Herb & Tea Store

More than one in four Americans say they are losing sleep over the economic downturn - worry over personal finances, job security, and healthcare matters.

But, there is already plenty of sheep-counting during good financial times - the National Institues of Health estiamtes 30 percent of Americans have sleep problem, while 10 percent have some form of insomnia; daytime symptoms include moodiness, impaired concentration and memory.

Aging is another factor to insomnia. The age group most likely to suffre from insomnia are those 55 to 64 years old, they also may suffer from arthritis and other ailments.

There could be a host of factors that cause insomnia. The duration of insomnia further classifies into transient, short term, or chronic. Transient insomnia lasts less than seven days; short term insomnia usually lasts for one to three weeks; and chronic insomnia persists for more than three weeks. 

Transient and short term insomnia could be due to jet lag, changes in shift work, noise, uncomfortable room temperature, stress, acute illness, withdrawal from medications or drugs.

Chronic or long term insomnia is generally linked to an underlying psychiatric or physiological condition. Common psychological problems include anxiety, stress, and depression. Physiological causes include disturbance of biological clock, and medical condition which triggers insomnia - chronic pain, chronic fatigue, heart failure, chest pain, pulmonary disease, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, storke, and trauma to the brain.

Besides the elderly, people who are at high risk of insomnia are travelers, shift workers, students, pregnant women, and menopausal women. 

You should avoid taking stimulants before bedtime which, are associated with poor sleep - caffeine and nicotine.

Can Children Have Sleep Disorders?

Computer games and fast food have been blamed by doctors for a startling rise in the number of children being treated in hospital for sleep disorders.

The problem is especially pronounced among young boys, with thousands now being treated every year.

Experts say parents are at fault for failing to enforce strict bedtimes and allowing children to play computer games and watch TV in their rooms late at night.

Eating too much sugary food is also blamed for preventing children from dropping off to sleep.

Some figures show that the number of under-11s referred to hospital specialists for insomnia, sleep-walking and sleep-related breathing problems has rocketed by 26 per cent over the past five years.

But the true numbers affected could be much higher because the figures reflect only those seeking medical help.

Studies have linked poor sleep to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). And lack of sleep harms children's ability to learn at school.

Psychologist Chireal Shallow, of the Naturally Nurturing clinic for children's sleep disorders in London, said: "There are likely to be thousands more children whose parents do not seek treatment."

!"A lot of the problem is guilty parenting where kids are allowed the rule of the roost because Mum and Dad come home from work late."

"Increasingly, we also don't let children play outside because of modern dangers and instead put them in front of a screen to keep an eye on them."

"The light, sound and movement of television or computer screens is stimulating and keeps children awake and there should be at least an hour's gap before going to bed."

Nick Seaton, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said: "It's absolutely crazy for parents to let their children go to bed any time they like."

"It's obviously going to create problems for youngsters later in life and is part of the general problem of poor discipline in homes and schools."

"Parents need to exert more authority and remove computer games from bedrooms to make sure kids have the best start in life. I'm sure teachers would be delighted."

The NHS statistics show nearly 3,000 children under 11 had their sleep monitored overnight by specialists during 2006 compared with only 2,200 in 2002.

Of those, 1,733 were boys.

Professor Jim Horne of the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University, said that children aged five to eight are particularly vulnerable to sleep problems as a result of 'electronic distractions' because having a rigid bedtime routine is so important to them.

He said computers and mobile phones in bedrooms could be contributing to the growing number of sleep problems.

Prof Horne added: "Staying up late should be a special treat. Children who persistently go to bed late get into hyperactive states and learning becomes a problem at school the next day."

"You could speculate that some behavioural issues in schools are caused by sleeping problems."

"There is increasing evidence that about one in five children diagnosed with ADHD actually have sleep problems that cause hyperactivity.

"If they sleep better, the ADHD symptoms disappear."

Insomnia Due To Lack Of Nutritions?

Calcium 

Do you know most of us only get a third of the recommended daily dose of calcium our bodies need?

Calcium and insomnia have long been linked - Calcium deficiency increased tension and sleep disturbances. Calcium is a helpful way to relax, explaining why your grandma would bring you a warm glass of milk at bedtime. Stick with Grandma’s homemade remedy, but to reach the needed calcium allowance, take a calcium citrate or calcium hydroxyapatite supplement.

Many people absorb calcium better from calcium citrate because it dissolves in water. The citrate is also considered safer and preferred by vegetarians as an animal-free source. Calcium hydroxyapatite occurs naturally in bone, and is often the choice for those at risk of osteoporosis.

Magnesium

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey reports the diets of nearly 60% of adults do not provide the required amounts of magnesium.

People who are taking antibiotics, oral contraceptives, some prescription drugs, or too many laxatives may be at higher risk for deficiency. Adding magnesium to diet has been shown in studies to help relieve the headaches that may be keeping you awake.

Mineral deficiencies that cause insomnia are detrimental to your good health. Research has proven that severe magnesium deficiencies can lead to serious problems such as depression, stress related disorders, anxiety and panic attacks, insomnia, and even violent tendencies. You can try taking supplements of calcium and magnesium to cure insomnia.

Good sources of magnesium are nuts, seeds, wheat bran cereals, beans, fruits, vegetables, and seafood.

Magnesium absorption is very similar to that of calcium. Magnesium requires an acidic stomach for best absorption, so taking it between meals or at bedtime is prescribed. Meals high in protein or fat may decrease magnesium absorption.

Insomnia and sleep deprivation can change our whole personality and has us virtually sleep walking through life. So stop counting those sheep and get some sleep!