Baby is sleeping. Isn’t that a beautiful sentence? Especially if you have a little one who likes to stay awake way past everyone’s bedtime. once that baby does go to sleep, it’s like mama’s shoulders immediately relax. so we should just be happy when baby finally does fall asleep, right? even if she’s snoring, right? Well … wrong. it turns out that when a baby is sleeping and there are interruptions in that sleep, specifically if you have a little snorer on your hands, it could be a sign of behavior issues like ADHD cropping up once your child is school-age. 

Great. just great. (Read: sarcasm.) so we can’t sleep when baby sleeps? We have to instead hover and make sure she isn’t snoring like grandpa and if she is we should run to the doctor? Well, not exactly. here are the details ….

This study lead by Karen Bonuck of Albert Einstein College of Medicine looked at the sleep habits of over 11,000 children starting at 6 months of age. the parents noted if their baby snored, breathed through the mouth, or had any form of sleep apnea (interrupted breathing) while asleep. These children were monitored until 7 years of age. it was discovered that “babies who have these sleep problems at 6 months may be anywhere from 20% to 100% more likely to have problem behaviors such as hyperactivity by age 7.”

The little snorers — the ones with the worst sleep disorder symptoms — displayed anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, aggression, and difficulty in getting along with their peers at the ages of 4 through 7. some developed ADHD.

Why does this happen? “Sleep is a time to restore the brain’s cellular and chemical homeostasis,” Bonuck shared. “when sleep is disordered, the brain receives less oxygen than it needs, and may get more carbon dioxide than it needs.” This could be damaging to the brain since it’s still developing and therefore it can affect how the brain develops. This is why good sleep for babies and kids (heck even parents) is so important.

If your baby snores, the first thing to do is talk to your pediatrician to see if your child has enlarged tonsils or adenoids. That can be treated. I guess a little hovering while our babies sleep is a good thing — there are things their bodies can tell us. We can sleep when they’re teenagers.

What do you think of this study? does your baby have any sleep issues? does it worry you?

Image via Kekka/Flickr

Perhaps this sounds familiar. you feel tired, so tired. just about all the time. you pump in caffeine, maybe sugar, too, to get through the day.

The doctor looks at your labs and finds nothing wrong. yet, you don’t feel right.

A little Googling or a chat with a naturopath or chiropractor may have made you curious about adrenal fatigue. yet a little more investigation shows that there’s debate about whether the condition even exists.

Dr. Pierre Brunschwig of Helios Integrated Medicine says adrenal fatigue is something he sees frequently in his practice.

As a medical doctor who embraces holistic and complementary medicine, as well, he sees patients who have not found the help they were seeking in western medicine, and also patients who have not had their needs met by complementary medicine alone.

Brunschwig defines adrenal fatigue like this: “Somebody whose stressors are such that they have overwhelmed and depleted the adrenalin gland’s ability to continue to make important stress hormones, especially cortisol.”

He adds: “They end up in a low energy well.”

Brunschwig says the stressors may by physiologic conditions such as sleep apnea or an undiagnosed chronic infection. or they may be psychological. Sometimes the two interact, intensifying the condition.

His first step is a long interview, followed by lab work and sometimes other tests, to deduce what is going on with the person.

“You have to be quite comprehensive to capture the majority of the stressors,” he says.

He says most people come in saying they’re tired.

“The first, second and third thing is fatigue,” Brunschwig says.

However, he probes to find out when they are the most tired, if it’s after meals or later in the day, for example.

“The way that they’re tired is a very important clue as to how much adrenal function they have left,” he says.

“Someone who can’t get out of bed all day obviously has a big issue. somebody who’s only tired between 3 and 5 o’clock in the afternoon, we’d expect their adrenal function to be mostly intact.”

Brunschwig has patients use a take-home saliva test to measure cortisol. rather that the typical blood test, often taken in the morning, he says the saliva test, which is taken four times in a day, gives a more complete picture.

The Hormone Foundation, a group devoted to hormone research and the clinical practice of endocrinology, says in a fact sheet that no test exists for adrenal fatigue, a condition it says it not a real medical condition.

It recognizes adrenal insufficiency, a near total failure of the adrenal glands that is a function of Addison’s Disease, but says there is no medical evidence for adrenal fatigue, which often has vague symptoms that could be caused by a variety of conditions.

Brunschwig says that most of the medical community only recognizes Addison’s, which is a complete loss of adrenal function.

“What we’re saying is that (some) people don’t lose all of their function. They’re limping along badly but manage to produce a little cortisol,” Brunschwig says. “What I’m saying is they don’t feel good and can barely function.”

Lynn Smith, a dietitian and life coach, says she sees many clients with adrenal fatigue, especially since one of her specialties is people with alcohol and drug problems.

“It’s why diet is so fundamental to feeling good in recovery,” she says. “People come in. They’re wiped out. They’re using sugar and caffeine to satisfy cravings. It keeps them in an up and down cycle.”

Smith also sees clients with the more common stressors such as demanding work, a challenging family life and not enough time in the day.

“The diet becomes a valve for all that stress,” she says.

Perhaps ironically with the complexity of life for many people, the long-term remedy for adrenal fatigue is simple, if not always easy to implement, Smith says.

“The more you stay in balance, the more adrenals don’t get called into action,” she says.

That means paying attention to the basics: eating a varied, healthful diet, getting plenty of sleep and exercising moderately.

She also suggests finding ways to calm down such as meditation or yoga.

Smith recommends taking supplements under the supervision of an alternative practitioner or doctor. She says having your cortisol levels tested is key.

Indeed, one of the warnings of the Hormone Society is that people may self-diagnose adrenal fatigue and take supplements on their own, some of which may be dangerous.

Brunschwig says diagnosing and treating underlying conditions is the first step. he then says it’s key for patients to realize that they may be in an unconscious cycle in which they create emergencies in their lives to tap into cortisol’s cousin adrenaline as a way to regain their energy.

“Helping people understand how they’ve done this and helping them to back out of this is an important step in recovering adrenal health,” he says.

Then, depending on what testing and interviews show, Brunschwig suggests supplements, some of them intravenous. Magnesium often can play a big role in recovery, he says. he uses nutrient support and adrenals to help bring back function.

However, he says, “You can’t heal the body if you have emergencies going on all day. to a certain extent, that’s part of the lesson.”

I feel this certain kind of pain on my left side when i ovulate. I just had a Myomectomy( fibroids) in November and i was feeling such pains b4 then. I thot it would stop after the surgery.my Gynae checked during the surgery and he said my tubes & ovaries are fine.

Go to webMD.com

These are some of the symptoms of PCOS:

infrequent menstrual periods, no menstrual periods, and/or irregular bleeding
infertility or inability to get pregnant because of not ovulating
increased growth of hair on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes
acne, oily skin, or dandruff
pelvic pain
weight gain or obesity, usually carrying extra weight around the waist
type 2 diabetes
high cholesterol
high blood pressure
male-pattern baldness or thinning hair
patches of thickened and dark brown or black skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs
skin tags, or tiny excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area
sleep apnea?excessive snoring and breathing stops at times while asleep

I was diagnosed with PCOS a few months ago. my symptoms were very irregular periods, severe cramping, weight gain with little appetite. I was constantly tired no matter how much sleep I got, heavy heavy bleeding, and cramping even when I did not have my period. you can never know if this is what you have unless you visit your doctor and talk to him/her about it, and there are many other symptoms you may or may not have.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) causes intense exhaustion that sleep or rest cannot relieve. those who suffer from CFS find that symptoms worsen with mental or physical activity, and that they function at lower than normal activity levels. more than 1 million Americans suffer from CFS, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control (2010).

Chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms tend to be non-specific, mimicking other medical conditions. The most prevalent symptom of CFS is exhaustion. Other symptoms include:

• Impaired memory function
• Insomnia
• Muscle pain
• Post-exertional fatigue
• Weakness.

Other chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms vary. some people report joint pain, night sweats, sensitivity to light, panic attacks, dizziness and stiffness as CFS symptoms.

Less than refreshing sleep and insomnia are two symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. If you are experiencing signs of CFS, your doctor may ask you about your sleep habits. She may also advise you to take steps to improve your sleep, such as avoiding or limiting daytime naps, reducing caffeine intake, adhering to a regular sleep schedule, or engaging in moderate exercise a few hours before going to bed. In some cases, you may be prescribed a sleep aid to help with your sleep problems.

Chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms can overlap with a number of other medical conditions, including sleep disorders such as sleep apnea. your doctor will rule out these other conditions as a possible cause of your symptoms before diagnosing CFS.

Diagnosing chronic fatigue syndrome is difficult, as no specific laboratory tests clearly indicate its presence. due to the vague nature of chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms many cases go undiagnosed.

Doctors make a CFS diagnosis by ruling out other illnesses. In order to be diagnosed with CFS, a person must experience at least four of the following symptoms, simultaneously, for a period of six months or more:

Difficulty concentrating and memory problemsExhaustionMultiple-joint pain (without swelling or redness) Muscle pain Odd headaches (new in terms of pain and pattern) Sore throat Tender lymph nodes Unsatisfying sleep.

Chronic fatigue syndrome affects people of all ages and both genders. The Centers for Disease Control (2010) reports that CFS is four times more common in woman than men, and often strikes individuals in their 40s and 50s.

While there isn’t a definite cause of chronic fatigue syndrome, some think it might be related to an immune dysfunction, infection or problems with the nervous system. Researchers are also studying possible genetic links of CFS and are considering environmental contributors.

No cure for CFS exists. Chronic fatigue syndrome treatment relieves symptoms, improves functioning and encourages helpful lifestyle changes. Recovery rates vary from person to person.

Chronic fatigue syndrome treatment plans may include cognitive-behavioral therapy and alternative therapies such as acupuncture. Gentle stretching, low-intensity exercise and physical therapy may help overcome chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms.

Medical chronic fatigue syndrome treatment is limited. Pain and sleep medication are used to overcome chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms.

As early treatment plans seem to make a big difference in the fight to overcome chronic fatigue syndrome, a timely CFS diagnosis is very important. Possible chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms should be reported to a doctor.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Retrieved September 20, 2010, from cdc.gov/cfs/general/index.html.

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2009). Chronic fatigue syndrome. Retrieved September 20, 2010, from mayoclinic.com/health/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/DS00395.

Office of Research on Women’s Health. (n.d.). Chronic fatigue syndrome. Retrieved September 20, 2010, from orwh.od.nih.gov/cfs.html.

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