jaxsleepcenter

  REM Sleep Behavior Disorder: What is it? And How Can It Be Managed? What is REM Sleep Behavior Disorder? Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep Behavior Disorder is a relatively rare condition. There is no hardened cure for this, but Dr. Nassar and Dr. Festic of the Jacksonville Sleep Center are very well trained and can help you manage the disorder. REM sleep accounts for roughly the last 20 percent of your sleep period in the 2nd half of the night. It is shown by  irregular breathing,  rapid eye movement,  a loss of muscle tone, a rise in blood pressure, and dreaming. The way this turns from uncomfortable sleep to a disorder is how the nerve pathways that prevent muscles from moving during normal REM sleep do not work in a person with the disorder. Causes and Results of  REM Sleep Behavior Disorder There is no direct cause of this that is known. It is associated with degenerative neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease. Due to the nerve pathways being blo...

  How Bad Is An “All-Nighter” For Your Sleep Schedule? When was the last time you had to pull an all-nighter? Maybe it was several years ago when you had to stay up late to cram for an important exam, or that one time you decided to go to the after-party with your friends. Perhaps you decided to burn the midnight oil in order to meet an important work deadline. Sacrificing your precious hours of sleep for the greater good may seem like a noble and responsible thing to do when time is of the essence, but we’re going to discuss some important facts you should consider before making that call in the future. All-Nighters Can’t Be That Bad, Can They? Professionals in the field commonly refer to an all-nighter as an episode of voluntary sleep deprivation, and the  list of negative effects  it can have on your physical and cognitive health is as long as it is depressing. Not to be confused with conditions like insomnia, where people are unable to go to sleep even when giving it ...

  Is Snoring Harmless Or Should You Be Worried? Waking up in the middle of the night can be terrible if you do not know the root cause. In this case, it would be snoring, but at least you know what is happening. Now the causes of snoring can be pretty abundant. Snoring in itself is considered harmless, but it can be an effect of something that is a little more harmful. Why we snore is a more complicated issue, but if you are a heavy sleeper then you have nothing to worry about.  Issues That Come With Snoring Snoring does not only affect you, but it can affect the people near you as well. Unless you are a very heavy sleeper then loud irregular noises should wake you up most of the time. No one wants to be woken up when they are trying to sleep and relax. For some people, heavy snoring indicates the appearance of sleep apnea. Snoring is also the key symptom of obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that causes choking or gasps for air when sleeping. Other t...

  Tips To Stay Productive After Eating The scene after Thanksgiving dinner where everyone is passed out after eating is a very common and relatable situation. There is so much time in the day that is wasted due to fatigue after eating. Most people know that you can get tired after eating, but some people don’t know why you fall asleep after eating . It could be an eating situation or an over-exhaustion situation in which case you should come down to the Jacksonville Sleep Center for additional help. Why You Fall Asleep After Eating Understanding the reasons why you fall asleep after eating will help fight the problem. There are several reasons as to why the body acts the way it does. Circadian Rhythm Circadian Rhythm is a natural, internal process that regulates sleep. Many things can affect this, for example eating before you go to bed. This would affect how you feel after eating in general.  Certain Foods Processed foods are usually loaded with added and refined sugars whic...

  Is Sleeping With Your TV On Bad For Your Sleep? It is no secret that sleep is very important, for example, we spend around one-third of our life asleep. We should try to make that one-third of our lives as enjoyable as possible. Some people try to mix their sleeping habits with their awake habits and always fall a  sleep when watching TV . There are usually two scenarios that happen when watching TV at night. One is that you like the noise and are able to fall asleep to it. The other is the light emitting from the TV is too much for you to sleep through and keeps you awake. Ultimately, sleeping with your TV could be no issue at all or a severe issue for you. The factors depend on how the TV is affecting you.  White Noise Some people are just too tired to get a good sleep. These people need some form of help so they are able to function better the following day. Falling asleep when watching TV is usually only helpful when it is at a low volume. This low volume is helpf...

  How to Get Your Child’s Sleep Schedule Back On Track For School Energetic children can be a distraction for everyone in the house when it is time for bed. Too much energy means less sleep, which leads to the kids being tired and not functioning properly. Setting up a proper back-to-school sleep schedule is very important. Knowing important tips might even help you learn how to fix your sleep schedule.  Important Sleep Schedule Tips These tips are primarily for kids’ back-to-school sleep schedules but could be for personal use as well. Establish a relaxing setting Have a consistent bedtime routine   No electronics an hour before bedtime Avoid stimulants like caffeine before you go to bed Do not eat a big meal before going to sleep Avoid any kind of physical activity at least two hours before bed Make sure the bedroom is dark, quiet, and a little bit on the cooler side Get up at the same time every morning It is good to start easing the children back into these sch...

  How Does Exercise Affect Your Sleep? Does exercise affect sleep? The short answer is yes, it most certainly does. Researchers around the world have been working for years to pinpoint the direct cause of this correlation, but the concrete explanation continues to be elusive. However, it has been frequently observed and fundamentally proven that moderate aerobic exercise will increase the amount of slow wave sleep (deep sleep) that you achieve. It is believed that this is due to a combination of positive effects exercise has on the body, and we will discuss these effects in detail, below. Benefits of Exercise Aside from the obvious benefits of exercise, such as strength building, weight loss, and improving your cardiovascular health, exercise can provide a number of benefits that have a positive impact on your brain. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins. Endorphins are a group of delightful hormones that increase the activity of your brain, improve your mood, relieve s...

  Common Medicines Used For Sleep We’ve all had those sleepless nights full of tossing and turning, and it seems that no matter how tired we are, we still can’t manage to fall asleep. People experience this unfortunate scenario for many various reasons, and many times they result in taking over-the-counter sleep medicine to help them achieve the elusive rest they crave so badly. There are many options available for sleep aid , some requiring a prescription while many others do not, and here we will discuss a few of the most common choices available, along with some of the known risks. Various Types of Sleeping Pills In this day and age, there seems to be a pill for everything that ails you. This is true for sleep medicines as well. There are various types of sleeping pills available, with each one working to affect your brain in a specific way, so it is important to visit a sleep clinic to determine the cause of your sleep deprivation before you result to taking random, store-boug...

  What Causes Sleep Inertia Have you ever woken up in the morning feeling like you didn’t get any sleep at all? The overwhelming feelings of grogginess, heavy eyelids, and unyielding frustration that hit you as soon as you awake from the disappointing experience you thought was sleep? If you have, then you’ve experienced what professionals refer to as sleep inertia. Here we will discuss exactly what sleep inertia is, what its potential causes are, and the steps you can take to avoid it. What Is Sleep Inertia? Sleep inertia  is identified as the period of disorientation, cognitive impairment, and drowsiness after waking up from inefficient sleep. The episodes normally only last for about fifteen minutes to an hour, but in extreme cases, they can persist for several hours and turn even the most responsible human being into a walking liability. The biological reason for this occurrence is still unknown, but many researchers believe it is one of the human body’s many built-in pr...

  Everything You Should Know About Sleep Latency Getting a good night’s sleep on a regular basis is essential to every person’s mental and physical health, as well as their daily productivity. Sleep latency is one of the key elements in determining your overall sleep efficiency, but it can also serve as one of the chief indicators of a possible sleep disorder. Here we will discuss everything we think you should know about sleep latency , and when we think you should seek professional help. Sleep Latency And Sleep Efficiency Sleep latency, more accurately referred to as sleep onset latency, is the time it takes a person to fall asleep once they have turned the lights out, laid down, and closed their eyes. Sleep efficiency is the amount of time a person spends in bed asleep versus time spent in bed lying awake. While every person has different sleep habits and sleep requirements, sleep latency should remain within a reasonable amount of time for any person to be considered within a...