How Much Sleep Do You Get Each Night

How much sleep do you get each night?
Around 9 hours
Around 8 hours
Around 7 hours
Around 6 hours
Around 5 hours
Less than 5 hours


Current Results

Last night, I got only four hours of sleep. I'm a bit of a night owl, but catch up on sleep by sleeping a bit later if I'm up late, or partaking in a delicious power nap when I can't sleep in. But four hours...there's not much you can do to stretch four hours into eight. Or even six.
Predictably, I was impatient, fuzzy-headed (yes, that's a technical term), and generally stressed. (In fact, it was amazing that I was only in stress mode for an hour or two--the rest of the day it was more impatience and fuzzy-headedness.) But there is a marked difference between who I am when I've gotten 8 hours, and who I am when I've slept half that amount. And I have numerous stress management techniques up my sleeve!

I hadn't always connected the dots. On days when I didn't get the quality or quantity of sleep a healthy human body requires, I would wonder if life was always this stressful and I just hadn't noticed. I would wonder why people were so difficult to be around. It wasn't until I had kids of my own, who clearly show the difference between 'well-rested' and 'sleep-deprived' with kid behaviors that are hard to ignore.

Learning to take care of their sleep needs, I was careful to take care of my own as well.

For me, as with my kids, the challenge of getting enough sleep lies with our natural unwillingness to let all the fun stop long enough for us to go to sleep. But for other people, the sleep challenge may be a racing mind, remnants of caffeine in the system, or a variety of other causes, each with a different set of most-effective responses. But because many sleep saboteurs have a stress-related component, it's worth sharing them with you here.

Do You have less than three bowel movements a week?

Digestive Advantage IBS - Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Capsules, 96-Count
Yes No
Definition of Constipation
Constipation is defined as having less than three bowel movements a week and affects roughly 30% of Americans. It occurs when the colon absorbs an excessive amount of water, causing the stool to become hard, dry, small in size and difficult to eliminate. People who are constipated often find it painful to have a bowel movement and sometimes experience straining, bloating and the sensation of a full bowel. However, most cases of constipation are temporary and not serious.

Common Signs and Symptoms
What is considered the normal frequency of bowel movements varies with each individual and depends on several factors, such as a person's age, diet, exercise and overall health. While some people have a bowel movement once a day, others may go more or less. Constipation occurs when a person passes fewer than three stools a week, and people with chronic constipation may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

¦Experience hard stools
¦Strain excessively during bowel movements
¦Experience a sense of rectal blockage
¦Have a feeling of incomplete evacuation after having a bowel movement
¦Feeling bloated or sluggish
¦Need to use manual maneuvers to have a bowel movement, such as finger evacuation or manipulation of the lower abdomen
Since almost everyone experiences constipation at some point in their life, most people do not go to see a doctor. However, in some cases chronic constipation may lead to complications or be a symptom of a more serious health problem. A person may want to seek medical care if any of the following signs or symptoms are experienced:

¦Bowel movements occurring more than three days apart, despite corrective changes in diet or exercise
¦Intense abdominal pain
¦Blood in your stool
¦Constipation that alternates with diarrhea
¦Rectal pain
¦Thin, pencil-like stools
¦Unexplained weight loss
Causes of Constipation

The most common cause of constipation is a lack of fiber in one's diet, but other common causes include the following:

¦Not getting enough liquids or dehydration
¦Lack of exercise (especially in older adults)
¦Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
¦Lifestyle changes, including pregnancy, aging and travel
¦Ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement
¦Frequent use or abuse of laxatives
¦Specific diseases, such as stroke, diabetes, thyroid disease and Parkinson's disease
¦Problems with the colon and rectum, such as intestinal obstruction or diverticulosis
¦Certain medications, including pain medications, diuretics and those used to treat Parkinson's disease, high blood pressure and depression
¦Hormonal disturbances, such as an underactive thyroid gland
¦Anal fissures and hemorrhoids, which can produce a spasm of the anal sphincter muscle
¦Loss of body salts through vomiting or diarrhea
¦Injuries to the spinal cord, which can affect the nerves that lead to the intestine
Risk Factors
Constipation typically affects women more than men and children more than adults. Pregnant women may experience bouts of constipation because of hormonal changes or from pressure on the intestines from the expanding uterus. Other risk factors include the following:

¦Older adults
¦Eating a diet low in fiber
¦Not getting enough liquids
¦Sedentary lifestyle
¦Medications, including sedatives, narcotics or certain medications that lower blood pressure
¦Undergoing chemotherapy
Treatment Options
Although treatment depends on the cause, severity and duration of the constipation, simple changes in a person's diet and lifestyle will often relieve symptoms and help a person manage constipation.

Try one or more of the following lifestyle changes:

¦A high-fiber diet with at least 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day. High-fiber foods include beans, whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables
¦Regular exercise to help stimulate intestinal activity
¦Drinking plenty of water and other fluids will help soften the stool
¦Take the time for bowel movements and do not ignore the urge to have a bowel movement
¦Over-the-counter laxatives should be considered as a last resort because they can become habit-forming
¦Chloride channel activators are available by prescription and increase fluid content of stool
¦5-HT-4 agonists stimulate release of compounds in the body that increase fluid secretion in the intestines and decrease colonic transit time


If a person's constipation is related to an underlying disorder, treatment will focus on the initial cause. Other treatment methods may include bowel retraining, rectal suppositories, enemas, biofeedback, or in more severe cases, surgical removal of the problem segment/segments of the anal sphincter or rectum

Arthritis and the Importance of Diet

Arthritis is an exacerbating condition that affects the body's joints and muscles. If you suffer from some form of arthritis (there are in excess of 100 different types of arthritis) then you might be surprised to discover that you can find some relief for your symptoms and increase your health merely by altering your diet. While there is no miracle food that will remove your symptoms, certainly you can enjoy better health simply by avoiding certain foods and augmenting your diet to get a nutrient enriched diet.

Arthritis sufferers should stay away from any form of fad or crash diet. These diets are invariably lacking in nutrients that are critical for maintaining healthy muscles and joints. Nutritionists recommend that arthritis sufferers also remain well hydrated by consuming plenty of water every day. It is also important that arthritis sufferers strive to eat a well balanced, healthy diet which is rich in plant-based foods. Also, arthritis patients need to consider supplementing their diets with calcium supplements to lessen their risk of developing osteoporosis later in life. Yet another very important consideration is that of maintaining a steady and healthy weight because extra weight could well put too much pressure on the body's joints and muscles intensifying your arthritis symptoms.

If it is necessary, a tailored weight loss plan can be prescribed for alleviating the symptoms of arthritis and so, if you suffer from arthritis and need help, consult your doctor. Your therapist or doctor may also be able to recommend physical activities which are low impact and fun to do. A lot of arthritis sufferers find that water exercises are ideal as they provide a good workout without at the same time damaging fragile muscles or intensifying joint stiffness and pain. Another good low impact activity is Yoga that can help you remain toned and improve your flexibility. Another excellent low impact activity that helps you remain healthy and maintain your weight is walking.

Turning to supplements that may help relieve the symptoms of arthritis, different studies have determined that augmenting one's diet with fish oils can be a good idea. In fact, several studies have demonstrated that fish oils can reduce the amount of inflammation experienced by arthritis sufferers. Scientists believe that fish oils reduce inflammation because they reduce the number of molecules which create inflammation in the joints. Fish oils with omega-3 fatty acids seem to be the most beneficial in individuals with inflammation-based arthritic symptoms. Two such forms of arthritis that are characterized by inflammation are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
http://ArthritisReliefTips.com.

How To Deal With Arthritis

Each individual has different pain threshold level. Sometimes seeing a doctor depends upon how much pain is experienced and how it is affecting a person's life. If joint pain is experienced but without swelling or fever, generally it is safe to wait and see what happens. However, if there is constant pain that is already interfering with a person's daily activities, seeking for a doctor's exam is advisable. If joint pain is accompanied with fever, sudden and considerable swelling with severe pain, it is best to see a doctor as well.

What type of doctor should you see then? A rheumatologist and an orthopedic surgeon are two types of doctors who deal with joint and muscle illnesses. Furthermore, an orthopedic surgeon focuses mostly on surgical treatment of these conditions. Although it may be appropriate to see these types of doctors, primary care doctors can very well handle non-complicated rheumatic problems and may only make referrals to specialists if the condition demands it.

The major complaint about arthritis is the pain that accompanies it. Most often, medicines that you can buy over the counter are the first treatment of choice for arthritic pain. There are two types of pain relievers that are used to alleviate the pain that goes with arthritis. Not one type though is perfect for all pains but however if used correctly, both types could be beneficial. These two main types are the simple pain relievers and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs).

Acetaminophen is an example of a simple pain reliever that can be effective in controlling pain caused by arthritis. To determine its effectiveness, a medicine should be taken overtime and the same is true with acetaminophen. Two extra strength tablets taken three to four times daily and taken for several days should be enough to determine whether or not it will be effective for a long-term treatment plan. Acetaminophen's edge over the other pain reliever's is its known gentleness to the stomach and not causing gastrointestinal problems. However, it has its own share of accompanying risks as with other medicines. People who drink alcohol heavily or those who have underlying liver disease may encounter liver problems arising from acetaminophen medication. NSAIDs are medicines that relieve pain and decrease inflammation, the two classic symptoms of arthritis. Examples of these medicines are aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium all of which are readily available over the counter without prescription. There are also many other NSAIDs that are available through prescription. NSAIDs have the added advantage of decreasing inflammation aside from relieving pain. Although NSAIDs are effective in relieving arthritis, these have accompanying serious effects. Ulcer or bleeding from the stomach poses a major concern to those who are taking these types of drugs. This side effect usually occurs more frequently in patients who have a previous history of stomach ulcers, elderly patients and those patients who have underlying illnesses and are taking other medications. Another major concern with NSAIDs is the possibility of harming kidney function. Although this poses a potential problem, thankfully its incidence is rather rare.

Maintaining an ideal body weight is not only the key to better health but this will also aid in treating arthritis. An obese or over weight individual carries extra load increasing the painful arthritic joint's wear and strain.

There are also some foods that may affect arthritis symptoms. These could either increase or decrease the symptoms. Fish oils have been found out to decrease the inflammation that usually comes with rheumatoid arthritis. There are also specific foods that cause arthritis symptoms to flare up, although these vary from person to person. Identifying your own food culprit may help you and your doctor properly deal with your arthritis.