SleepQuest - Dr. Dement - Ask Dr. Dement

Archived Questions

Previous Questions of the Week:

All the available information clearly shows that sleep deprivation can result in poor productivity and can even be dangerous. I try to get adequate sleep, but this is not always possible. What is the best "quick fix" way to combat daytime sleepiness?
I have had narcolepsy since I was about 17 years old. It was almost 20 years before I was diagnosed with narcolepsy/cataplexy. I found out early (before I was diagnosed) that diet pills would keep me awake. Is this typical for narcolepsy/cataplexy? (July 1, 2002)
Does exercise help one sleep better at night? (June 17, 2002)
My blood pressure is very normal during the day. When I get up early in the morning it is elevated. My wife says I snore heavily. Could this be related to apnea? (May 20, 2002)
Is it possible to train the body to cope with fewer hours of sleep? If, for example, the average is 8.25 hours can one reduce that time to say 6 hours over a period of time to 'recondition' the body? (May 6, 2002)
Is it normal for someone to sleep 5-6 hours a night on a regular basis and claim to feel fine and not need more sleep? (April 22, 2002)
Are sleep disorders and heart conditions related? (March 5, 2002)
"Please help! My husband, Terry, can fall asleep any time of the day. He snores excessively and is unable to wake up on his own. It takes 20 minutes to get him up in the morning. What can be done for him?" (January 25, 2002)
"How many hours of sleep are you suppose to get every night in general?" (October 29, 2001)
"My husband says that I jump or startle during the night; not just when I am falling asleep. What would cause this?" (October 1, 2001)
"My husband of 75 years has been falling out of bed, and has terrible banging and pounding on the floor. I can't sleep with him because he starts to beat me and carry on wildly in these attacks. My children during a recent visit had to subdue him, and had a difficult time, as he gets very strong until he is awakened." (September 10, 2001)
"I have a severe problem with sleep walking and eating. I am aware that this is a medical condition which was recently given a diagnostics code, however, I can't find any help and am desperate. I wake with only a vague memory of wandering the house and eating. Usually I wake up on the couch downstairs and don't even remember how I got there. I am a highly functional and successful woman without any psychological disorder but am truly in need of help with this." (September 3, 2001)
"My doctors are convinced that I am suffering from depression, and that's why my sleep is suffering. I have always been convinced that I have some kind of sleep problem that after many years is causing me to have many signs of depression. (Fatigue, body aches, anxiety, restlessness, constant illness) . . . My question is, is it very common for doctors to mistreat a sleeping disorder as depression?" (August 13, 2001)
"I fall asleep while driving. I can sleep for 12 hours and still get in a car and fall to sleep. Is there a disorder with these symptoms? I can't drive long distances without falling asleep." (July 12, 2001)
"I am a high school science teacher. My students are continually getting only a few hours of sleep each night. Can you point me in the direction to find some good statistics and research on the problems this causes both physically and psychologically?" (August 14, 2000)

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