Posts tagged winter
After Daylight Savings Ends
After Daylight Savings Ends: Some Advice
Daylight savings has come and gone for another year, and my patients have already mentioned how their sleep patterns were affected by the change. So have members of my staff, and this is even though we gained an hour instead of losing one. So, why is it that after daylight savings ends and we even gained an hour this past Sunday that we feel sluggish or groggy? I hold with most sleep specialists that the sleep pattern changes we normally make on the weekends – staying up later and sleeping in – exasperates the effects of the time change on our bodies. Mondays are particularly hard because of this sleep pattern change each weekend, and with another hour added into the mix, our bodies feel even more sluggish than the usual.
Light is a major tool for adjusting to the daylight savings time change. The more sunlight we get in the morning, the more awake we feel throughout the day. Also, avoiding light before bedtime, especially the blue light of electronics, helps our body naturally shut itself down for proper sleep. This is because light inhibits the production of melatonin, a hormone in our body that supports sleep, while darkness encourages it. So, when you get that extra hour each year, instead of using it to sleep another hour, take a walk in the sunlight and rejuvenate your body and mind. Remember, each year after daylight savings ends we lose daylight on the tail end of our days. This makes it extra important to wake up at a proper hour and get outside to enjoy the sunlight we do have. Doing this really helps ward off the ‘winter blues.’ If you haven’t fully adjusted to the time change, take a walk tomorrow morning. If your body still feels out of sorts two weeks after the time change, then it may be indicative of a minor sleeping disorder. If this is the case you should consult your physician or a sleep specialist.
Winter: The Season of Nosebleeds
As winter approaches, we expect certain ailments to come along with it: colds, the flu, nosebleeds… Nosebleeds? Yes, winter is the season of the nosebleed.
Why are nosebleeds more common during the wintertime, and should you be concerned?
The common nosebleed, or epistaxis, is a hemorrhage from the nose. A person may lose just a little blood or lose quite a bit, and sometimes the condition occurs almost at random and just one time. For others, it can be a fairly regular occurrence.
During winter, the cold temperatures and dry conditions may cause the tiny blood vessels in the nose to crack. This can result in bleeding from the nostrils. The condition may seem more severe if the person has severe sinus problems or allergies that have aggravated the nose due to frequent blowing. Having taken an aspirin can also cause blood loss to be more severe, thus making the condition seem worse than it actually is.
If you experience a nose bleed with significant blood loss, be sure to sit down in case you get woozy. Pinch the nose high up, and don’t lean your head back. It’s better for the blood to drain out of the nose than down your throat. After you stop the bleeding, try not to blow your nose for up to a day. Stay away from anything that could make your blood thinner and avoid things like hot liquids, which can also thin the blood and start the bleed back up.
For severe cases—or recurring nosebleeds—you may need medical attention. You can be given a gauze pack once the wounded area is located; this will help it to heal more quickly. As a general rule, however, nosebleeds are not dangerous unless they are a symptom of a more dangerous condition, such as high blood pressure. Most winter nosebleeds are merely a result of the change in weather and are nothing to be too concerned about.
Winter: The Season of Nosebleeds
As winter approaches, we expect certain ailments to come along with it: colds, the flu, nosebleeds… Nosebleeds? Yes, winter is the season of the nosebleed.
Why are nosebleeds more common during the wintertime, and should you be concerned?
The common nosebleed, or epistaxis, is a hemorrhage from the nose. A person may lose just a little blood or lose quite a bit, and sometimes the condition occurs almost at random and just one time. For others, it can be a fairly regular occurrence.
During winter, the cold temperatures and dry conditions may cause the tiny blood vessels in the nose to crack. This can result in bleeding from the nostrils. The condition may seem more severe if the person has severe sinus problems or allergies that have aggravated the nose due to frequent blowing. Having taken an aspirin can also cause blood loss to be more severe, thus making the condition seem worse than it actually is.
If you experience a nose bleed with significant blood loss, be sure to sit down in case you get woozy. Pinch the nose high up, and don’t lean your head back. It’s better for the blood to drain out of the nose than down your throat. After you stop the bleeding, try not to blow your nose for up to a day. Stay away from anything that could make your blood thinner and avoid things like hot liquids, which can also thin the blood and start the bleed back up.
For severe cases—or recurring nosebleeds—you may need medical attention. You can be given a gauze pack once the wounded area is located; this will help it to heal more quickly. As a general rule, however, nosebleeds are not dangerous unless they are a symptom of a more dangerous condition, such as high blood pressure. Most winter nosebleeds are merely a result of the change in weather and are nothing to be too concerned about.