Sleep Disorders Archives - Page 4 of 8

Sleep Talking

The medical term for this phenomenon is “somniloquy”. It occurs when you talk aloud during sleep. Many people report having experienced sleep talking in their lives. It appears that sleep talking runs in the family and it is reported that it affects as many as 50% of children and 5% of adults. Although Sleep talking is a harmless condition, it is sometimes associated with other sleep disorders such as:

• Sleep terrors,
• Sleepwalking
• Sleep related eating disorder (SRED)
• REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD)

There are many different cases of sleep talking some range just from a simple word to mumbling sentences that may be difficult to understand and finally to emotional and sometimes even funny speeches. One case in particular drew my attention: The Sleep Talking Man. Adam Lennard had become an internet sensation after his wife Karen began to record and blog about her “mid-manner husband’s” nightly musings.

Karen’s account of her husband’s sleep talking is described in this article in the Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/6983170/Woman-keeps-blog-of-sleep-talking-husbands-funniest-comments.html

Are you a noisy napper? Or maybe you heard someone else say something interesting or funny while asleep? Leave us a comment.

By Agnieszka.

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Important:
The Sleep Blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Instead, this website provides general information for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider if you have questions or concerns regarding any medical condition or treatment.

Sleep Paralysis

I will never forget my first, and, fortunately, only experience with sleep paralysis. I was about eleven or twelve years old when it happened; I woke up in the middle of the night unable to move. I panicked and wanted to scream, but the words never came out.

After a few seconds, something let go of me and I ran as fast as I could to tell my parents about the episode. In the years that followed I couldn’t understand what happened to me that night, but it fascinated me so much so that I became determined to find out more.

I have, on various occasions, been told that this condition is the work of demons (a very popular belief in some parts of the world); however, I now know that there is a scientific explanation for this phenomenon.

Most people, at some point in their life, will experience Sleep Paralysis. The condition is broadly defined as it sounds – paralysis during sleep. While it may also occur in people who don’t suffer from any apparent sleep problems, sleep paralysis has been linked to narcolepsy, cataplexy and hypnagogic hallucinations. .

Lack of sleep, sudden lifestyle or environmental changes and stress may trigger Sleep Paralysis, and you can take several steps to prevent such episodes:

Get at least 8-10 hours of sleep every night
Have a set schedule for bed time
Avoid consuming alcohol when you are sleep deprived
Exercise
Avoid stress and relax few hours before bed time.
Avoid sleeping in a face upwards or supine position

Sleep Paralysis is not generally considered dangerous and, although some people may be frightened by it (like me), in reality it isn’t anything to be afraid of . If you’d like to find out more about this topic, please visit: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2585517/facts_about_sleep_paralysis.html?cat=5

Have you ever experienced Sleep Paralysis? Share your experience and continue the discussion in the comments below.

By Agnieszka.

When You Sleep – Where Does Your Body Go?

Guest Post by Genevieve who works in affiliation with Universal Health Services, Inc which has a variety of healthcare management companies.

Sleep walking is not at all unusual for children and young adults and mostly disappears with age. Minor sleep walking is no problem in children. They are safely locked in their house and any actions they may take are often instantly counteracted by the adults in the house. But what if you are one of the individuals who continue to sleep walk into adulthood? And what if you live by yourself?

I am one of those adults. The sleepwalking I engage in is entirely harmless and pointless and really does not require any sort of sleep therapy, but can actually cause a series of small annoying problems if not controlled. No matter how many times I double check my alarm clock before I go to bed, it is frequently turned off and occasionally turned to another time entirely when I wake. “Put it across the room,” you say? I will simple walk across the room to make the change.

For those who have digital dexterity while sleeping, sometimes moving an alarm clock across the room or programming more than one is enough. If you still manage to sabotage your wake up, using a phone or computer are options. These devices are far more difficult to change without being aware enough to go through several menus and pressing specific buttons. If you are worried about cold dialing your friends in the middle of the night, using a touch screen device can work magic. Not only do you have to select the right button, but you have to do it without any tactile clues! If you are not interested in purchasing electronics, look into getting a wakeup call service.

Sleepwalkers often engage in the most common behaviors they perform each day. For most people, eating occurs many times each day. A small snack probably isn’t harmful, but it is never fun to wake up to find your refrigerator has been open all night and there are crumbs on the counters and floor. If you find yourself making the occasional foray to the kitchen, consider placing the items you most frequently go for in multiple bags, preferably ones that make noise. Making sure that your refrigerator doors swings all the way closed without help can save on replacing perishables. Child locks on cupboards and drawers are a great way to prevent unconscious snacking.

Most of the problems caused by sleepwalking can be easily contained with a few small precautions. If you are prone to leaving your house, over eating or any number of more serious behaviors, it may benefit you to go to a sleep therapy center and see if they can provide any options.