ANCSLEEP BLOG

Nerve pain has many causes, including diabetic neuropathy, trauma, sciatic, lupus, arthritis, and the list goes on. It is a very unsettling pain with very little relief. The pain can range from bothersome tingling to unbearable shooting pain down your leg. For some, this pain seems to intensify at night, making sleeping almost impossible.

The sad part about this symptom is that getting good sleep may actually buffer some of the pain from the neuropathy. So, if you are able to manage your sleep, then you may be able to reduce some of your pain. Continue reading to find out more about why your nerve pain is so poor at night and what you can do to get good sleep. 

"Don't go to sleep with wet hair, or you'll be sick" is a word of caution, as old as time. Mothers warned their daughters about the risks of going to sleep with their hair wet. No matter how tired you were, it was important for you to at least blow dry your hair to avoid this impending illness.

But is that actually true? Continue reading to learn more about the truth about sleeping with wet hair. 

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder of widespread pain and stiffness in muscles and joints. About 4 million people in the US have fibromyalgia, and although the cause of this condition is unknown, patients can treat and manage their symptoms through medication, therapy and lifestyle changes. 

Sleep disturbances are common in those with fibromyalgia. For some, a lack of sleep can actually exacerbate their pain symptoms and lead them to a vicious cycle of pain that ruins sleep and lack of sleep that increases pain. This can make life seem almost unbearable and ruin every aspect of one's life. However, by practicing good sleep hygiene and adapting healthy sleep habits, one can alleviate fibromyalgia-related sleep issues. Continue reading to learn how to manage fibromyalgia through sleep. 

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that involves certain joints and bones in various regions of your body. It can be very painful and discomforting, as well as debilitating. One way that it really disrupts life is by interrupting one's ability to sleep. 

Sleep can be vital in the healing and rehabilitation process. However, the pain from OA can cause many barriers to getting that sleep. Continue reading for more information on the relationship between OA and sleep, and how you can get good rest if you do have OA.  

Not sleeping enough can have severe consequences for your health and daily functioning. But did you know one of those affects is on your eating habits? Being tired has been shown to increase the number of calories that you consume. Your diet also decreases in quality and can cause an increase in body weight.

Part of this relationship is due to hormonal changes in the body that make it more difficult to balance hormones responsible for metabolism. Continue reading to learn more about how sleep and your appetite are connected.   

Sleep is one of the most vital pieces of human health. It is necessary for almost all bodily functions to run optimally, and without it, there are so many things we can't do. Our bodies turn into "low battery mode" and simply focus on getting us through the day. But, when we get great sleep, then we are able to accomplish so much because we feel good, motivated, and well-rested. 

One barrier to getting good sleep may actually be our mattress. If we are sleeping on an old, lumpy and uncomfortable mattress, then no matter how much time we spend in bed, it doesn't matter. Our bodies flop around all night trying to find a comfortable position to lie in. If this sounds like you, then it may be time to replace your mattress. Continue reading to find out if you have a couple of years left, or if you're overdue for a new set of springs. 

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a psychiatric disorder of an intense feeling of anxiety about most aspects of life. It consists of the inability to manage your stress and form appropriate reactions to stressors and non-stressors. Aside from being fairly debilitating towards most aspects of your life, GAD can also negatively affect sleep.

Not only can GAD affect sleep, but a lack of sleep can further contribute to feelings of stress and anxiety. This bidirectional relationship makes sleep an important factor to care for in the treatment of GAD, but sometimes GAD has to be treated in order to improve one's sleep health. Continue reading to find out more about this relationship and what the most appropriate management tips are. 

The new trend on TikTok is for one to tape their lips while sleeping. Users have claimed that they have noticed many benefits of this practice, including:

• More energy 
• Sharper jawline 
• Better skin, mood, and digestion 
• Reduced brain fog 
• Less cavities, gum disease and bad breath
• Strengthened immune system

The benefits of mouth taping involve taking a piece of skin-friendly tape and placing them over both lips to keep your mouth closed throughout the night have recently become a major media sensation. 

But is it safe? Does it work? Does science support this practice? Continue reading to learn more about mouth taping and what experts are saying. 

Do you ever find yourself have the same dream over and over? One that is quite distressing and freaks you out, leaving you wondering what it means for days after? You are not alone, as 60-75% of Americans experience these "recurring" dreams. They are a part of normal sleep for most people, but their content can be the most distressing part of them, causing sleep loss and anxiety revolving around sleep. 

Certain disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) can often have these dreams at a level that is extremely distressing because it relates to something over which they feel stressed. Continue reading to find out more about what these dreams mean, and what you can do if they are negatively impacting your sleep.

Insomnia is the inability to go to sleep. Primary insomnia means there is no underlying reason why you cannot go to sleep, but you are simply having trouble getting a good night's rest. Secondary insomnia is an identifiable cause that is preventing you from going to sleep. 

One common secondary cause is painsomnia. Painsomnia is a term that combines the words pain and insomnia, and refers to insomnia caused by pain. Paincan making sleeping almost impossible, as you are unable to relax enough to go to sleep. Not only does painsomnia make it impossible to sleep, but having a lack of sleep can make pain symptoms worse. So it very much is a double edged sword, the relationship between sleep and pain.

Continue reading to find out more about painsomnia and what are some steps you can take to reduce the disruptions you currently face.