What is Sleep Paralysis

Sleep paralysis can be a pretty scary experience, especially when it occurs for the first time.  Here is some great information that may help alleviate some anxiety if it does occur.

What is Sleep Paralysis?

According to Wikipedia , Sleep Paralysis is paralysis associated with sleep that may occur in normal subjects or be associated with narcolepsy, cataplexy, and hypnagogic hallucinations. The pathsophysiology of this condition is closely related to the normal hypotonia that occur during REM sleep. When considered to be a disease, isolated sleep paralysis is classified as MeSH D020188.[2] Some evidence suggests that it can also, in some cases, be a symptom of migraine.

What are the possible causes?

Many people who commonly enter sleep paralysis also suffer from narcolepsy. In African Americans, panic disorder occurs with sleep paralysis more frequently

Sleep Violence

When you think of risky activities sleep is probably is pretty low on the list.  That might not always be the case.  Here is an interesting article on sleep violence. 

Lady Macbeth sleepwalking, a painting by Henry Fuseli. Credit: commons.wikimedia.org

Last month, psychiatrists at Stanford University announced that sleepwalking is on the rise. More than 8.4 million adult Americans—3.6 percent of the population over 18—are prone to sleepwalking. That’s up from a 2 percent prevalence the same authors found a decade ago.

And as the latest issue of Scientific American Mind notes, a subset of these nighttime wanderers may be at risk for a disturbing and dangerous phenomenon: sleep violence. Aggressive somnambulance in the general population hovers at or below 2 percent in surveys conducted in North America and Europe. But not all sleepwalkers exhibit violent behavior and what causes the violence remains a puzzle to researchers.

In fact, three separate disorders are associated with sleep violence. In arousal disorders—discussed in-depth in this month’s feature—an individual operates in a mental state between wakefulness and sleep, carrying out complex behaviors with no evident conscious awareness. In comparison, people with

Sleeping with the enemy, well kind of...

It's no secret that learning how to actually sleep with someone next to you can be difficult especially if that person has some unique sleep characteristics.  Let's take a look...

Hearing loud booms. Walking. Binge eating. Temporary paralysis. Teeth grinding. These are just a few of the bizarre things some experience when in a subconscious state.

Then there’s “sexsomnia.” As detailed in a recent Star story, sexsomniacs engage in sex while they are asleep. (While more research is needed, the joint presence of “sex” and “sleep” suggests new parents are not at risk.)

But there are other, less exotic sleep disorders. And for whatever reason, these tend to affect married or cohabitating women.

Gentlemen, here are five to watch for and suggestions on how to cope:

Disorder No. 1: Feathery Kleptomania

That’s weird. When you fell asleep, your head was on a pillow. But now it’s 2 a.m. and your head is on the sheet and your pillow is trapped between your spouse’s legs as if she’s on a plane and the pilot just said, “Prepare for an emergency landing.” Trying to free your pillow with gentle tugging is useless. Her thighs have turned into the jaws of a pit bull. Tickling her is also not advised, since this will only spark an angry, “Stop waking me up!” Sleep on your forearm. Your pillow is gone.

Disorder No. 2: Sleeping Smartphone Syndrome

It’s 3 a.m. Your partner is snoring. Her eyes are closed. But, incredibly, she is now fumbling for her BlackBerry or iPhone perched in the nightstand charger. She cradles the phone and brings it closer. The screen is now glowing, as is her face. Although you’re terrified, when your partner suffers from Sleeping Smartphone Syndrome, just make soothing Internet sounds until she eventually drops the gadget on your forehead and mumbles something about Facebook.

Disorder No. 3: Heat Seeking Cold Flailing

When your partner is sleeping, control of her body can shift from the brain directly to her hands and feet. For many women, sleep also coincides with an inexplicable drop in core temperature, from 37 degrees to roughly minus 162. Thus, your partner’s extremities, now icy and operating with a mind of their own, are drawn like heat-seeking missiles to your exposed skin. Have you ever had the nightmare in which an

The Belly Fat and Sleep Connection

All too often the side effects of sleeplessness can be associated with weight gain.  Sometimes turning into a vicious cycle of lack of sleep leading to weight gain, or weight gain leading to sleeplessness.  So what is the connection?

Not many of us have ever connected sleep with our belly fat. But if the current researches are anything to go by, there is a huge link between fatigue, insomnia and irregular hours of sleep that contribute to an increase in fat around our stomach and the thoracic cavity. In fact, it is not just sleep that does this, other factors such as fatigue and lethargy; irregular hours of sleep and sleep after an extremely heavy, fatty meal can also cause this to happen.

This phenomenon can occur more commonly in people, who have an increased level of cortisol in the blood along with elevated sugar and insulin release. A combination of all this can lower the basal metabolic rate of the person and also lead to increased storage of fats. It can make people feel more tired, push them into a sedentary life style and add a few inches to their waist.

Cortisol is related to sleep

Cortisol is a stress hormone that is only released when the body is suffering from anxiety and tension. Cortisol can affect the quality of sleep that a person is suffering from. In fact, the quality of hormones released, basal metabolic rate and appetite is affected. In fact, some people may suffer from

Americans and Sleep Apnea

It is clear that the diagnosis of sleep apnea is on the rise within the American population.  With so many people dealing with this particular sleep disorder, educating yourself on the risks and treatments early can make all the difference.

Affecting over 12 million Americans, sleep apnea is a debilitating health condition. Due to a lack of public awareness and the fact that apnea events occur during sleep, millions suffer from it without even knowing. It can severely disturb a person’s life and due to a lack of public awareness millions suffer from it without even knowing. Sleep apnea occurs during sleep so many have no idea that they are literally waking up hundreds of times throughout the night. The inability to completely fall asleep for any substantial amount of time due to constant sleep disturbances can lead to weight gain, cognitive problems, impotency, headaches and a lack of productivity at work.

Types of Sleep Apnea

There are three major types of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. The second, central sleep apnea is when the brain fails to send signals to the muscles to breathe during sleep. The third is mixed apnea in which both obstructive and central sleep apnea are present. Regardless of the cause, with each apnea event in which the sleeper stops breathing, the brain arouses them to wake up just enough to catch their breath. This can happen hundreds of times a night without the person having any idea.

Causes

Obstructive sleep apnea is most often caused by being overweight. The extra soft fat tissue thickens the wall of the windpipe causing the inside opening to narrow, making it harder to keep open. Obstructive sleep apnea can also occur in people whose

Sleep Texting: Funny or A Real Problem?

I have fallen to sleep reading a book, surfing the net, and even on the phone.  Now, a new concern arises, sleep texting!  Here's a look at what it could mean for you.

Everyone’s heard of sleepwalking. But have you heard of sleep texting? According to sleep specialists in the U.S., it’s a very real phenomenon — and one that’s only going to become more and more commonplace.

According to doctors at the American Academy of Sleep medicine, it’s all to do with the ever-increasing role of technology in our lives. Dr. Ron Kramer says that texting — especially for those who have grown up communicating via SMS — has become “as ingrained as driving for some people.” Other experts say that smartphones spend so much time in some users’ hands that they have essentially become extensions of the fingers, as far as the mind is concerned.

Some scientists (and plenty of regular folks, no doubt) question whether sleep texting is even possible. On some phones, sending a message requires several steps before a message can even be created — including successfully launching the SMS app and selecting a contact. On others, it’s much easier. If I’ve got a conversation open on my BlackBerry, for example, I can simply bump the left

Sleep Myths Exposed

It seems like everyone has a their own opinions when it comes to sleep.  Some of which have come from experiences, and some are just the opinions of others.  Here is a look at some sleep myths you may be familiar with.

There are many who claim that despite not sleeping for the required 6 hours, they can lead a good and healthy life. However, less sleep is harmful for the body and nobody is spared. Some people are able to keep awake in the night due to some myths. Here are a few facts that burst these myths-

• I am a short sleeper- studies show that genetically, only 1 % of people may sleepless and still remain healthy. It is not necessary that you come in that 1 %.
• Short naps keep you tired- some people believe that the idea of a power nap or short nap never works as they keep you drowsy and make you feel lethargic. However, studies show that power naps can help sooth your senses, help to control the rate of breathing and also relax your brains. They are also recommended by doctors for people who are extremely busy and need some relaxation.
• Working out before bed keeps you sleepless- the fact is that it’s the other way round. Working out before bed can tire your systems and you end up having a very sound sleep. In fact, some doctors recommend vigorous exercising