Illnesses Go to......... ADD/ADHD Addiction Alzheimer's Disease Arthritis Asperger's Syndrome Asthma Brain Cancer Breast Cancer Cancer Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Colitis Colon Cancer Coronary Disease Crohn's Disease Diabetes Drug Addiction Environmental Illness Fibromyalgia Heart Disease High Blood Pressure Hodgkin's Disease Hypertension Hypothyroidism Infertility Inflammatory Bowel Disease Insomnia Leukemia Lyme Disease Lymphoma Metabolic Syndrome Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Multiple Sclerosis Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Osteoarthritis Osteoporosis Parkinson's Disease Prostate Cancer Raynaud's Ringing in the Ears Sleep Disorders Syndrome X Tinnitus "Insomnia is the most common of all sleep disorders. Insomnia includes difficulty going to sleep, staying asleep, or going back to sleep when you awaken early. It may be temporary or chronic." "About one out of three people have insomnia at some point in their lives. But you don't necessarily have to live with sleepless nights. Some simple changes in your daily routine and habits may result in better sleep."    MayoClinic.com BACKGROUND INFORMATION All About Insomnia by DrKoop.com Good, brief summary Insomnia from MayoClinic.com Detailed CAUSES/RISK FACTORS/PREVENTION Insomnia: Causative Factors by Linda Lazarides Abstracts of Journal Articles Linking Diet to Insomnia. Diagnosing and Treating Sleep Disorders by John R. Ruddy, M.D. For doctors Articles by Joseph Mercola, D.O. Too Little Sleep May Accelerate Aging "Regularly catching only a few hours of sleep can hinder metabolism and hormone production in a way that is similar to the effects of aging and the early stages of diabetes. Chronic sleep loss may speed the onset or increase the severity of age-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and memory loss." Get Enough Sleep to Avoid Diabetes Lack of Daylight May Cause Insomnia "Lack of exposure to sunlight might explain why sleep disturbances grow more common as people age, researchers in Japan suggest." Light During Sleep Affects 'Body Clock' "Researchers say sudden exposure to light can upset a sleeping individual's 'body clock,' even if snoozing continues uninterrupted. The experts believe their insights into light's effects on the sleep/wake cycle could further research into the treatment of common sleep disorders." Exercise: One of the Best Cures for Insomnia by David S. Sobel, M.D. "After 16 weeks in a moderate intensity exercise program, subjects were able to fall asleep about 15 minutes earlier and sleep about 45 minutes longer at night." Overactive Adrenals Leads to Insomnia "Scientists have found increased blood levels of stress hormones in people with chronic insomnia, suggesting that these individuals suffer from sustained, round-the-clock activation of the body's system for responding to stress." Guide to a Good Night's Sleep "If you are having sleep problems, whether you are not able to fall asleep, wake up too often, don't feel well-rested when you wake up in the morning, or simply want to improve the quality and quantity of your sleep, try as many of the following techniques below as possible." TREATMENTS/THERAPIES Insomnia and Daytime Sleepiness from Life Extension Foundation Includes discussion of melatonin and prescription drugs. Graedon's Guide to Getting a Good Night's Sleep Includes detailed list of drugs that may cause insomnia The Dark Side of Sleeping Pills by Daniel F. Kripke, M.D. A little book explaining the dangers of sleeping pills and also the advantages of alternative treatments. Brighten Your Life by Daniel F. Kripke, M.D. A little book explaining how people can use light treatment to improve depression and sleep. 10 Tips for Better Sleep by John W. Shepard, Jr., M.D. from MayoClinic.com Good summary 5-HTP and L-Tryptophan: Sleep Aids for Many People with Fibromyalgia by Miryam Ehrlich Williamson Brief article Suggestions for Treating Insomnia Naturally by Julian Whitaker, M.D. Brief discussion of alternatives Bedtime Blues, What To Do When You Can’t Sleep by Carrie Angus, M.D. Treatment of Insomnia: An Alternative Approach by Anoja S. Attele, D.D.S., Jing-Tian Xie, M.D., and Chun-Su Yuan, M.D. "Hypnotic drugs are often prescribed long-term to relieve insomnia in psychogeriatric patients, despite recommendations for short-term use only. Serious side-effects with long-term prescriptions complicate treating insomnia effectively." Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy For Insomnia Reduces Overall Medical Costs by W. A. Thomasson "Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for insomnia, which has been shown to be effective and to have more durable benefits than pharmacologic therapy, significantly reduces the number of medical visits and overall medical costs." A Good Night's Sleep by Rama Kant Mishra The Ayurvedic Perspective Articles from Healthwell.com No More Sleepless Nights by Vonalda M. Utterback, C.N. Good Night by Wendy DuBow, Ph.D. Trouble-Free Snoozing with CBT "According to the New York Institute for Cognitive and Behavior Therapy, CBT is a combination of cognitive therapy, which modifies patterns of thinking, and behavior therapy, which weakens the connection between situations and habitual reactions." OTHER RESOURCES American Academy of Sleep Medicine American Sleep Apnea Association Center for Narcolepsy at Stanford National Center on Sleep Disorders National Sleep Foundation New York University School of Medicine Sleep Dosorders Center New York, New York Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation Sleep HealthCenters Massachusetts locations Sleep Disorders Center at Newark Beth Israel Newark, New Jersey Sleep Home Pages at UCLA Sleep/Insomia Program Sleep Medicine Home Page Tools For Wellness Sound Therapy, Sound Machines, Verilux Lamps, etc. RECOMMENDED BOOKS Please click on the picture of the book or the title to order.
Dian Dincin Buchman and Don R. Bensen, The Complete Guide to Natural Sleep	Stanley Coren, Sleep Thieves: An Eye-Opening Exploration into the Science and Mysteries of Sleep
William C. Dement, The Promise of Sleep: A Pioneer in Sleep Medicine Explains the Vital Connection Between Health, Happiness, and a Good Night's Sleep	Gregg D. Jacobs, Ph.D., Say Goodnight to Insomnia
James B. Maas, Ph.D. et al., Power Sleep: The Revolutionary Program That Prepares Your Mind for Peak Performance	Herbert Ross, et al., Sleep Disorders: An Alternative Medicine Definitive Guide