“Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)” and “Fibromyalgia (FM)” are two disorders which share common symptoms like extreme fatigue, ache, sleep disorder, and chronic disorders. These are the two serious and devastating problems however they do not have any confirmed causative factors so very limited treatment options are available. They interfere with the day to day activities and affect women mostly in 30s and 40s.CFS and FM cause a kind of tired feeling which doesn’t go with bed rest and might last for years. Information about their causes is very confined so diagnostic tests and treatment is not available. Both of these are usually confused with each other as their symptoms are quite common.

However, Dr. Kent Holtorf, M.D., Medical Director of the ‘Holtorf Medical Group Center for Endocrine’ in Torrance, California, conducted an in-depth analysis of 50 published studies related to these syndromes. He found that these disorders interfere with the functioning of hypothalamic-pituitary and thus resulting in abnormal adrenal function. The review also showed that treatment could be administered for this adrenal dysfunction. This analysis has been recently published in the “Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome”. It also verified that ‘cortisol’ as part of a multi-system treatment brought noteworthy improvement in the symptoms.

Dr. Holtorf says that a well defined treatment protocol of early administration of cortisol could be of much help to “improve and reduce the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.”

The ‘Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’ shared its results that millions of Americans suffer from these disorders however there are no accurate tests devised to detect them. It adds to the plight of the patients as there could be no clear path designed for the treatment. 

A further study has been conducted which confirms Dr. Holtorf’s research. The conditions of 500 patients from his clinic were followed up, where ‘cortisol’ was administered as a part of the treatment. It was observed that after the fourth visit sizeable portion of patients displayed improvement in the symptoms. It also boosted energy levels and a general sense of well-being among the patients.

It has been recommended in the journal that the patients can take dose of 5 to 15 mg of ‘cortisol’ in a day. There have been no proven associated risks with this medication. “Cortisol treatment carries significantly less risk and a greater potential for benefit than treatments considered to be the standard of care for both conditions,” Dr. Holtorf explains.

On the Valentine’s Day, you can give the most seeking gift to your partner or spouse that is a good night’s rest. The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery says that snoring is one of the major reasons which impels the couples to sleep separately and poses a great strain on healthy relationships. It can spoil the intimacy, brings troubles in the sex life and in certain cases, the couple seek divorce too. So it is no longer only a laughing matter.The sound of snoring is initiated in the collapsible part of the air passage where there is a lack of rigid support. It also involves the back of the nose, palate, tonsils and the tongue. Some other factors that can induce snoring are being over weight, use of sedatives and enlarged tonsils and adenoids. The problem of snoring worsens with age.

These patients not only suffer due to lack of refreshing sleep but also have a higher risk of developing cardiac, pulmonary and behavioral problems. Even if it doesn’t disturb them it is likely to ruin their partner’s chance to have a good night’s rest.

About 80 percent of the partners of the snorers decide to sleep in separate rooms, leading to isolation and frustration among both the partners. It is essential to give this problem a serious thought and prevent it to destroy the harmony and the happiness.

Surgical treatment is often considered as a last resort for its treatment however it is frequently used these days as rapid advances have been done in this field. There are certain self help tips which can prove effective in combating this problem.

•  Remain active by exercising and physical activities. It will help in maintaining the body weight which is one of the most significant factors. Snoring prevails more among the over weight people.

• Reduce alcohol intake. Alcohol relaxes the soft tissues and muscles in the throat, resulting in snoring.

• Smoking and tranquillizers should be avoided.

• Improving the sleeping postures also helps. It is better to sleep sideways rather than on the back. However it is hard to break the habit.

• Tilt the bed with the head upwards. This makes the breathing easier and facilitates smooth forward movement of the jaws and mouth. So the use of a thick pillow should be avoided. It can block the airway by bending the neck.

• To enjoy sound sleep, it is important to develop regular sleeping patterns.

If the above efforts to control snoring do not help, it is advisable to consult your physician or an otolaryngologist, ears, nose, and throat specialist. He would diagnose the problem of snoring and associated disorders.

On this Valentines Day show your partner that you care and present him with the gift of sound and refreshing sleep.

“Obstructive Sleep” or the “Apnea Syndrome” is a common symptom occurring among the individuals suffering from respiratory disturbances. The sleep disturbances are often seemed to be growing with the age. The people otherwise found medicinally healthy are found to develop breathing irregularities during sleep, particularly in the older individuals. This has been taken as matter of significance especially among the clinicians.

The different degrees and the defined symptoms related to the sleep disordered breathing are the other areas of importance which physicians are planning to give attention to.  The irregularities may range from completely obstructed breathing to loud snoring which can lead to reduction of oxygen supply during the sleep and early arousal.

‘Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI)’ showed a significant increase in the intensity of the problems with the age so it can be even called a result of a normal aging process.  There are various medical documents to support the fact that there is a substantial increase of ‘sleep apnea syndrome’ with age, thus leading to the possibility of establishing the same relationship in the matter of respiratory disturbances. However these disturbances may occur in an individual without being accompanied by the symptoms or signs of ‘obstructive sleep apnea syndrome’.

This relationship between the age and prevalence of respiratory problems in aged people is yet to be supported more scientifically by the long term studies done in the field of its clinical outcomes. There have evolved various measuring techniques in the same over the recent past. So the clinical relevance of the new findings has yet to grab a stronger ground.

Individuals with ‘Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI)’ are likely to develop pathophysiologic consequences over time, including increased risk of cardiovascular disease. So regardless of symptoms, these can be taken as an important measure to suggest therapy to those who have been suffering from the ‘sleep apnea’. 

‘Obstructive sleep apnea’ carries a strong relationship with the sleep-related breathing disorder as during the sleep it might induces the body to stop breathing. It occurs when the tissue in the back of the throat collapses and blocks the airway, preventing air from getting into the lungs. 

Seven or eight hours of unobstructed sleep have been recommended among the adults for normal health however the respiratory disturbances may lead to the early arousal during the sleep. This necessitates the effective treatments to be devised to overcome this problem. ‘Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)’ provides an effective measure to control problems associated with the breathing disorders.

During this the patients get a continuous of pressurized air through a mask that they wear during sleep. The airflow keeps the airway open, preventing the pauses in breathing. The CPAP users have seen drastic reduction in their sleep related disorders. They are more energetic and are able to show more work related performance.

A new study by researchers in the US and Sweden suggests that using a mobile phone could interfere with your quality of sleep.Use of mobile phones interferes with the quality of sleep. A recent research conducted in the US and Sweden confirmed this finding. Researchers at the ‘Wayne State University’ in US and the ‘Karolinska Institutet’ in Sweden published the findings of this study in a peer reviewed online journal “PIERS Online”.

A group of 71 people, 36 women and 35 men took part in this study. Out of these 22 men and 16 women reported strong symptoms attributing to the disturbances in sleep with the use of mobile phones. Researchers collected data for symptoms of headache, mood, cognitive function, and electro-encephalographic recordings.

Participants were exposed to the mobile signals on an 884 MHz GSM wireless communications band and were directed to the left hemisphere of the brain, giving an average exposure of 1.4 Watts/kg including periods of DTX and Non-DTX.

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