Sleep disordered breathing is a relatively common condition in otherwise healthy children. However, recent research has shown that this can be associated with several conditions that can have serious consequences.

It seems that a lot of the time kid’s noses are plugged and they are forced to breathe through their mouths, resulting at least in a dry mouth and bad breath in the morning. Fortunately, this tends to be temporary.

Recently, however, research is showing that long-term inability to get a good night’s sleep may have far more serious consequences for kids than realized, and it is linked with snoring. As many as 12% of children have habitual snoring. Researchers are noting an association of daytime sleepiness, hyperactivity and aggressive behavior in children who snore.

Some of these snorers can have a more serious condition called obstructive sleep apnea (ap-nee-a), where the throat closes off preventing the child from taking a breath. When this happens numerous times during the night sleep is constantly disrupted and the oxygen level in the blood drops. This can result in high blood pressure, increased pressure in the lungs, a feeling of tiredness and a general loss of energy.

It is now documented that poor school performance can be related to sleep breathing disorders, such as snoring and sleep apnea. When treatment for these disorders is accomplished marked improvement occurs.

Inattention and hyperactivity are common behavioral problems in children-just ask any teacher! But from 3 to 5% of kids exhibit these behaviors so strongly they are said to have a condition called attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These children require medication to help them be settled enough to get through the day. They also often exhibit snoring habits and some may even have sleep apnea themselves. Again, when treatment for these sleep disorders is undertaken many of these children can actually go off their medicine.

The cause for the disordered breathing in children most often is chronically swollen tonsils and adenoids. Surgical removal of them has been shown to dramatically improve school performance. In addition their removal also allows a reduction or elimination of medication for many ADHD children.

So, if your child snores while sleeping it is wise to follow up a consultation with a pediatrician. It may be more than just a plugged nose. It could be something serious!

Did you get a good night’s sleep last night? If you didn’t you are among a large number of Americans who also did not. According to a Gallup Poll, an estimated 30 million to 40 million people suffer from a number of serious sleep disorders that prevent them from getting adequate slumber, and can lead to serious health problems such as hypertension, heart disease and stroke. Not surprisingly, the sleep-deprived also are at high risk for accidents. According to the National Sleep Foundation drowsy driving causes some 100,000 automobile accidents a year.

As if those statistics weren’t bad enough, the NSF also states that nearly one-third of Americans are getting less sleep now than five years ago, while at the same time working more hours. And despite knowing that sleep improves overall health and well-being, nearly two-thirds of Americans are getting fewer than the recommended eight hours of slumber a night.

What is causing this modern epidemic of sleep debt? Blame it on late night television, blame it on all those lattes-the fact is, we live in a 24-hour society, and sleep often is viewed as a waste of time. During the past century, Americans have reduced their average sleep time by 20 percent.

To make matters worse, a significant number of people have medically related sleep disorders that prevent them from getting a good night’s sleep, even if they try. The most severe of these is obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing stops and starts periodically during sleep.

Obstructive sleep apnea which occurs when muscles in the back of the throat relax, causing the airway to close completely. Breathing can stop for 10 to 30 seconds or more, causing oxygen levels in the bloodstream to drop, sometimes to dangerously low levels. The brain senses this decrease in oxygen, causing the person to at least partially awaken. In persons with severe sleep apnea, this happens hundreds of times throughout the night, preventing a restful sleep.

Too little sleep can result in severe daytime fatigue, irritability, headaches, personality changes, and impaired memory and concentration. If not corrected it can be associated with high blood pressure, increased risk of heart attacks and strokes and even heart failure. Accidents with machinery and motor vehicles are prevalent in the sleep deprived.

Whether staying up too late because we try to do so much or a lack of getting a good sleep because of medical causes, not getting adequate and restful sleep is a dangerous road to trouble. Don’t drive down that road-you may have an accident!

Hey! This article is going to be about a natural sleep aid called Melatonin. Melatonin is a natural sleep aid, because it is a hormone already found in your body. Melatonin could be compared to a sleeping potion. During the day, a gland in the brain called the pineal gland creates serotonin. When light decreases, serotonin is converted into melatonin. Melatonin then creates a drowsy effect, which makes you fall asleep. This is why sleep comes easier at night than day. You are aided by a natural sleep aid: Melatonin.

Melatonin is a hormone, but you can take it in capsule form. This is available at most convenience stores, and is much preferable to taking artificial sleep aids. Take melatonin 30 minutes before you plan to sleep, and you should feel drowsy. This is because melatonin is creating a sleeping potion effect. Some patients that suffer from insomnia do not have enough melatonin. They try to sleep every night, but they never feel sleepy. This is because their bodies do not produce any sleep potion, so they feel the same in bed as they do when fully awake.

For those of you who have no desire to use any type of pill to induce drowsiness, I’d recommend reading about two easy natural sleep aids. If neither of those methods work for you, there are ways you can increase the amount of melatonin you produce without a pill.

Hindu traditional beliefs have said for many years that meditation can produce melatonin. In Hindu tradition, this gland is located in the Head Chakra. In 1995, a study actually proved this to be true. Two groups of people were selected for the study. The first group practiced daily meditation. The second group didn’t meditate at all. After a period of time, a night-time urine sample was taken from both groups. The control group had much less melatonin than those who practiced daily meditation.

A similar study tested people who practiced meditation just before sleeping. In the first group, participants meditated nightly on a consistent basis. In the second, participants meditated just before the test. The results showed that the first group had higher melatonin than the second. This study suggests that meditation will help you increase your melatonin, but you need to practice it regularly. There are many types of meditation you can use, and I’ll go over each one in future posts.

Melatonin is also useful for people who are not suffering from insomnia. People suffering from jet lag or workers switching shifts may also find melatonin to be a helpful natural sleep aid. After a long plane ride, jet lag can last for days. If you take melatonin before you sleep, you can speed up the adjustment period. Also, if you have to switch from working the day shift to the night shift quickly, melatonin can be a natural sleep aid you should use.

If a diet change or music don’t improve your sleep, melatonin is a natural sleep aid you can use. Remember, natural sleep aids are neither harmful or additive, so try them before resorting to artificial sleep aids. Thanks for reading natural sleep aid. I hope that you learned something in this article. I wish you good luck in choosing a natural sleep aid!