Age and Sleep

25) How old are you?

There is some question about declining need for sleep as a person grows older. Babies and small children will typically require about 10 hours a day or more of sleep. Teenagers need sleep, but have trouble letting themselves get it. Early and middle aged adults will typically need an average of 8 hours a day. Older adults will experience a decreased need for sleep unless they are getting a significant amount of exercise. The role that exercise plays in sleep is extremely important.

Eating and Drinking

26) How much liquid do you drink in the evening?

1) None for at least two hours before bedtime

2) About a cup an hour before bedtime

3) A cup right at bedtime

4) More than a cup just before bedtime

5) Drinking when waking during the night

If you are waking due to a full bladder, this question's importance is obvious. Your answer can also help a physician diagnose other health problems.

30) When do you eat your largest meal? Do you eat before going to bed? If so, what? Do you eat in bed?

1) Largest meal at noon (Eat before bed)

2) Largest meal at night (Eat before bed)

3) Largest meal at noon (No eating before bed)

4) Largest meal at night (No eating before bed)

5) If you do eat before/in bed, please describe what you eat before going to bed.

Creating a lot of work for your digestive tract just before sleeping can hurt your ability to sleep soundly. However, having too little food in your system can also impair your sleeping because proteins can help you stay asleep. That means that your food intake can be worked on to provide the best, most relaxing and yet sleep sustaining level for your particular body. Nutritionists who have some sleep problem training can be very useful in this area.

31) Do you feel like eating?

1) No

2) Yes

If you answer no to this question, please be sure to go to the section on Depression.

202) Has your appetite changed?

1) No

2) Yes

If you answer yes to this question, please be sure to go to the section on Depression.

32) How much sugar do you eat or drink? (Include desserts, pop, treats, snacks...) When do you typically consume it?

1) Very little

2) An average amount

3) Quite a lot

Please describe when you eat sugar

Sugars tend to cause a rapid peak in your blood sugar level and then drop rapidly. This is not helpful for getting a good night's sleep, if you don't have proteins in your system to maintain a steadier blood level of sugar (energy).

Sex and Hormones

46) Are you concerned or irritated by your sex life?

1) No

2) Yes

For people who are having trouble with their sex life, either too much or too little there can be a huge variety of causes. In any case, sleep can be affected.

47) Please describe any changes in your sex drive since you’ve had troubles with sleep.

1) None

2) There have been some

Sexual drive is often linked to physical and emotiona health and well-being. While each person's drive varies there is a general sense of feeling positive and good about one's own healthy level. Having a decrease in sexual drive can indicate a biological problem, or it can indicate a relationship or emotional problem. See Sex and Hormones for more ideas.

91) Do you have a ringing in your ears or tinnitus?

1) No

2) Yes

Oriental medicine considers this to be an important aspect of conditions related to insomnia situations. The Oriental medicine way of providing help and working with the body is very different from the Western way, but it has shown to be effective in some kinds of insomnia problems. See Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

131) For women: Have you started or passed menopause?

1) No

2) Yes (See Menopause information)

132) If you are a woman, does your menstrual cycle affect your sleep? If so, how?

1) No

2) Yes (See Hormones)

133) Are you on hormone replacement therapy such as thyroid or estrogen? If so, when do you take it?

 

1) No

2) Yes

Work on this one.

149) Do you experience muscle aches and pain, lightheadedness, nausea, heartburn, muscle tension?

 

1) No

2) Yes

150) Do you have trouble with dizziness or poor night vision?

 

1) No

2) Yes (Please Describe)

These are symptoms that can indicate more severe problems, and they can be useful information to your health care practitioner.

Deep DISCOUNTS on quality Vitamins, Herbs, Minerals and Supplements. Hundreds of products for women, men, children and seniors.

Sleep Evaluation

Back to: Sleep

Back to: Iris Publishing

This site is created by and belongs to: Iris Publishing
email: Webmaster@Iris-Publishing.com
Regular Mail: P.O. Box 1092, Coupeville, WA 98239
Phone: (360) 678-6409


Copyright 1996-1998 Sarah Richards