Sleep Problems

   All big animals sleep, but some sleep by day instead of night. When humans do this, that is, work the night shift, they don't feel as well. Humans need about seven hours of sleep out of the twenty-four. Younger ones sleep more; newborns sleep much more. When we are deprived of sleep we are grouchy, think less clearly next day and have less energy. In spite of lots of research at “sleep labs” sleep problems are not understood, except for sleep apnea. Breathing should be even. When breaths are missed it is called apnea. It is especially disturbing when a baby shows apnea.

  Sleep Apnea

  

   Since breathing is regulated by acid levels in the blood and this is influenced by air quality, air toxins should be searched for first. Cigarette smoke is an air toxin. Vanadium from a gas leak is a very serious air toxin and can go unnoticed. Do your own checking since gas companies give wrong answers four out of five times. Ask a home construction company to check for gas leaks or the Health Department. PVC from new carpeting may be polluting the air. Arsenic from “treated” carpets and drapes and furniture also pollutes. Asbestos from clothes and hair dryers may be the toxin responsible. Perhaps even fiberglass, formaldehyde, or freon. Adults with sleep apnea show swollen throat tissues: not necessarily pain. This makes the air passage smaller; long gasps of air are taken to try to make up for the missed oxygen and the carbon dioxide build up.Swelling of the throat is a common allergic reaction. The possibility of allergy should get second consideration after air quality. Drug reactions, even in a nursing baby, where only the mother is using a medicine could be the problem. Allergy to food, chemicals has been suggested, as well as a simple lack of vitamin C (implicating mold and medicine which consume vitamin C in the detoxification process). A third possibility is infection. Many bacteria and viruses

can cause throat swelling. Redness of the throat is a telltale sign. It doesn't necessarily hurt. Kill all invaders with a zapper and try to understand the basis of low immunity in the throat. Keeping metal in the mouth constantly, is a cause of low throat immunity since it must drain past the throat. If you snore, you can deduce that your throat is swollen, even if you don't have sleep apnea. Pursue all three possible causes (air toxin, allergy, infection).

   Overweight and obesity have been emphasized as causes. This may apply to some cases but certainly not to babies. Whatever you do, don't do nothing. Keep removing bad things until you find the cause of irregular breathing.