Snoring and Sleep Disorders

Snoring is no stranger to almost half the world’s population. That’s quite an impressive statistic. Some people snore less than others while many suffer from chronic snoring.

Snoring can be more that just a nuisance or an annoyance to anyone else trying to sleep within ear shot. Some studies even indicate that snoring can, in fact be linked to sleep apnea and even health conditions such as high blood pressure, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and type II diabetes.

Snoring (the sounds) essentially is a result of an obstruction to the free flow of air. This obstruction causes the soft tissue to vibrate thus producing the snoring sounds.

With adult snoring there are a variety of causes including a stuffy nasal passage, a deviated septum, a thick soft palate, enlarged tonsils, adenoids, and more.

A side effect of sleep apnea in an adult is snoring. With sleep apnea the person will stop breathing any where from 10 to 30 seconds. This can occur several times during the course of the night and it results in a deprivation of oxygen to the entire body. The lack of sound sleep and oxygen to a person suffering from this will adversely affect the body.

The affects of sleep apnea will eventually snowball into a feeling of always feeling tired and fatigued, along with being irritable, a loss in productivity, overall poor mental health, and even weaken the immune system.

Staying fit with a regular exercise program will help lessen the chances of you snoring… as well as help you lose some weight. Avoid sedatives and antihistamines if you suffer from mild or occasional snoring. Sleeping on your side will also help keep your breath-way open and lessen your snoring, also elevation your body from the waist up just a few inches will also help with mild cases of snoring.

With chronic or excessive adult snoring you may need to consult with your doctor and get a medical examination to determine the best steps.

The range of medical treatments for snoring vary from the simple such as a non-invasive orthodontic appliance to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) to a more complex treatment such as Laser Assisted Uvula Palatoplasty (LAUP).

Both of these types of treatments are a step beyond the more traditional treatments for snoring and would only be used under the advice and care of your doctor if more tradition remedies simply did not work.

Fibromyalgia Treatment

Fibromyalgia treatment must be individualized due to the fact that the symptoms of fibromyalgia vary so much from patient to patient.  Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by extreme pain and tenderness in multiple muscles and joints.  The pain occurs in areas where the muscles attach to bone or ligaments.

The pain of fibromyalgia is felt all over spreading out from the spine over large areas of the body.  The pain can be a muscle twitching to a burning sensation.  Fibromyalgia pain can continue throughout a person’s lifetime.

Fibromyalgia treatments should combine trigger point therapy, stress reduction, regular exercise and medications.  Trigger point therapy is a technique where pressure is applied to tender muscle tissue in order to relieve pain and dysfunction in other parts of the body.

There are two basic types of trigger points: active and latent.  Active trigger points cause muscular pain and will refer pain and tenderness to another area of the body when pressure is applied.  Latent trigger points only exhibit pain when pressed upon, they do not refer pain to other areas of the body.  Trigger point therapy is used to eliminate pain and to re-educate the muscles into pain free habits.

Stress reduction with the use of relaxation techniques is another type of fibromyalgia treatment.  This is used to ease muscle tension and anxiety in the body. There are three major types of relaxation techniques that can be used.  Autogenic training is a technique that uses both visual imagery and body awareness to move a person into a deep state of relaxation.  Progressive muscle relaxation involves slowly tensing and then releasing each muscle group individually.  The third type of relaxation technique is meditation.  This is the most popular form of relaxation techniques.

Another form of fibromyalgia treatment is regular exercise. Regular exercise is one of the best things you can do if you have fibromyalgia. You should begin with stretching exercises and gentle, low impact activity such as walking or bicycling.  Don’t be surprised if the exercise makes your pain worse.  Some muscle soreness is normal when you are starting to exercise.  Eventually as you progress you will become more comfortable.  The goal of regular exercise is to gain relief from pain and improve sleep.

Medications are another form or fibromyalgia treatment. Medications are used to help you sleep better, relax muscles, and relieve muscle and joint pain. Examples of medications that may be prescribed are tricyclic antidepressants, such as Amitriptyline or Elavil, muscle relaxants like Flexeril and nonprescription pain relievers like Advil or aspirin.

Fibromyalgia treatment should be tailored to meet individual needs.  Some people with fibromyalgia have mild symptoms and need very little treatment while others require a comprehensive care program.  There are many options available for fibromyalgia treatment so looking for a comprehensive answer to fibromyalgia pain is the best.

Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a chronic disorder that is characterized by extreme pain and tenderness in multiple joints and muscles.

This condition is referred to as a syndrome because it is a set of signs and symptoms that occur together.  The pain from fibromyalgia occurs in areas where the muscles attach to the bone or ligaments.

Fibromyalgia is an arthritis related condition however, the joints are not affected so they are not deformed or deteriorated as they would be with arthritis.

There are many symptoms of fibromyalgia. However, no two people with this condition will experience the same symptom the exact same way.

This is just one of the reasons diagnosing fibromyalgia is a challenge for healthcare providers.  The difficulty of making an accurate diagnosis and beginning to develop a treatment plan for the patient are just some of the reasons that patients suffering with fibromyalgia often become depressed and perhaps even withdrawn.  It can be an endless circle, the chronic pain of fibromyalgia and the frustration at a lack of a diagnosis and absence of a clear treatment plan can be an incredibly frustrating matter for the sufferer.

The most prominent symptom of fibromyalgia is pain.  The pain of fibromyalgia is not localized but rather felt all over especially in the lower back and arms.  About 90% of people who have fibromyalgia will experience fatigue and sleep disturbance.  Other symptoms of fibromyalgia include morning stiffness, frequent urination, a tingling sensation in the hands, arms, feet and face, migraine headaches, abdominal pain and restless leg syndrome.

There is no specific test used to diagnose fibromyalgia making it difficult to diagnose people with this syndrome.  People with fibromyalgia often look healthy and have no outward signs of pain or fatigue. Again, this can certainly work against the patient when seeking a diagnosis.  Although it seems to be better than it was several years ago, a patient can still feel as if they are fighting for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.  Some may even feel like “it is all in my head”.

Fibromyalgia is diagnosed by the presence of specific fibromyalgia symptoms, such as the presence of widespread pain along with tenderness at specific locations and chronic fatigue.  Diagnosing fibromyalgia can take years and countless visits to a variety of physicians.  Finding a doctor who is willing to listen to you and is very familiar with this condition is important.

There is no known direct cause of fibromyalgia.  Treatment options include medications to diminish pain and improve sleep.  Exercise programs that improve cardiovascular fitness and stretch muscles and relaxation techniques to help ease muscle tension and anxiety can be beneficial in the treatment of fibromyalgia.  Some people have mild symptoms and will need very little treatment while others will require comprehensive care program including medication for pain and sleep as well as an inclusive exercise program.

If you think you might have fibromyalgia make an appointment to see your doctor.  Your doctor can make an accurate diagnosis of fibromyalgia and can customize a treatment plan to meet your individual needs.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a state of chronic fatigue that is present without other explanations for six months or more and is accompanied by difficulties with short term memory or concentration.

Tens of thousands of people are affected by chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome occurs mostly in young to middle-aged adults and more commonly in females than males.  There is no known cause for chronic fatigue syndrome; however, it is believed that it may be related to a previous infection with effects on the immune system.

Some evidence indicated that the bacterium chlamydia pneumonial may be the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome in some cases.

There are several symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.  In order to diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome ruling out other causes of chronic persistent fatigue, including stressful lifestyles, cancer, adrenal or thyroid disorders, HIV or aids is essential.

The diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome is based on symptoms since there is no laboratory test that specifically makes the diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome.

One symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome is long term fatigue, lasting longer than six months that cannot be explained by other diseases.  People with chronic fatigue syndrome  may have had a previous infection making them tired and run down.  After the person has recovered from the illness, the fatigue continues.

Another symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome is cognitive difficulty.  People with chronic fatigue syndrome have problems with short-term memory but not with long term memory.  Post exertional fatigue is also a symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome.  This occurs when you are excessively tired after doing normal activities that were not difficult in the past.  People who have chronic fatigue syndrome also complain of fatigue even after long periods of rest or sleep.  They do not feel refreshed after sleeping.  People will often become depressed due to the difficulties of performing at work or home.

Treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome is directed at relief of symptoms rather than a cure because the exact cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is still unknown.  The treatment goal is to get some level of pre-existing function and well being.  Many people with chronic fatigue syndrome expect a quick recovery but do not quickly return to a satisfactory level of function due to them working too hard or even expecting too much and thereby worsening their symptoms.

It is important to talk to your doctor about chronic fatigue syndrome.

With your doctor’s help, together you will develop a treatment program individually tailored to your needs.  Your treatment program should be modified over time as your symptoms change.