No one likes to experience the extreme discomfort that a sleep disorder may yield. This is because when you are unable to get the proper rest, your body does not recuperate in the manner it needs to in order to maintain its proper function. Remember, the body requires sleep to heal injuries, develop lean muscle mass, relax the mind, and restore respiratory harmony. However, mere sleep alone is not always helpful. Simply dozing off may not deliver the intended effects needed. That is why it is critical to fall into a deep REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage of sleep. This will ensure that the body is properly rested and recovery is made more possible. Unfortunately, this is not always possible as an REM sleep disorder could prevent the deep sleep you should always hope to experience.

REM refers to the extensive movement of the eyes back and forth while sleeping. When a person enters into the REM stage, their body is able to enter into its most relaxed stage of sleep. When rapid eye movement sleep is impeded, the individual may wake up the next morning in a completely exhausted state. This is because the REM sleep disorder has made it impossible for the individual to truly rest. In a way, the sleep disorder figuratively cut the benefit of sleeping in half. This can lead to a great wear down of the physical body. When combined with other sleeping problems such as insomnia, an REM sleep disorder can become even more serious.

In addition to the many physical problems associated with an REM sleep disorder, there are psychological problems that may develop as well. Namely, disrupted REM sleep patterns can lead to nightmares, night terrors, and other several sleep pattern issues. This can literally turn a good night’s sleep into something that must be completely dreaded.

Of course, those that suffer from a sleep disorder will need a cure. As such, many people will reach for over the counter (OTC) sleep aids in order to overcome their REM sleep disorder. This is not the most beneficial option to seek since OTC sleep aids do not contain any of the ingredients needed to put someone into the REM stage of sleep. In fact, they may contain ingredients that PREVENT a person from entering into the REM stage. As such, OTC sleep aids are not the most recommended of products to deal with an REM sleep disorder.

The best way to deal with the problem of REM sleep is to schedule an appointment with a physician. Often, the treatments offered will be prescription medications that will promote a calm, deep stage of sleep that will restore proper harmony. However there is always side-effect issues you need to consider. And many times you find yourself returning because you still are not achieving the rest you need.

There are other things one can do to overcome such your lack of sleep. Changes in diet and activity levels could have a reliable effect on the problem. Yes, there are many options available to those looking to deal with the problem. This alone provide much hope to those looking to alleviate their problematic situation.

The world of science has recently come forth with yet another reason for us to get our Z’s: turns out that chronic insomnia along with a short sleep time is an independent and clinically significant risk factor for hypertension. In the study, participants with insomnia and an objectively-measured, sleep duration of less than five hours had a risk for hypertension that was 500% higher than participants without insomnia who slept more than six hours. They also found that people with insomnia and a moderately short sleep duration of five to six hours had a risk of hypertension that was 350% higher than normal sleepers.

In contrast, neither just insomnia with a normal sleep duration of more than six hours nor a short sleep duration without insomnia was associated with a significant risk for hypertension. So this means that there is an additive or synergistic effect on hypertension risk when insomnia occurs in combination with a short sleep duration. We do need to note that that many times, the amount that we feel we slept is different from the actual amount that we have slept, so in order to know, you’d need to go to a sleep doctor for assessment. The study was cross-sectional so it did not allow for causality to be determined, but the authors note that large amounts of clinical and research data indicate that it is most likely that insomnia leads to hypertension and not the other way around.

Previous reports have shown that insomnia with short sleep duration is associated with hypersecretion of cortisol, increased catecholaminergic activity, increased heart rate and 24-hour metabolic rate, and impaired heart rate variability which may all lead to hypertension and other cardiovascular events. Bottom line is that the study urges people with insomnia to seek evaluation and treatment from their medical provider. And those of you with just insomnia and normal sleep-you may have a lower risk for physical problems but you’re still are at risk for depression and may suffer from the behavioral effects of insomnia-so you too should see your doctor!

Most people will at one stage or another experience a startle or jolt just as they are falling asleep. The sleep disorder community calls the phenomenon a hypnic jerk. Essentially they are harmless and wont effect the quality or quantity of your sleep but they can be worrying, especially if you have never heard of this condition before.

Scientists haven’t worked out why our bodies respond like an electric shock has just gone through us. Apparently it happens more when we’re overtired, stressed, in an uncomfortable position or anxious. I know I’ve experienced it more than once while sitting in a dull lecture or in plane seat. There are a few theories.

One states that as our bodies react to falling asleep by relaxing, a part of our brain that hasn’t transformed to its sleep state thinks we’re falling or in danger. It sends a jolt to ensure our muscles are ready to face what ever threat there may be.

An issue with the reaction is that it can be quite a stressful experience in itself. If you’re ready for bed and have been having trouble sleeping, the interruption of the jolt is quite annoying. It can create a anxious feedback loop whereby you’re worried about drifting off only to be woken up again. Unfortunately the stress result of this worry may make the shock more likely.

The most important thing to remember is that if you experience the hypnic jerks than you are completely normal and one of an estimated 70% of the population who have them during their life. Try to relax, take some deep breaths and try a soothing drink such as chamomile tea or a stress relieving CD and let sleep come to you naturally and without worry.