Nighttime Drama

Tossing and turning for hours, with your eyes wide open, while everyone else is sleeping peacefully is a most undesirab1e experience. Still, sporadic insomnia lasting a few days is not uncommon, and it is generally related to stress and the ups and downs of life. When
insomnia becomes chronic, however, emotional or clinical disorders may be involved, and it is important to seek medical help.See the box above.

Could you be suffering fram a sleep disorder? If after filling out the questionnaire on page 9, you conc1ude that you do have sleep problems, there is no need to despair. Recognizing the need for help is half the battle of curing a sleep disorder. According to Brazilian neurologist Geraldo Rizzo, 90 percent of insomnia sufferers can be treated successfully.

However, for appropriate treatment to be given, it is important to know exactly what is causing the insomnia. A medical examination called a polysomnogram has contributed to the diagnosis and treatment of many sleep disorders. See the box below.

One of the most common causes of chronic insomnia among adults is related to snoring. If you have ever slept near someone who snores, you know that this can be extremely uncomfortable. Snoring can be a symptom of obstructive s1eep apnea syndrome (OSAS), in which the c10sure of the thraat temporarily prevents a sleeper fram sucking air into his lungs. Initial steps in treating OSAS inc1ude weight loss, avoidance of a1coholic beverages, and avoidance of musc1erelaxant drugs. Specialists may also prescribe specific medication
or the use of dental appliances or a continuous positive airway pressure machine.*
In more severe cases, surgical correction of the throat, jaw, tongue, or nose may be necessary in order to make it easier for air to enter and leave during the breathing process.
Children can also suffer from insomnia.
The signs of sleep deprivation may appear at schoolpoor scholastic achievement, irritation, lack of concentrationperhaps leading to a wrong diagnosis of hyperactivity.
Some children fight sleep, preferring to sing, talk, or listen to someone telling storiesanything instead of going to bed. This may just be a ruse to get parental attention. In some cases, however, a child may be afraid to sleep because offrequent nightmares related to horror movies, violent news programs, or quarreling in the home. By promoting a peaceful and loving atmosphere at home, parents can help to avoid these problems. Obviously, medical advice should be sought if symptoms persist. Without a doubt, a good night's s1eep is as important for children as it is for adults.
How to Get a Good Night's Sleep
For many centuries it has been known that a good night's sleep does not happen by chanceo Sleeping well depends on a series of factors beyond just controlling anxiety and stress. These are known collectively as sleep hygiene.
Effective sleep hygiene amounts to a way of life. It inc1udes getting regular exercise at the right time of the day. Exercise during the morning or afternoon can help one to be drowsy at bedtime. But working out close to bedtime can interfere with sleep.
Exciting films or engrossing reading material can also have a stimulating effect. Before going to bed, it may be better to read
* The patient sleeps with a small face mask that receives an airflow from a compressor via a flexible hose. This airflow keeps breathing passages open and allows the patient to breathe normally.
something relaxing, listen to soothing music, or take a warm bath.

Experts say that you can teach your brain to associate bed with s1eep by lying down only when you really mean to sleep. People who eat, study, work, watch TV, or play video games in bed may find it harder to fall asleep.

Preparing the body for restful sleep also involves watching your diet. Whi1e alcoholic drinks make a person feel drowsy, they can actually impair sleep quality. Coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate, and colabased drinks should be avoided at night because theyare stimulants. Gn the other hand, small quantities of mango, sweet potato, banana, persimmon, palm cabbage, rice, bean sprouts, or nuts stimulate the production of serotonin and can thus be sleepinducing. A word of warning: Eating a heavy meal late at night can be as harmful to sleep as going to bed on an empty stomach.

Just as important as our presleep routine is the environment in which we sleep. A pleasant temperature, a dark and noisefree room, and a comfortable mattress and pillows are an invitation to a good night's sleep. In fact, with so much comfort, it may be hard to get up the next morning. But remember, staying in bed longer than necessary, even on the weekend, can disturb your sleep pattern and make it harder for you to sleep the following night.

Surely, you would not purposely harm any of your vital organs. Sleep is just as vital, a part of life that should not be neglected or underestimated. After all, a third of our life is spent sleeping. Can you improve your sleeping habits? Why not start tonight!