A List Of The Potential Side Effects Associated With Sleeping Pills

Sleeping pills are drugs that are meant to induce sleep. These are widely used drug all over the world. In recent years, it has been found that insomnia or sleeplessness is a major issue in the world. Numerous people in the world find it difficult to have good sleep at night due to a variety of reasons. Stress is one of the most important factor that causes insomnia in men and women. Therefore, they are dependent on artificial drugs like sleeping pills (also known as hypnotics, sedatives and soporifics) to induce sleep.

Sleeping Pills
These pills are basically used for therapeutic or medicinal purposes. They are prescribed to patients suffering from chronic insomnia. Sleeping pills are also used as relaxation medications or anxiety cures to all anxiety disorders. On the other hand, sedatives are administered to patients before any major surgery procedure. Although sedatives do not relieve the patient of any pain or symptoms; they are given before administering anesthetics to the patient. Sedatives are most useful, specially while treating children. However, it has been found that sleeping pills are used in large numbers by people on a regular basis to cure their sleep disorders or insomnia. Most of the time, it is also found that people misuse stronger sedatives like barbiturates to combat against anxiety and stress. One may be unaware, but, there are several side effects of sleeping pills. Let us take a look at sleeping pill risks.

Side Effects of Sleeping Pills
The effects of these pills depend on the type and quantity consumed by the person. The following are the mild side effects that can be observed on taking over-the-counter or prescription drugs.

• Dry mouth
• Heartburn
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Loss of appetite
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Burning sensation in joints
• Vertigo
• Confusion

Apart from these, drug dependency is one of the most significant side effects. Most people are unaware that sleeping pills are meant for temporary and short-term use and should not be continued for a longer time. However, when a person gets used to the relaxed feeling brought about by these drugs; he becomes dependent on it. The person also lives in the misconception that sleeping pills help in overcoming stress and hence, he gets addicted to it. This can lead to drug overdose which is hazardous. Sleeping pills effects become more complicated if a person is already suffering from other chronic disease like COPD, diabetes, etc. The following are the effects of sleeping pills overdose.

• Difficulty in breathing
• Lack of coordination
• High blood pressure
• Low blood pressure
• Anxiety
• Seizures
• Loss of memory
• Respiratory disorders
• Lack of judgment
• Slow pulse rate
• Pneumonia

Sometimes, sleep becomes uncontrolled making the person unaware of his actions and environment. The condition when a person in unaware of his actions is known as Parasomnia. If a person ventures out of the house or drives in this state, it can have fatal consequences. On the other hand, the human body develops tolerance to these drugs which results in excess consumption and finally drug overdose. Overdose of barbiturates can be very fatal and can lead to coma and even death.

Though beneficial in some cases, these side effects should be kept in mind, whenever one thinks of using such pills for stress relief. There are several effective stress management techniques that help in overcoming stress and tensions. One should try to stay away from sleeping pills and other sedative drugs as much as possible. On the other hand, if one has to have a sleeping pill, it should be taken only on the doctor's prescription and that too, in limited quantity!

Tips On How To Stop Drooling In Sleep

Drooling is the abnormal condition of saliva driveling from the mouth. Medically termed as ptyalism, it is a common case with babies and children. However, driveling is not an unusual case for adults too. People who have this problem often wake up with a damp pillow, or at times, a poodle of saliva collected in the pillow. Drooling during sleep is not very serious, and you can stop it with simple changes in your sleep behavior. Finding what causes drooling is a prompt step to decide the appropriate treatment approaches.

What Causes Drooling while Sleeping?

In babies, drooling is not a medical concern, and is related to teething in most cases. The problem subsides as the baby grows and milk teeth development is completed. Prime cause of drooling is hyperactivity of the salivary glands leading to excess production of saliva. Then saliva from the mouth falls down in the pillow during the semi conscious state. Likewise swallowing abnormalities and problems in keeping saliva within the mouth are main triggers. Other contributing factors for drooling in your sleep are:

• Breathing through mouth
• Sleeping with the mouth open
• Dental problems
• Sinus abnormalities
• Improper closing of lips
• Enlargement of tonsils
• Nervous system problems
• Medicine that causes excess salivation

Tips on How to Stop Drooling in Sleep

Waking up with saliva covering your cheeks is definitely not a pleasant experience. Drooling in sleep and its complications are exacerbated with cough, gag or other reflex problems. In simpler words, such cases are more common during the episodes of allergy and upper respiratory tract infections. The actual drooling treatment is focused on identifying the causal reasons and then addressing them. Here are some useful ways concerning how to stop drooling in sleep.

• While sleeping with your mouth open, the salivary glands are activated, resulting in increased salivation and driveling in your sleep. Thus, avoid this habit as far as possible. While it is not so easy, you can at least try to sleep with your mouth closed.
• Change in your sleeping habits is a necessity. Say for example, if you tend to sleep on your sides, try lying down on your back. This will reduce the chances of saliva dripping from the mouth. Similarly use more pillows to keep your head in an elevated position.
• An effectual tip for how to stop drooling in sleep is breathing through nose. In most cases, it is observed that people who drivel in their sleep breathe through their mouth. So, see to it that you don't indulge in mouth breathing during the daytime.
• In case you have the same tendency to breathe through mouth, adopt different deep breathing exercises regularly during the day. They are the simplest yet effectual ways to breathe through nose and de-stress yourself.
• Make a point to treat sinus infections, nasal allergies and alike conditions at the earliest. An untreated nasal congestion and postnasal drip contribute a lot to drooling in your sleep.
• If excess saliva production is caused due to adverse effect of medications, talk to the concerned physician about it. If possible, the doctor will change the prescriptions to combat drooling in sleep.

Breathing through nose with mouth closed and sleeping on the back are useful remedies for addressing drooling problem. Drooling when sleeping is not only a matter of embarrassment when you share your bed with others, but it increases the risks of saliva and liquids getting into the lungs. So, follow the above mentioned self-care approaches and behavioral changes, and most likely, you will get over this unpleasant habit.

In case you do not succeed in treating the drooling problem with home care tips, do not feel hesitant to visit your doctor. The health expert will try to find out the causal factors and suggest corrective measures for them. Inability to breathe through the nose usually stems from respiratory conditions. So, if such is the case, diagnosing the root causes and treating them correctly will surely stop drooling during sleep.

Ways To Fall Asleep Quickly That Will Help You Get The Better Sleep

"The best cure for insomnia is to get a lot of sleep." ~ W.C. Fields

...how ironic, yet true! Insomnia has become a very common problem these days! The reasons could be many... stress, depression, improper diet, work overload... all of which is a gift of the modern lifestyle and its demands! When we want to sleep, we have no time, and when time permits to sleep and take some rest, there is no sleep! We focus on trying to fall asleep, emptying our minds, keeping our eyes closed, but in vain! We see the time pass, and the clock ticking away the seconds, and then the morning comes and it's time to get up! Does this happen with you too? Relax! Below are some effective tips to fall asleep quickly that will help you get the sound sleep that your body is craving for. Have a look...

Ways to Fall Asleep Quickly

Lack of proper sleep can gravely upset your routine! This is because the body has not been able to relax and replenish itself to perform the tasks that it has to in the day! It is necessary for you to sleep like a baby, if you want a fresh and active mind all through the day! Mentioned below are some effective tips to fall asleep, just the way you want - undisturbed!

Be Active Throughout the Day
A tired body gets a sound sleep! The physically active you are throughout the day, the easier it will be for you to sleep during the night. The body uses sleep as a way to replenish the mental and physical energy that you have lost all throughout the day! If you stay physically inactive, your body hasn't depleted any energy and therefore you experience difficulty in sleeping. So, another tip to sleep better is to try going for a jog one day, and see what refreshing sleep you get in the night!

No Eating Before Sleeping
Lying on the bed, watching TV, we do feel like grabbing on a bed time snack, but that may interrupt the good night sleep that you are looking forward too! Make the rule simple, no carbohydrates, no coffee, no alcohol, and no cigarettes before sleeping. These will make your mind alert which will eventually prevent sleeping.

Have a Warm Cup of Milk
Have a warm cup of milk at least an hour or 2 before you go to bed. If you want you can add a little honey to it! This will relax your mind and boost the chances of getting a sound sleep. Also you will get a chance to brush your teeth and clean up the milk and honey! :)

Have a Hot Shower
Taking a nice warm bath before sleeping also relaxes your body and mind. You feel clean and fresh, which makes it easier for you to relax and go to a deep sound sleep. But make sure you take your bath at least an hour before you sleep. This is because the warm water enables the heart rate to go up. So need some time to get that to normal to be able to sleep.

Keep Your Mind Clear
Another very important yet difficult trick to fall asleep, is to keep your mind clear and calm. When we are stressed or worried, it is normal to think about the events of today and the planning for tomorrow when we lie down on the bed. This is something that o have to avoid doing if you want to have a quick sleep. Just clear your mind. If there is something that you need to remember for tomorrow, write it down on a piece of paper so that you don't have to bother your mind! Avoid any arguments before you sleep. If you have one, clear it up and then go to bed.

Set the Right Room Temperature
The ideal room temperature for you to sleep should be 16°C - 18°C. Do not make the room temperature too high or low as it will affect the process of falling asleep quickly. Make sure that the room temperature is comfortable, and so is the bed!

Use of Sound Therapy
It has been medically proven that sound therapy is one of the effective ways to fall asleep instantly as it can really tune your mind by relaxing the brainwaves! Listening to soft music can reduce the activeness and alertness of the brain and consequently allow you to sleep in a much relaxed way!

Use of Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy too is an effective way of relaxing the mind enabling it to sleep quickly. Use of essential oils like lavender oils, chamomile oils or lemon balm oils in your bath or as pillow sprays can help fall you asleep quickly.

Avoid Taking Power Naps
Another thing that you need to keep in mind is to avoid taking power naps if you find it difficult to have a sound sleep during the night. As mentioned earlier, be as active as you can during the day and save all the rest for the night.

Many people opt for sleeping pills and similar drugs in an attempt to find a way to fall asleep fast. I would suggest to keep its use as minimum as possible, or completely avoid using them as they can become an addiction, making the situation worse! Instead, it is advisable to go for the aforementioned tips to fall asleep quickly. These are simple yet effective tips, which are easy to follow, and you will easily be able to notice the difference in your sleeping habits! If you still have difficulties falling asleep after trying these techniques, you should check with your doctor if you are suffering from some kind of sleep disorder, and start its treatment as soon as possible. A healthy body and mind needs a healthy sleep. So make sure you get loads of it! Good luck!

How Many Hours Of Sleep Is Needed By A Normal Human

After a long day of physically and mentally taxing work, your body requires rest. When you sleep, your body and mind relax and get ready for another day's work. It is essential to fulfill this need, as otherwise, it will adversely affect your health and efficiency. People who do not sleep enough, are known to be irritable and short-tempered. But that does not mean that oversleeping or not working is the answer! There should be a balance between work and rest. So that leaves us with the question, how many hours of sleep is needed by a normal human.

What is Sleep?
It is quite tricky to define sleep. One could say that is a temporary state of unconsciousness which can be revived and is characterized by short term suspension of motor and sensory activities. But unlike a coma, this state of unconsciousness is reversible. There have been several researches into the causes and effects of sleep, but none have been able to clearly state the advantages of a good sleep. But not sleeping the needed hours of sleep regularly, leads to a number of physical problems such as lowered body temperature, decrease in the levels of secretion of growth hormones and sometimes, there may even be a variability in the rate of heartbeats. There may also be several nervous system problems, drowsiness, inability to concentrate and make logical decisions. On the other hand, a good night's sleep will ensure long term health and wellness.

Minimum Hours Needed by Age
The recommended hours for sleep required by people varies with age. The average hours of sleep needed vary based on what stage of the life cycle you are in.

Infants: New-born babies and infants need a lot of sleep. Most infants that are less than 3 months old, require up to 18 hours of sleep per day. As the babies grow, up to 3 years, they tend to sleep the whole night and also take a nap in the afternoons. 14 hours of sleep is needed by babies of this age.

Children: As you grow up, the number of hours of sleep start reducing. Children between 3-5 years generally need about 12 hours of sleep. Kids between 5-10 years of age usually have 10 hours of sleep. Adolescents also need 8-10 hours of sleep daily.

Teenage and Adults: People in this age group generally need the lowest hours for sleep. 8 hours of sleep is required by most adults, while the elderly may need only 6 hours of sleep.

Sleeping Problems
Many people suffer from sleep disorders such as insomnia. They aren't able to get their full quota of sleep and hence suffer the same problems that occur due to lack of sleep. Most of the time, insomnia is caused due to alcoholism, drug and stimulants consumption and stress. If you are not getting your full quota of sleep, I suggest you read these articles on How to Fall Asleep Fast and Tips to Fall Asleep. You can also use sleeping medication, but only after consulting your doctor.

It is very essential to get your daily quota of sleep, otherwise you will end up with a sleep debt. So if you have any sleeping problems, you should sort them out quickly, so you have a normal, trouble-free lifestyle!