Posts by aaronring:
Insomnia Medications: Pros and Cons
October 9th, 2008If insomnia has been an ongoing problem for you, you might be willing to try just about anything simply to get a little sleep. But before you get desperate, make certain you realize how each alternative works.
Most people who experience a few nights in a row of insomnia will head straight to the pharmacy to get an over the counter remedy. You might get some relief from a sleep aid at first, but they won’t give you long term results because they don’t fix the problem.
A sleeping aid doesn’t constitute an insomnia cure. It could assist you at first, yet you need to ascertain the reason why you’re experiencing sleep problems. In the long run, it’s not very healthy to be dependent on a pill to get a good night’s sleep.
Lots of people get hooked on medications and aren’t able to fall asleep if they give them up. Other people experience unpleasant side effects, or they end up with complications because of the way it interacts with their prescriptions.
Antihistamines, a familiar remedy for allergies, is a common ingredient in over the counter sleeping aids. They not only make you sleepy, they help to ensure that you stay sleeping.Some people experience drowsiness the next day, which might interrupt your natural sleep cycle. Side effects could include constipation, dizziness, memory loss, blurred vision, and dry mouth. Once you are dependent on them, you’ll need ever greater dosages to feel the benefits.
The doctor might give you something more potent such as a non-benzodiazephine. This helps you feel sleepy by stepping up the natural chemical process of your brain. Using a sleeping aid for ongoing insomnia relief is generally safer than using over the counter remedies; but it can lead to dependencies.
It’s uncommon these days, but your doctor could prescribe a tranquilizer if your insomnia is serious enough. This causes drowsiness by slowing your nervous system. This is a short term solution that could lead to feelings of grogginess the day after.
You might be prescribed antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications that act as sedatives if your doctor believes it’s the best alternative for you. These are a common alternative that don’t have the same risk of addiction as some other medications.
You might also consider using an herbal insomnia remedy if you prefer to steer clear of prescription alternatives and use natural products. There are herbs that have been shown to encourage a good night’s sleep, such as chamomile, which is often served up as tea.
Valerian root, melatonin, and SAMe are other herbal alternatives you might try to treat your insomnia. Be sure you take the correct dosage, since too much of a good thing can sometimes lead to uninvited side effects.
Stretching Routines for Dynamic and Static Stretches
September 13th, 2008You might be aware that there are a number of benefits to stretching your muscles. But did you know that there are actually two different kinds of stretches? These movements are known as static and dynamic stretches.
A dynamic stretching routine is most often performed just prior to a vigorous physical activity such as a workout at the gym, a dance class, or a sporting event. Dynamic stretches incorporate muscle movement into the routine.
On the other hand, a static stretch refers to a position that is held for a number of seconds, at least ten, before relaxing the muscle.
There are pros and cons to each of these styles of stretching. Static stretches particularly seem to cause controversy among fitness experts. Even though stretching has been a part of fitness programs for any number of years, experts still disagree over the benefits of the various styles.
Static Stretches
Static stretches are well suited to warm up your muscles before an intense cardiovascular or strength training workout. The benefits of static stretches for your muscles are impressive, and include a boost in performance of your blood circulation. Better blood circulation leads to a better delivery of oxygen to your muscles and organs.
The benefits of stretching your muscles are best achieved by doing a variety of stretches each targeted to a different area of your body such as the chest, legs, arms, neck, and back.
Stretching Dynamically
Dynamic stretching exercises are generally most beneficial to competition athletes. But they have benefits even if you’re not heading into an intense workout. While performing these kinds of stretches, you will want to move around while trying to get the maximum stretch out of your muscles.
By performing a dynamic stretching routine, you won’t have to wait for your muscles to warm up and reach maximum capacity. Sudden, intense physical activity can be the cause of something as minor as a muscle cramp, to more serious issues such as strains, sprains and other injuries.
Now you know that dynamic and static stretching routines play different roles. Really, the choice is up to you and will depend on what you’re trying to accomplish in your fitness routine.