A recent steady has shown that millions of Americans and on a lesser scale a great number of Europeans have sleep disorders of one kind or another. Many say no matter how hard they try, it is hard to get good a night sleep. There is a high price attached to this loss of sleep, somewhere in the billons of dollars, let alone the emotional problems being faced by the people with these different sleep disorders.
It was once thought insomnia was not a sleep disorder, but now it appears insomnia is much more than just a sleep disorder. When a person finds it hard to fall asleep or wakes up several times during the night, and does not sleep to the desired time in the morning this could be and many times is insomnia. Many people over the age of 50 suffer some degree of this disorder. Unless there is some kind of illness causing the problem or an inherited trait, then it might be a combination of psychological and or environmental problems. In this case only your doctor can tell you for sure.
There are different degrees of insomnia. If the disorder lasts but a week or two it may be caused by some problem that has happened in a person's life and even though we think we are over the problem it still could be in the back of our minds and be causing a sleep disorder at different times. This kind of insomnia is easily treated and often lasts a short time maybe a month or so. Chronic insomnia is much more serious and may be due to a combination of factors such as medical, physical, or psychological. This type of insomnia needs to be treated with sometimes a combination of medication, and if left untreated can lead to a future onset of depression.
Sleep disorders can be the cause of daytime tiredness, bad mood, and difficulty in concentrating, as well as an increased risk of personal injury. It is best of course not to buy over the counter medication, and have a doctor prescribe a treatment after a medical diagnosis. Therapy of some kind may be necessary along with retraining a person on how to relax. Once a treatment program begins unless there is an illness of some kind, it could take several months to get back to getting a good nights sleep, although it could be much less, depending on the response to the medication and treatment prescribed.
Many things contribute to poor sleep and not always will the problem be insomnia. Many times our daily lives are the real problem such as attitude, how we accept everyday problems, keeping a regular schedule, and so on. If you have any kind of sleep disorder and are not getting better, be sure to visit your doctor, if for no other reason than piece of mind. Just the assurance that your sleep problem is very common in today's world will go along way to getting a good night sleep.
Openly talking to your doctor about medication and other facts of gout, will help you avoid letting your gout cause other issues in addition to the painful attacks you're already experiencing. The reason why it is important to be able to freely talk about your gout condition is because gout can cause depression.
Feeling depressed or down is a normal part of life and is experienced by most people from time to time. Everyone goes through bouts of apathy, despair, and exhaustion, a case of the blues that takes hold and doesn't let go. Depression can occur for many reasons, and poor health is one of the major causes. Therefore, if you're not careful, you can let your gout get you down.
How can gout cause depression?
- Painful attacks
- Not being able to use the affected joint during an attack
- Not being able to enjoy certain activities
- Avoiding foods you love eating because they can cause gout
- Knowing a gout attack can recur
How will you know if you are depressed? Signs and symptoms of depression include:
- Feeling helpless and/or hopeless ? feeling that a situation with never become better or change
- Loss of interest in everyday activities - no longer participating in hobbies and activities once enjoyed
- Significant weight loss or weight gain (a 5% increase or decrease in body weight in one month)
- Insomnia or hypersomnia (oversleeping)
- Feeling restless or sluggish
- Feeling exhausted and physically drained, even when doing simple tasks
- Self-loathing
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritable ? easily frustrated, annoyed or angered
- Feeling aches and pains ? having headaches and gastrointestinal complaints (I.E. constipation, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc.)
How can you treat depression related to gout? If you are feeling depressed, the following are a few self-help tips to aid you in eliminating the blues gout cause. Just remember that in order to successfully self-treat depression you need to want to recover from your condition and give it everything you've got. Therefore, you need to be practical, open-minded, and above all, be yourself!
Talk to someone supportive ? Talk to a good friend, or talk to your doctor about any concerns or questions you may have about your condition.
Research gout ? Find out how you can treat and prevent gout attacks so you don't let gout cause symptoms that are painful or depressing.
Enjoy the food you eat ? Just because you have to avoid certain foods rich in purines, doesn't mean that you can't enjoy eating anymore. Find out what foods are low in purines and are considered gout-friendly. Some examples include, chocolate, carbonated beverages, eggs, sugar, milk products, bread, grains cereals, rice, pasta, cheese, milk products, tomatoes, fruit, and some green vegetables. Use these foods to create healthy new recipes.
Exercise ? Exercise helps blood flow thorough your body and improves circulation. Exercise also releases endorphins which make you feel better, improves your sense of well-being, and can help you avoid the negative feelings gout cause.
Take time to relax and avoid stress ? You may be overworking yourself and your body. Tell yourself you deserve a break and take the time to do something you enjoy and focus on clearing your mind. For instance:
- Take a hot bath
- Listen to music
- Get a massage
- Spend time with a pet
- Read a book
- Write in a journal
- Take a walk and enjoy nature
- What a comedic movie or T.V. show
Finally, always remember that if you are suffering from prolonged depression (depression that lasts for months) due to a gout cause, or another issue, you should seek immediate medical attention before your depression moves beyond your control. Major depression is a mental illness that needs to be taken serious and treated. Therefore, you may be required to take medication such as antidepressants to help you overcome depression so you can move on with your life.
Both Mike Eggert & Lisa Mcdowell are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Mike Eggert has sinced written about articles on various topics from Archery, Barbeque and Atkins. There are many types and causes of . For more information and help, please visit. Mike Eggert's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.
Lisa Mcdowell has sinced written about articles on various topics from Health Care, Depression Cure and Medical Condition. Grab your free copy of Lisa McDowell's brand new Gout Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you discover more about the . Lisa Mcdowell's top article generates over 6600 views. to your Favourites.