Sleep Problems Questions

1. What Can I Do About Leg Discomfort That Wakes Me up in the Night?

   What you likely have is called restless leg syndrome, a type of involuntary movement disorder that causes itchiness, tingling, prickling, and other vague symptoms that prompt sufferers to feel they have to move their legs. There are many ways to treat it, depending on the factors that might be triggering it...
   FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 3 Community Answers

2. What Can I Do to Avoid Getting a Cold?

   The most important thing you can do is keep your hands clean and try to avoid touching your face, especially your eyes and nose, because that's how people give themselves cold germs.
   FAQ 1 Expert Answer

3. Why is my mother waking at the same time every night?

   Since she's waking up at he 90 to 120 minute interval, that's one sleep cycle, when you reach deeper levels of sleep (deep non-REM or REM sleep) at the end of this first cycle. Deeper levels of sleep and especially REM sleep is when your throat muscles relax and you're more likely to stop breathing...
   1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

4. What's the Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

   If you've been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, it's likely your doctor will first suggest fitting you with a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device, a specially designed nasal mask that blows air directly into your airways...
   FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 3 Community Answers

5. How Can I Find Out if My Snoring Is Sleep Apnea or Something Else That's Serious?

   Start by asking him or her if your snoring is very loud and erratic; that's the most common clue to what's called obstructive sleep apnea. People with sleep apnea tend to snore loudly and make a characteristic snorting sound, as if they're catching their breath...
   FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

6. How do I get mom to bed at a reasonable time?

   Hello Cindy! My first thought is does your mother complain about this problem? I can tell you it will be very hard to change this behavior if she doesn't think it is a problem. Many older people like to watch TV, especially late at night. The shows and movies on at these time tend to cater to this population...
   1 Expert Answer

7. What could be causing my husband to sleep so much?

   Reading through your letter, I will try to answer this question the best I can without knowing how old your husband is, what kind of medical problems he has, or how much he used to sleep. That being said, if your husband never used to sleep this much and is otherwise healthy, the first thing I would...
   1 Expert Answer, 4 Community Answers

8. What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

   What you describe is a common symptom of sleep apnea. Snoring, made worse by even slight weight gain, with progression into breathing pauses, is a typical symptom of sleep apnea. Poor sleep can aggravate weight gain, and weight gain aggravates sleep apnea. You don't have to even snore or be overweight to have significant obstructive sleep apnea...
   1 Expert Answer

9. How can I get sleep when my husband is up all night?

   I’m sorry to hear that your husband’s symptoms of nighttime activity have increased and are now impacting your health as his caregiver. I will assume that your husband has dementia, since you indicated your awareness that other dementia patients show similar behavior.
   1 Expert Answer

10. How can you keep someone with Alzheimer's from sleeping all day?

    Hearing that an Alzheimer (AD) person is sleeping most of the day is quite common. This 'sleepiness' most likely stems from one of two major sources: 1. Boredom - Keeping an AD person busy doing meaningful activities, tasks, and chores helps maintain a more wakeful state during the day...
    1 Expert Answer

11. How much sleep is too much when recovering from a hospitalization?

    It sounds like your grandmother has had a difficult recovery from her hospitalization. Sometimes it does take older people a couple of months to recover from a major hospitalization. However, here are some thoughts I had when I read through your letter:
    1 Expert Answer

12. How can I help my father in law return to a more normal sleep pattern?

    Assuming there are no other medical issues that can disrupt your father-in-law to have these sleep patterns, it sounds like he has advanced sleep phase syndrome. It's seen more commonly in the elderly. One recommended course of treatment is to use bright light therapy (4000 lux) from about 8 PM to 10 PM...
    1 Expert Answer

13. What would cause an Alzheimer's patient to be more tired than usual?

    Tiredness and Alzheimer's disease (AD) frequently go hand-in-hand and have several reasons as the cause for this occurrence. Fortunately some of the causes are reversible. 1. The first is medication. Not just the use of meds but also the mixture...
    1 Expert Answer

14. Are sleeping pills effective for Alzheimer's patients?

    Sleep medications do work for some people with Alzheimer’s, but these medications may also have serious side effects and unfortunately reactions are unpredictable in individuals with dementia. One medication may work for a while and when the effect wears off, you’re forced to switch to ano...
    1 Expert Answer

15. Are bouts of deep sleep associated with end stage Alzheimer's disease?

    Increased sleepiness is very common in late stage Alzheimer's disease. However, if your mother is only in the moderate stage, there could be other causes of her deep sleep. She might have an absence-type epileptic seizures that is characterized by stopping all movements and looking asleep...
    1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

16. My husband with sleep apnea can't use a mask, what other treatments are available?

    Sleep apnea occurs when a person's breathing stops and starts during sleep, usually from an obstruction in the airway. This means that the brain is not getting enough oxygen during sleep, causing daytime fatigue and headaches. The sleep quality is poor, as the person will wake up alot at night, causing insomnia...
    1 Expert Answer, 4 Community Answers

17. How Can I Get My Doctor to Take My Sleep Problems Seriously?

    You've done the right thing by talking to your primary care doctor about your sleep concerns, but, unfortunately, what you've encountered is a common problem. Many primary care doctors, faced with a host of health issues, too quickly dismiss sleep problems. And that forces you to advocate for yourself...
    FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

18. What's Wrong if I Get Poor Sleep but Don't Have Sleep Apnea?

    It sounds like you might have a sleep problem called Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS), and the good news is that it's very treatable. But you'll need to be proactive and seek treatment from a knowledgeable expert, because many doctors aren't familiar with this disorder.
    FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

19. FAQ: Can Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) Cause Sleep Problems?

    Yes, people with COPD can have many sleep-related problems. These can range from sleep interruptions and insomnia to severe sleep apnea. Some problems are fairly mild; others require help from a sleep specialist who can perform testing in a sleep lab. There's also sleep-testing equipment available that you can use at home...
    FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

20. Do I wake up my mother, who has Alzheimer's, to eat and take medicine?

    What a dilemma. Mother is sleeping peacefully and you are getting simultaneous and much-needed respite. You referred to her medication regimen and I am wondering if a med or combo of meds could be the reason she is so sleepy during the day. Checking with your pharmacist about her drugs would be an easy approach and may provide a possible solution...
    1 Expert Answer