It is often a sleep partner who alerts the sleepwalker to his or her behavior. Some sleepwalkers sense that they may be walking at night, but aren’t certain. In some cases, sleepwalkers claim that their suspicions were confirmed by the presence of mysterious bruises on their arms or legs that result from collision with furniture and walls.

Sleepwalking is characterized by complex behavior (walking) accomplished while asleep. Occasionally nonsensical talking may occur while sleepwalking. The person’s eyes are commonly open but have a characteristic glassy “look right through you” character. This activity most commonly occurs during middle childhood and young adolescence. Approximately 15% of children between 4-12 years of age will experience sleepwalking. Generally sleepwalking behaviors are resolved by late adolescence; however, approximately 10% of all sleepwalkers begin their behavior as teens. A genetic tendency has been noted.

Sleepwalking Causes

Genetic factors

Sleepwalking occurs more frequently in identical twins, and is 10 times more likely to occur if a first-degree relative has a history of sleepwalking.

Environmental factors

Sleep deprivation, chaotic sleep schedules, fever, stress, magnesium deficiency, and alcohol intoxication can trigger sleepwalking.

Drugs, for example, sedative/hypnotics (drugs that promote sleep), neuroleptics (drugs used to treat psychosis), minor tranquilizers (drugs that produce a calming effect), stimulants (drugs that increase activity), and antihistamines (drugs used to treat symptoms of allergy) can cause sleepwalking.

Physiologic factors

The length and depth of slow wave sleep, which is greater in young children, may be a factor in the increased frequency of sleepwalking in children.

Conditions, such as pregnancy and menstruation, are known to increase the frequency of sleepwalking.

Physiologic factors

The length and depth of slow wave sleep, which is greater in young children, may be a factor in the increased frequency of sleepwalking in children.

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Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. Each episode, called an apnea, lasts long enough so that one or more breaths are missed, and such episodes occur repeatedly throughout sleep. The standard definition of any apneic event includes a minimum 10 second interval between breaths, with either a neurological arousal (a 3-second or greater shift in EEG frequency, measured at C3, C4, O1, or O2), a blood oxygen desaturation of 3-4% or greater, or both arousal and desaturation. Sleep apnea is diagnosed with an overnight sleep test called a polysomnogram, or a “Sleep Study”.

Sleep apnea is a common disorder that affects more than 18 million people in the United States. In many of these people, the condition is undiagnosed. OSA takes its name from the Greek word apnea, which means “without breath.” People with sleep apnea literally stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, often for a minute or longer and as many as hundreds of times during a single night.

Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) are:

- Frequent silences during sleep due to breaks in breathing (apnea)

- Choking or gasping during sleep to get air into the lungs

- Loud snoring

- Sudden awakenings to restart breathing or waking up in a sweat

- Daytime sleepiness and feeling unrefreshed by a night’s sleep, including falling asleep at inappropriate times

Causes and risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea:

When you have obstructive sleep apnea, your throat collapses during sleep, blocking the airway and preventing air from getting to the lungs. Generally, your throat muscles keep the throat and airway open.

Primary causes and risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea

- Being overweight or obese (although 50% of people with sleep apnea are not obese)

- Large tonsils or adenoids Read The Full Story…

Feng shui bedroom tips are an important part of your wealth creation strategy because you spend up to one-third of your life in your bedroom.. A good feng shui bedroom is a bedroom that promotes a harmonious flow of nourishing and sensual energy. A good feng shui bedroom is a bedroom that invites you, lures you in, excites and calms at the same time. A good feng shui bedroom is fun and pleasurable to be in, either you are there for a quick nap, a good night sleep or to make passionate love!

Here are 10 ways to utilize feng shui in your bedroom:

1. Place the bed so that you have clear sight of the door. However, avoid placing the bed directly opposite or against the same wall as the door. The idea is that you should be able to clearly see who is entering, but without being in the path of incoming energy.
2. Let go of the TV, computer or exercise equipment in your bedroom. The good feng shui energy in your bedroom is destroyed when these items are present in your bedroom.
3. Don’t have a mirror or mirrored dressing table facing the bed, if you can see yourself in the mirror from a resting position. There isn’t a problem if the mirror is too high for this to occur. You can either change the position of the mirror or dressing table, or cover it with a cloth each night before going to bed. Read The Full Story…