Sleep Archives

Myoclonus: An Innocent Twitch—or a Serious Illness?

May 6, 2019 · Leonaura Rhodes, MD · Sleep

What is myoclonus? According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, myoclonus “refers to sudden, involuntary jerking of a muscle or group of muscles.” It is a symptom, not a disease, affecting 8.6 people per 100,000 in its more serious presentations. A myoclonic twitch or a myoclonic jerk—when … Read More

What Causes Nightmares? 7 Common Triggers

Apr 10, 2019 · Larry Canale · Sleep

You may remember, as a kid, occasionally waking up in a cold sweat, startled out of your slumber by one of those frighteningly vivid nightmares. Perhaps the experience still pops up from time to time; bad dreams may be more common in children, but adults aren't immune to them. Around … Read More

Melatonin May Help You Get a Better Night’s Sleep

Apr 4, 2019 · UHN Staff · Sleep

Melatonin is called the “hormone of darkness” because it helps signal the body that it’s night and time to sleep. It’s secreted by the pineal gland in the brain about every 24 hours in a dark environment, typically starting around 90 minutes before you usually fall asleep. Levels stay elevated … Read More

Why Am I Having Hypnagogic Hallucinations?

Apr 1, 2019 · Jay Roland · Sleep

Do you ever have wild visions or dreams that are extremely vivid and seem like real life just as you’re falling asleep? You may be experiencing hypnagogic hallucinations, a condition often associated with narcolepsy. In fact, hypnagogic hallucinations are among the four most common narcolepsy symptoms, along with sleep paralysis, … Read More

Sleep Stages: Understanding the Sleep Cycle

Mar 14, 2019 · Leonaura Rhodes, MD · Sleep

One-third of all American adults are not getting enough sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But why does it matter so much? Well, simply put: Inadequate sleep is bad for your health. It's linked to chronic conditions and illnesses like diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and depression. … Read More

How to Treat Jet Lag

Mar 6, 2019 · UHN Staff · Sleep

Jet lag is a sleep phase disorder that occurs when traveling across time zones. In the days of leisurely ocean liner crossings and cross-country rail travel, the body had time to adjust to different time zones, but the advent of air travel changed that. When you cross into a new … Read More

Got Night Sweats? 10 Reasons Why You Might Experience Them

Feb 25, 2019 · Chandra Johnson-Greene · Sleep

If you’ve ever woken up in the middle of the night so drenched in your own sweat that you’re compelled to change your clothes and sheets, you’ve just experienced a case of the night sweats. Also known as nocturnal hyperhidrosis or nighttime “hot flashes,” night sweats are often disregarded as … Read More

Hypersomnia Causes and Treatment

Feb 13, 2019 · UHN Staff · Sleep

Hypersomnia is characterized by episodes of excessive daytime sleepiness, even with adequate nighttime sleep, or prolonged nighttime sleep. This condition is different from the daytime sleepiness and sleep episodes of narcolepsy or feeling tired due to occasional insomnia. People with hypersomnia feel driven to nap, often for long periods of … Read More

Would You Benefit From a Snoring Mouthguard?

Jan 30, 2019 · Jay Roland · Sleep

If you snore, and you’ve tried sleeping on your side and various other "tricks" to quiet your nighttime breathing, you may want to consider a snoring mouthguard, also called a snoring mouthpiece. It’s a dental appliance that keeps the jaw pushed slightly forward while you sleep to help ensure that … Read More

Are You Staying Up Too Late Because of Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome?

Jan 18, 2019 · Jay Roland · Sleep

There may be a scientific reason why some people are night owls: delayed sleep phase syndrome. It’s a sleep disorder in which your body’s clock tells you to fall asleep a few hours later than most people hit the sack. The problem is that this delayed bedtime makes it difficult … Read More

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