Health Care

Night terrors in toddlers are terrifying for children and parents alike. A night terror is a parasomnia, a type of sleep disorder characterized by unwanted activity during sleep. Night terrors — also referred to as "sleep terrors" — affect up to 6 percent of children, according to the Nemours Foundation (2007). Although rare, adults may also experience night terrors. Nightmares in Children or Night Terrors? Night terrors are not, as many people suppose, especially vivid nightmares. Nightmares in children are vivid, frightening dreams that occur during REM sleep. Upon awakening from a nightmare, the child will be confused and frightened, but responds to soothing and comforting. The child will probably remember the scary dream in detail. Unlike nightmares in children, night terrors occur during the deepest stages of sleep, when dreaming does not occur. The child rarely remembers a night terror. Night terrors in children can produce dramatic physical responses, such ki...

Bedwetting is a fairly common occurrence in children, and bedwetting in children younger than seven is rarely cause for concern. At this age, the child may not have sufficient bladder control to prevent bedwetting (also called "nocturnal enuresis"), even if he is toilet trained. According to the Mayo Clinic (2009), only 15 percent of children still experience bedwetting problems by age 5. Bedwetting in older children is even less common, with only 5 percent of children bedwetting between the ages of 8 and 11. Bedwetting boys are more common than girls. Both bedwetting boys and girls may have parents who also wet the bed — up to 80 percent of children who wet the bed have parents who also experienced bedwetting as children, according to The Mayo Clinic (2009). Bedwetting Causes Bedwetting is classified as primary or secondary nocturnal enuresis. Primary enuresis describes continual problems with bedwetting. Secondary bedwetting refers to bedwetting that develops afte...

Nightmares in children and adults are not uncommon, but a small segment of the population suffers from nightmares on a regular basis. The vivid nature of nightmares can cause them to remain in memory long after waking. Causes of Nightmares Nightmares can occur due to a variety of physical, mental and emotional causes. Common triggers of nightmares include: Alcohol consumption Anxiety Fever Post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) Pregnancy Prescription or illicit drugs Psychiatric illness Stress Withdrawals from addictive drugs. In adults, nightmares seem to be more common in individuals who are artistic, creative or particularly sensitive to stress. Night Terrors and Nightmares in Children Nightmares in children are common. Children may wake up frightened or distressed after nightmares, and may need comforting before they can sleep again. Night terrors are different from nightmares in children. Unlike nightmares, which happen during REM sleep, night terrors occur...

What is insomnia? Popular culture defines insomnia as an inability to sleep. Insomnia symptoms are, in reality, more complicated that a mere lack of sleep. For example, a person who sleeps through the night but wakes up tired may be suffering from insomnia. In many cases, insomnia is a symptom of an underlying medical condition rather than a separate disorder. Treating the underlying cause will, in most cases, reduce symptoms of insomnia. Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea often cause insomnia symptoms, as do medication side effects, physical pain and even aging. Symptoms of Insomnia An occasional period of sleep disruption doesn't necessarily indicate chronic insomnia. Most people experience difficulty falling asleep at some point in their lives. Difficulty falling asleep at night is one of the most common symptoms of insomnia. An inability to get enough sleep also indicates the possibility of insomnia. A person with insomnia often wakes up feeling tired after sleep. ...

Hypersomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterized by sleeping too much, experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness or a combination of the two. Hypersomnia is not the same as feeling tired due to poor quality sleep or not getting enough sleep. Often, people with hypersomnia fall asleep suddenly throughout the day, a symptom the condition shares with narcolepsy. Symptoms of Hypersomnia Symptoms of hypersomnia often develop in adolescence or early adulthood. People with hypersomnia may sleep for up to 12 hours at a time, but still wake up feeling tired. Individuals may struggle to wake up after deep sleep and seem disoriented and confused. Hypersomnia often develops gradually, making it difficult for people to realize they are sleeping too much. Signs associated with hypersomnia include: Anxiety Headaches Irritation Loss of appetite Low energy levels Memory problems "Nap attacks" during the day Restlessness Sleeping too much Slow speech Slow thought proce...

The human body runs on an internal clock. The entire cycle--transitioning from wakefulness to sleep and back to wakefulness--is known as the circadian rhythm and lasts approximately 24 hours. During this cycle, people experience daily hormonal and body temperature fluctuations. The circadian rhythm helps most people achieve normal sleep patterns. Individuals who experience normal sleep patterns generally feel energetic during the day. Disrupted sleep cycle stages cause people to operate slower than normal, reducing work or academic productivity. Normal sleeping patterns also encourage healthy immune responses, helping the body stave off disease and infection. Adequate sleep is also essential for children's mental and physical growth. People who experience sleep disorders may not have normal sleep patterns. Normal sleeping patterns can be disrupted by many factors, including mental and physical health, lifestyle and age. Treatment for sleep disorders may focus on ways to enc...

Separation anxiety in infants and young toddlers is a natural part of development that stems from the child's increasing ability to distinguish parents and other loves ones from unfamiliar strangers. Feelings of anxiety may be expressed through crying and pouting when the child must be separated from a parent or caregiver. In children between the age of eight months and two years, these symptoms are normal. Parents can help alleviate symptoms of separation anxiety in young children by making them aware of upcoming periods of separation in advance and introducing temporary caregivers while the parent is present and providing comfort. Normal separation anxiety becomes a disorder when it persists beyond the toddler years and begins to interfere with the child's healthy development. A doctor may diagnosis separation anxiety disorder in a child older than five who displays strong symptoms of separation anxiety for longer than four weeks. If left untreated, the disorder could l...