outside of your home such as the television in the other room or the neighbor’s dog howling at the moon.

If you have trouble relaxing prior to bed, a tabletop water fountain is a great item for letting you relax. Many people sit by their table top water fountain while reading before retiring. The soothing sounds of the waterfall help to melt away the stress so you can enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep.

Unstress Before Bedtime

Many people in today’s fast paced society work 10 to 12 hour days even stay at home moms work this much every single day of the year. Due to the fact that many of us are always on the go working, taking kids to ballet or baseball practice, and doing all the other chores and tasks that are required of us on a daily basis, we rarely take out time to rest. When we go to bed at night still wired, so to speak, from the day it can be hard to wind down to actually sleep peacefully. The answer is to unstress before going to bed and create a bedroom that is designed for sleep.

First, lets start with creating a sleep environment then when you are relaxed you will be able to enjoy your new sleeping zone and have a peaceful nights sleep. The number one thing you must do in order to create a sleep environment is to remove all distractions such as televisions, game systems, and computers from your bedroom. The bedroom should only be used for sleep and intimacy. Next, the room should be dark and cool. If noises distract you during the night such as outside traffic noises then you can purchase a white noise machine, which will absorb all the noises and emit a sound that is calm and soothing. If you desire, you can even choose a sunrise alarm clock. These are really great for letting your body know it is time for sleep or waking by the light slowly dimming or brighten just as the sun does at those times during the day.

Now, on to unstressing. The best way to unstress is to find a quiet place once again away from distractions. Your bedroom will do nicely after you have made it a sleep environment. You cannot watch the evening news and expect to relax and unwind. Some of the best products for unstressing including a tabletop water fountain. Take a calm and relaxing bath, and then sit in your favorite chair while watching or listening the gentle sound of a water fountain. By the time you are relaxed your white noise machine will be ready to go and emit sounds such as water fountains, gentle rain, or the surf.

Once you learn to leave work behind and all the other things on your mind, you will be able to sleep the night away and wake up refreshed and ready for your day.

Sleep Disorders and Solutions

Practically every adult requires no less than eight hours of sleep per night to be totally rested. However, recent studies have shown that many adults do not get the sleep they need; in fact, forty million people residing in the United States have some form of sleep problem. Sleep problems are costly and dangerous.

What many people do not realize is that you must receive adequate sleep or it can lead to health problems and increased problems with high blood pressure and diabetics.

There are a variety of reasons Americans do not get adequate sleep including stress, traffic noise, other noises around the home, sick children, being too cold at night, being too hot at night, and alcoholic beverages.

On average, the most common sleep problems are insomnia and/or feeling drowsy during the day.

Symptoms of insomnia range from having problems falling to sleep to having problems getting back to sleep with many individuals waking up earlier than they wanted. However, just because a person has trouble going to sleep once in awhile does not necessarily put them in the same category as a person that suffers from insomnia. The big picture of what is going on in a persons life has to be examined. Insomnia is when a person has these problems every night for a few weeks. Insomnia is seen more commonly with females, individuals with depression, and those over the age of sixty.

Once again feeling drowsy during the daytime is quite normal. However, if you being to have problems with slowed thinking, heavy eyelids, and irritability you may need to talk with your physician. On the other hand, for insomnia and feeling drowsy during the day there are a few things you can do yourself that may be your ticket to a great nights sleep.

Many individuals have had success with several of their sleep disorders by setting a bedtime schedule. You should go to bed at the same time every night and awaken at the same time each morning. Avoid large meals 2 hours prior to bedtime, avoid caffeine, beer, nicotine, liquor, and wine 4 to 6 hours prior to bedtime, avoid taking naps after 3pm, and do not exercise 2 hours prior to bedtime. Things you should do involve creating a sleep environment.

A good sleep environment will be dark, quiet, comforting, and void of distractions. Distractions such as a television or even outside noise such as traffic will keep you awake or wake you during the night. Creating a sleep environment using products such as a white noise machine, tabletop water fountains, and Electric Aromatherapy Diffusers is one of the easiest and fastest ways for you to create a calm and peaceful setting that will help with sleep disorders.

A white noise machine in your bedroom will absorb all noises that might awaken you during the night. The white noise machine will absorb sounds such as traffic, strange settling noises of your home, or other noises around the home that enter your quiet time. A tabletop water fountain will give you something to center your mind on so you will be able to unwind and go to sleep will the electric aromatherapy diffuser will help in providing a relaxing and calm mood for sleep all night long.

Quiet Time

Many parents of young children are wondering when they will be able to have a few moments of quiet time again. The best way to ensure that you can rest and have a few moments of peace and quiet is by teaching your children about quiet time. Even small children need a few minutes of quiet time before going to bed.

Children that do not want to go to bed at night, are rowdy a few minutes prior to bedtime, or eat sugary treats before sleeping are bound to have trouble drifting off to sleep. Relaxation is the key to a good nights sleep even for young children.

To instill “Quiet Time” in your young children, begin by starting a bedtime routine. You should go into a room that is not brightly lit, use items such as tabletop fountains to help create a calm environment, and then read a book to your little ones. Start this routine about 30 minutes prior to their bedtime.

Your new Quiet Time may, in the beginning, be a hard task; however, even with infants this is a good way to start. They will learn that during quiet time, mommy or daddy will cuddle and read them a story before saying good night. It is also very important that both parents participate as much as possible. Take turns if possible. If this is not possible through the week due to work schedules, the other parent can have quiet time on the weekends.

Along with tabletop fountains such as the Alpine Pouring Serenity Table Top Fountain or the Riverbed Fountain, you can also give your little one a Lavender Lab to cuddle up with while listening to the story. The Lavender Lab produces an aroma that will help lull your little one of to dreamland.

Help for Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome

Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome is often seen in teenagers but can and does affect many adults. Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome is when a person has trouble falling asleep at night and difficulty waking up in the morning. In most cases, people with Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome do not fall asleep until the early morning hours, thus the reason for difficulty waking up. Everyone more than likely has changed their internal clock at some time in their life and has had a time getting it back on schedule. Individuals with this syndrome have problems sleeping during the times that are considered traditional.

What causes Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome?

The main cause of Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome is an abnormality in body rhythms, which affects the internal clock or knocks it out of sync with regular sleep-wake cycles.

The average time a person with Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome falls asleep is around 2am and will be the same exact time each and every night. The hardest part of all is for individuals suffering from this syndrome to receive 7 to 8 hours of sleep due to falling asleep so late and needing to wake up for the next days activities.

The symptoms of Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome are most often seen in teenage boys and usually disappear in adulthood. Symptoms include daytime sleepiness, insomnia, depression, restlessness during the night, and irritability. In the majority of cases, the symptoms due affect the person’s performance during the day.

Treating Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome

•One of the best ways in which to get the internal clock back in sync is by creating a sleep environment.

•Create a schedule for going to bed and waking up. Stay on this schedule every day of the week. Your body needs to be on a routine.

•Create a bedtime routine – soak in a warm bath, read, or listen to a tabletop water fountain such as the Stone Water Fountain

•Create a bedroom for sleeping – the bedroom should be dark, quiet, comfortable, and cool. Invest in a white noise machine and aromatherapy products. A white noise machine or sound conditioner will ensure that all noises that might be waking you up at night are absorbed and you will be able to sleep all night long without any interruptions. A few of the most popular white noise machines include the New Marpac Marsona 1288A Sound Conditioner, Marsona TSC-330, and the Sound Oasis Deluxe Sound Conditioner.

•Light therapy often helps individuals with Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome. In essence, all this does is simulate the sunset and sunrise using light to help the internal clock realize the time of day. This can be done easily with Sunrise Alarm Clock at half the fraction of the cost of what you will hear from doctors. This will allow you to set the time for sunset and for sunrise. The clock will begin to simulate the sun coming up 30 minutes before time to rise to allow the body to wake up naturally.

•Only use the bedroom for sleeping – Take the television out of the bedroom, the computer, and any other distractions including video games.

• Eat at least two to three hours before your bedtime.



For more information on white noise machines, check out http://www.sleepwellbaby.com where you can purchase sound conditioners and other products for sleep, rest and relaxation.

Helping your Teen Receive Adequate Sleep

We all know just how stubborn teenagers can be and of course they wish to stay up late and most would sleep the day away if they could. However, the American Sleep Disorders Association states that teenagers need on average 9 ½ hours of sleep every night. The reason this is true is that hormones, which are critical to your teen’s growth and sexual maturation, are released during the time they are sleeping. Throughout America studies have shown that teenagers on average are only getting a little less than 7 ½ hours sleep per night.

In a study by Stanford University showed that teenagers need 1 to 2 hours more sleep than children in the 9 to 10 year age bracket that only need around 8 hours sleep.

Sleep deprivation is a growing problem among teenagers and because of this; the National Sleep Foundation has released warning signs for parents of teenagers. These warning signs include:
• Problems waking in the morning
• Grouchy or irritable in the afternoon
• Falling asleep during the day
• Sleeping too much on the weekend
• Having problems remembering or concentrating
• Waking up often throughout the night and having trouble going back to sleep

When teenagers do not receive enough sleep, you may notice extreme mood changes, poor performance in school, and depression. Not only this, but teenagers can and do fall asleep behind the wheel.

What can you do as parents of a teenager to ensure they receive enough sleep?
Here are a few suggestions to get your teen the sleep they need:

• Set a reasonable bedtime and wake time: stick to the same schedule throughout the week during school.
• Create a bedtime routine a hot bath, reading, or some type of quiet activity about an hour before bedtime.
• Do not allow caffeine drinks in the late afternoon and evening.
• Exercise at least two hours before bedtime

Of course, these tips will not work with every teenager. Teenagers have quite a bit on their plates – school, homework, extra-curricular activities, their social life, and many have part time jobs. All of this can contribute to problems going to sleep at night. None of the above will help if your teenager’s mind is going a mile a minute when their head hits the pillow.

One of the best ways to help your teenager sleep at night is to set a bedtime and then ensure they have a calming atmosphere. Teach your teen relaxation techniques and invest in soothing water fountains or a white noise machine. Once your teen can shut off his thoughts by focusing on a waterfall tabletop fountain the faster he or she will drift off to sleep. Along with the fountain, a white noise machine will absorb all other distractions that might be waking them up during the night such as traffic, younger siblings, or parents talking in another room.

Give your teen the advantage by giving them tools they need to sleep in a quiet and calm atmosphere. They will thank you even if not today.