By Keith Londrie
 When you list all the possible sleep disorders children can be prone to, it seems amazing that they find any sleep at all. Some disorders are obviously worse than others are, but all have one common denominator: parent anxiety.
As parents, who hasn't undergone the trauma of bringing home their new born son or daughter from the hospital and stood over them as they slept? Or waking up in the middle of the night to check that they are still breathing. A healthy baby sleeping perfectly well can sometimes be as nerve wrecking as a problematic one. When problems to children's sleeping patterns occur, however, more action is needed.
Parents need to learn the symptoms of each particular sleep disorder to learn what the best course of action is. Here follows the main problems your children could face at one time or another:
Nightmares and night terrors
If nightmares can abruptly wake an adult in the middle of the night drenched in sweat and absolutely certain what they have dream is true, what do you
imagine a child goes through? Nightmares and their even worse cousin night terrors, are the most common form of interrupting your child's sleep. Although they are not a serious threat to the health of your children they can sometimes cause other problems like bed-wetting, mood swings, or the child refusing to go to bed when told. Try to resist the temptation of allowing them to sleep in your bed, as this can cause a negative routine that will be very difficult to crack later on.
Sleepwalking/talking
It can be quite disconcerting (and sometimes downright scary) to see your child sleepwalking. It happens to more children than you would have thought possible but is quite harmless if precautions are taken to ensure the child's environment is safe. This means picking up their toys before bedtime (or even better teaching them to pick up their toys before bedtime) and locking and bolting all windows and doors. Installing a security gate at the top of the stairs is another good idea.
A child talking in their sleep or sleeping with their eyes open is a pretty strange thing to see but like sleepwalking is completely harmless and usually disappears when the child gets older.
Bruxism
Bruxism is a problem children have with their teeth while they are asleep. They grind and gnash their teeth sometimes very loudly. The sufferer is not usually awoken by it although they could bite the side of their tongue once in a while. Parents are the ones usually kept awake by this disorder and the child may develop dental problems if it continues for an extended period of time. That said, it is just one more disorder in children that they will eventually grow out of.
Bed-wetting
Perhaps the most common sleep disorder found in children. Many experts believe that answer to bed-wetting is to get the child into the routine of going to the toilet and not allowing them to drink too much before bedtime. Some parents get up in the middle of the night and take the sleeping child to the bathroom (I do), while others opt for the use of diapers. On no account should the child be punished for wetting their bed as this just leads to anxiety and the problem could get worse. If the problem persists then parents should go to see their doctor.
Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea can effect people of all ages, including children. The victim actually stops breathing during sleep and as many as fifty times a night. Although it is quite common, for a parent there is nothing more terrifying than seeing this happen to their child. Loud snoring is usually the first sign of sleep apnea. If you suspect your child to be suffering from sleep apnea you are wise to go to the doctor as soon as possible to begin treatment.
Sudden infant death syndrome or cot death
By far the most dangerous sleep related ailment among children. Despite the vast amount of research being done in the United Sates and Europe, very little is known about it. Hundreds of babies die each year from SIDS and is without doubt the number cause for concern among parents today.
Keith Londrie II is the Webmaster of http://overcominginsomnia.coffee-info.info A website that specializes in providing information on overcoming insomniathat you can research on the internet. Please Visit http://overcominginsomnia.coffee-info.info Today! Menopause Is Coming - Be An Informed Consumer
By Tom Nuckels
 Menopause is a natural part of life and does not necessarily require treatment. You need to be informed of your options. Symptoms and health risks associated with low estrogen can be treated, often, in natural ways that don't include drug related risks.
Definition
When a woman's menstrual period ceases, and the ovaries permanently stop releasing eggs, a woman has entered the time in life called menopause. It is considered complete when a woman has been without her period for a full year. Menopause can occur anytime between the ages of 40-58, however, the average age is 51 years old.
The Cause
Menopause is a natural part of life and is a gradual process. The ovaries begin producing lower amounts of hormones prior to menopause during a phase called perimenopause.
If menopause occurs before the age of 40 it is called premature menopause. Premature menopause can occur naturally but can also be the result of several conditions, including:
* Family history of premature menopause
* Autoimmune diseases
* X-chromosome abnormalities
* Medical treatments (pelvic surgery, surgical removal of ovaries, chemotherapy,
or pelvic radiation therapy)
* Medications that lower estrogen levels
* Smoking
The Risk Factors
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition. Since menopause is a natural process associated with aging, there are no risk factors, but risk factors for premature menopause include:
* Family history of premature menopause
Symptoms
A number of physical and emotional symptoms may occur as menopause approaches. Women entering menopause often experience:
* Irregular menstrual periods
* Hot flashes and night sweats
* Disturbed sleep patterns, insomnia
* Anxiety
* Depression
* Dry skin
* Irritability
* Vaginal dryness and pain with sexual intercourse
* Difficulty concentrating
* Trouble remembering things
* Diminished interest in sex
* Frequent urination or leaking of urine
* Headaches
* Achy joints
* Fatigue
* Early morning awakening
The Diagnosis
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. Blood tests, a pelvic exam, and a Pap smear may also be performed. Natural menopause is usually diagnosed when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months.
If a woman had a hysterectomy before menopause, and no longer has periods, menopause may be suspected. It can be confirmed by an FSH test. This test is considered the most accurate for the diagnosis of menopause. It is the measurement of follicle stimulating hormone. High levels of FSH (greater than 40) may indicate menopause.
Treatment
Menopause is a natural part of life and does not automatically require treatment. Symptoms and health risks associated with low estrogen can be treated. These include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and osteoporosis.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
Be sure you completely understand the benefits and risk before starting HRT.
A number of different types of hormones are available. These include natural, synthetic, and plant-derived estrogens and progesterone. Combined therapies may include combinations of estrogen and progesterone; or the addition of small amounts of male hormones. Hormone preparations are available as tablets, gels, skin patches, vaginal rings, vaginal tablets, injections, and pellets inserted into the skin.
There is significant scientific evidence that the global health risks associated with combined estrogen and progesterone HRT on a long-term basis (more than 3-5 years) outweigh the benefits for many women. The average age of the women in these research studies is over 60 years old.
Use of combined HRT at the time of menopause (around age 50) may pose less risk. Also, most of these studies used conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone. Other evidence suggests that use of estradiol and natural progesterone may pose less risk.
Phytoestrogens
A high intake of phytoestrogens (or plant estrogens) may help menopausal women. Phytoestrogens are found in soybeans, black cohosh, whole grains, legumes, tempeh, and flax seed. They are also found in concentration in capsule form. Phytoestrogens may reduce the risk for diseases associated with estrogen.
Healthful/Helpful Diet
Diet can play an important and beneficial roll. A healthful diet during menopause can improve a woman's sense of well-being, and may also reduce the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, and certain cancers. The diet should be low in fat and high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, calcium, and vitamin D. Low-fat does not mean no-fat. Some fats, especially the Omega-3 fats are essential.
Limit Caffeine and Alcohol
High use of caffeine or alcohol is never a good choice. Cutting back on caffeine and alcohol may reduce symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, and loss of calcium.
Quit Smoking
There are no health benefits derived from smoking. Giving up smoking can reduce the risk of early menopause, heart disease, and osteoporosis.
Regular Exercise
A healthy lifestyle should embrace regular exercise. It may reduce hot flashes. Weight-bearing exercises such as walking, climbing stairs, and resistance exercises such as lifting weights help strengthen bones and decrease the risk of osteoporosis.
Stress Management
Stress management may help ease tension, anxiety, and possibly other menopausal symptoms. Deep breathing, massage, warm baths, and quiet music are relaxation techniques that may lessen stress.
Over-the-Counter Medications
Moisturizers and lubricants are used to help vaginal dryness.
Non-hormonal Medications
Certain blood pressure medicines (like "Catapres" and "Aldomet") taken in lower doses than are used to treat high blood pressure have been somewhat helpful in relieving some menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes.
SSRI medications (serotonin reuptake inhibitors like "Prozac", "Paxil", and "Effexor") have shown a modest benefit on hot flash severity scores. These medications should not be used if you are taking tamoxifen to reduce risk of breast cancer recurrence.
Prevention
Menopause does not need to be prevented. It is a natural biological event.
If you smoke, quitting could slightly delay the onset of menopause.
Tom Nuckels is health article author and owner of the LpVitamins.com website. His customers range from children to the elderly and from carpenters to doctors. To learn what liquid vitamins and phytonutrients can do for you, visit www.lpvitamins.com . Menopause Is Pregnancy During Menopause Possible?
By Rebecca Prescott
 In order to be classed as menopausal your periods need to have stopped for at least twelve months consecutively, which means that you are then infertile. However, the perimenopause, which is the period leading up to the menopause, is a time when many women continue to have a period regularly, and this means that they are at risk of becoming pregnant. Although the chances of becoming pregnant naturally are reduced by fifty percent at the age of forty, and continue to decline with age, pregnancy during these menopausal years is still possible.
Pregnancy during the perimenopausal years
Many women aged between forty five and fifty assume that they are not going to get pregnant, and some believe that the irregular periods that they experience are a sign that they can no longer have a child. However, the very fact that periods are occurring during the run up to the menopause means that eggs are being produced and can be fertilized, and although the chances of getting pregnant are lower during these years there is still a possibility that it could happen, and therefore precautions need to be taken.
During the perimenopausal years periods can be irregular, and this can cause a problem for those not using proper contraception. If you do get caught out and become pregnant, you may put the missed periods down to the fact that they were irregular anyway. This is especially true if you're under the assumption that you cannot get pregnant. However, the reasons for your missed periods may not be anything to do with standard irregularity. It may well be due to pregnancy, which can really come as a shock.
There are a number of contraception options open to those going through the perimenopausal period that will reduce the risks of pregnancy. Of course your chances of becoming pregnant during your twenties and thirties are far higher than in your forties and fifties, but there is still the possibility that it could happen, which means that contraception in some form or another is important.
Oral contraception is a very popular method, and your doctor will be able to recommend a suitable contraceptive pill for your age. These can often reduce the symptoms associated with menopause as well, there are double benefits. Other contraception options for perimenopausal women include sterilization, vasectomy for the partner, or barrier contraception such as condoms and cervical caps.
Anyone that is going through the menopause and is unsure of the best form of contraception for them should speak to their doctor about the available options. Based on your age, health, and medical history, your doctor will be able to offer expert advice on the type of contraception that would best suit your needs.
For more articles on peri-menopause, including this one on depression in menopause, click here. Share Your Opinion. (0 posts)
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