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Dealing with Post-Holiday Blues
Copyright 2005 Mary Desaulniers
After the usual pre-Christmas and post holiday celebrations, I
found myself feeling a bit depressed and lethargic. The house
has become too quiet; friends and family have returned home.
It is not uncommon...
Living on Purpose: Achieving Balance Between Work And the Rest of Your Life
Many of us get so caught up in day-to-day pressures that we often find ourselves reacting to external demands rather than designing lives that really fulfill us. While in today’s economic environment we face many stresses in our jobs, it is...
Loving Kindness - A Meditation
The practice of meditating on loving-kindness may be over two thousand years old. Although it may feel a bit mechanical at first, many who have used it experience greater feelings of compassion and love towards both themselves and others. Here's...
Natural Prevention & Treatment For The Flu: What Your Doctor May Not Know
Flu can affect 10 to 30 percent of the U.S. population each winter. The flu virus can linger in the air for as long as three hours. In close quarters, conditions are ripe for the spread of the virus. That explains why the highest incidence of the...
Reduce Stress and Enjoy More Sleep
If you suffer from insomnia of any kind, the chances are you don't need to be told that there's a significant connection between sleep problems like insomnia and stress. In fact, as cases of insomnia and related sleep problems increase, more and...
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Narcolepsy - The Management of a Common Sleep Disorder
Narcolepsy, a chronic and commonly diagnosed sleep disorder, affects over a quarter of a million Americans each year (approximately one person in every two thousand). Characterized by the body's inability to properly regulate sleep, narcolepsy's most obvious symptoms can include cataplexy (involuntary loss of muscle control), "automatic" behaviors (performing regular, mundane tasks by rote), hallucinations and paralysis during sleep.
However, narcolepsy is most commonly associated with the onset of "mini sleeps" or "sleep attacks" during the day. These narcoleptic episodes (often referred to as EDS or excessive daytime sleepiness) occur when the individual is suddenly overcome by the urge to sleep. The resulting state of narcolepsis can pass within a few seconds or it can last for more than half an hour.
Relatively recent medical research identifies narcolepsy as a genetically based sleep regulation disorder that usually emerges during the middle and late teenage years. However, strong evidence also suggests that some forms of the condition can be caused by head trauma or brain injury. Regardless of the cause, because the characteristics of narcolepsy can also be symptomatic of other, similar sleep disorders, a thorough medical evaluation (often including a variety of overnight sleep tests) is required for a correct diagnosis.
Although scientists continue to close in on the genes connected with the onset of narcolepsy, treatments for narcoleptics still vary widely. Common treatments include the use of approved prescription drugs, such as modafinil and selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors like fluoxitine and sertroline, to treat the excessive daytime sleepiness.
In large part however the management of narcolepsy depends upon what appears most effective for the individual, and because no cure exists at this time, the available treatments primarily address the sleep disorder's symptoms.
For most narcoleptics a
combination of prescription medications, natural sleep remedies and behavioral strategies prove the best means of effectively managing their narcolepsy. This pro-active approach to dealing with the condition involves simple lifestyle adjustments to enhance the quality and duration of each night's sleep (including dietary changes and the use of regular exercise) as well as actively managed sleep cycles that incorporate short, scheduled naps. A variety of natural sleep remedies can also successfully help narcoleptics manage their condition.
Herbal teas and infusions can effectively help to induce and enhance the body's natural sleep cycle and offer a healthful alternative to sleeping pills. Supplementary melatonin (the hormone produced as part of the body's natural sleep cycle) may also help narcoleptics enjoy a better night's sleep. Guided meditation and relaxation, chromatherapy and aromatherapy can also prove valuable natural enhancements to the successful management of narcolepsy.
Copyright © 2005 Donald Saunders Help Me To Sleep Affiliates
About the Author
Donald Saunders is the author of a number of health related publications including: "Help Me To Sleep - A Guide To Natural Sleep Remedies", "Jet Lag - An Alternative Approach", "Shift Work Insomnia" and "The Art of Meditation - A Guide To Meditation, Breathing and Relaxation Techniques" For further details please visit Narcolepsy
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Meditation |
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Meditation Meditation is an alternative therapy. It can be broadly classified under the mind-body medicine. More and more doctors are prescribing meditation ... |
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Introduction to the Official Web site of the Internationa Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers. Lots of information on Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, ... |
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Meditation Handbook |
Survey of seven meditation techniques for beginners. |
home.att.net |
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Healing Products offers healing music for your Mind, Body & Soul at low prices. Use sound and music to heal and relax. |
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