Stages of Sleep
The earth revolves around the sun creating a period of sun light and darkness. This cyclic pattern separates our days into daytime and nighttime. Our bodies developed a daily rhythm that functions within the earthy cycle, known as the circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm relies on the sunlight and lack of sunlight in order to regulate our sleep and wake periods. When the sun sets, our brain begins to release chemicals that prepare your body for sleep. Once asleep, your bodies will undergo various stages and cycles. REM Sleep Sleep is divided into two distinct periods referred...
Read More4 Things You Need to Know About Vitamin D
Vitamin D, aka “the sunshine vitamin,” is one of the most essential of vitamins.This super vitamin is responsible for healthy bones. It facilitates the absorption of calcium into bone tissue. Therefore, vitamin D deficiency is often responsible for weak bones. In children, it can lead to a condition known as rickets, where bones become fragile and malformed due to it’s poor mineralization. In adults, poor calcium absorption leads to osteoporosis. Research also shows that vitamin D deficiency puts you at higher risk for developing chronic illnesses including autoimmune diseases,...
Read MoreSnoring and Sleep Apnea
Snoring… just hearing the word alone is enough to make you cringe with annoyance. But what is snoring? To put it simply, snoring is noisy breathing during sleep. It’s prevalent among people of all ages and it affects both genders. The National Sleep Foundation states that snoring affects approximately 37 million American adults on a regular basis. Therefore, it’s very likely that either you snore or sleep close to someone who does. At any rate, snoring could be a warning signal that something is wrong with your breathing at night. Let’s take a look at what causes snoring. What...
Read MoreSleep Apnea in Children
Does your child make whistling or breathing sounds during sleep? Does your child experience long pauses in breathing, tossing and turning in bed, mouth breathing during sleep, night sweats, or even bed-wetting? All these and more are possible signs of sleep apnea, which is more common in children than is generally recognized. It’s estimated that sleep apnea affects up to 10% of children int the US, many of them between the ages 2 and 8 years old(1). Sleep Apnea Symptoms in Children vs. Adults Children with sleep apnea don’t necessarily vibrate the walls of the house when they...
Read MoreWhy is Sleep Important?
You have a big exam tomorrow. The time is 8:05pm and you begin to feel quite nervous about it. Not being as prepared as you would have liked, you start considering to pull the infamous “all-nighter.” The sun has already set and darkness fills the skies. As the ambitious night lingers on, even after several cups of coffee, your eyelids still manage to get heavier than your book-filled backpack. The words on the page become more difficult to read and your thinking becomes fuzzy. A mental fog begins to set in. No matter how hard you try to endure, the glorious all-nighter you had...
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