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Tips To Help You Sleep Better At Night

By silverstate neurology · Comments (0)
Thursday, August 2nd, 2018

The modern lifestyle is busy and fast-paced. Most people struggle to keep up with their various professional or personal commitments and often sacrifice sleep to fulfill their obligations. This high-stress lifestyle coupled with uncertain sleep cycles can lead to serious health consequences. Experts encourage people to rest 6-8 hours a day to ensure their mind and body is in good shape. Unfortunately, people who struggle with sleep become trapped in a vicious cycle of high stress, anxiety, exhaustion, and the inability to get a full night’s rest. There are ways to help you sleep better at night and get an uninterrupted sleep, feel rested and rejuvenated. Better rest and a healthier lifestyle have a positive impact on productivity, physical health, and mental well-being. Here are some points to consider:

1. Disengage From Electronics

Most people with access to television, smartphones, tablets, or laptops inevitably use these devices while they’re getting ready for bed. Some catch up on social media, watch their favorite movies or series, or complete leftover work until sleep comes calling. Unfortunately, the blue light from these screens can keep you awake and hurt your sleep cycle.

Our professionals at Silver State Neurology recommend turning all sources of blue light off an hour before going to bed. You can spend this time just reflecting back on your day, speaking with loved ones, meditating, or lying in bed. Surveys and research suggest that people who disconnect from electronics have a much easier time falling asleep at night. They’re also more likely to have a complete, restful sleep cycle.

2. Limit the Naps

Naps are good for you as they give your brain some time to rest and refresh in the middle of a busy day. But excessive napping can mess with the sleep cycle and make it difficult to get full night’s sleep. Lengthy naps will compromise the quality of your night sleep.

It’s a good idea to limit daytime naps to around 30 to 60 minutes; 90 minutes is the longest nap you can take without compromising the quality of your nighttime sleep. Some experts believe 20 minutes is enough to reenergize the brain and help you focus. Despite your best intentions, if you are prone to napping excessively in the afternoon, skip it entirely and take a walk in green spaces to refresh your mind.

3. Choose a Good Sleep Posture

Most people don’t realize that sleep posture can have an impact on how well you sleep. The softness of the mattress, position of the pillows as well as the position of your body influence how well you sleep and how many times you wake up in the night. Choose comfortable pillows and a good-quality mattress for your bed. This might be expensive, but investing in good sleep has long-term benefits.

If you have a tendency to sleep on your back, make sure the pillow supports your neck and the dip of your spine on the lower back. If you sleep on your side, place a pillow between the knees and align the hips properly to reduce stiffness or a backache. Try not to sleep on your stomach because your neck and spine aren’t in neutral positions, which can cause strain.

4. Wind Down Before Sleep

Sleep will come faster and will be more restful if you wind down before going to bed. Activities before bedtime have a big influence over the quality of sleep so it’s a good idea to monitor what you do. Experts recommend the following tips:

•Don’t exercise just a couple of hours before going to bed.
•Don’t eat heavy meals a couple of hours before sleeping.
•Take a warm, relaxing shower.
•Walk leisurely in the backyard or around the local park.
•Read a book and listen to relaxing music.
•Don’t drink fluids, especially caffeine, one to two hours before sleeping.
•Don’t get into arguments or heated conversations before you sleep.

These factors will help you wind down, especially after a stressful day. If you establish this routine, your mind and body will be in a better state. Winding down at the end of the day also helps release pent-up stress.

5. Set Room Temperature to Comfortable Levels

If the room temperature is too high or too low, it can disturb your sleep. Studies suggest that room temperature has a greater impact on quality and consistency of sleep than external noise. A higher body and room temperature will diminish the quality of sleep so it’s important to keep the room comfortably cool.

Most people find 68°F to 70°F to be most comfortable. This depends on what kind of temperatures you’re accustomed to. Individuals living in warmer regions are more equipped to deal with heat and can handle higher temperatures better.

6. Train Your Body

It is possible to train your body to a natural circadian rhythm; all you need to do is be consistent. As far as possible, ensure you sleep at a specific time and wake up at a specific time every day. Eventually, your body will recognize the pattern and fall into it naturally. People who train their body, don’t need alarm clocks to wake up on time. For example, you can sleep at 10.30 every night then wake up between 5.30 and 6.00 every morning. This routine gives you a sufficient amount of sleep and ample time during the day to get work done.

It’s a good idea to stick with the sleep routine even on the weekends unless you’re heading out and need to stay up late. People who are consistent in their sleeping patterns have an easier time falling asleep and feel better rested too. Proper diet and regular exercise also contribute towards sleep quality. People who exercise regularly and have balanced meals sleep better.

If the tips above don’t help and you’re still struggling with sleep, it might be time to visit your Las Vegas neurologist. They will consider all of your health concerns carefully to determine the root cause of poor sleep. A neurologist will address the underlying problem, provide medical treatment and recommend lifestyle changes.

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Categories : Blog, Brain Food, Brain Health, brain stress, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Headaches, Health Tips, las vegas neurologist, Las Vegas neurology clinic, Sleep Apnea, Sleep Disorders, stress, stress relief
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Daytime Naps for The Brain

By silverstate neurology · Comments (0)
Thursday, July 19th, 2018

Work and everyday stresses can take their toll on your body and mind. Excessive strain can lead to burnout, mental health problems, physical health problems like blood pressure, etc. Unfortunately, the modern lifestyle is very stressful with poor work-life balance. That’s one of the reasons why even big companies like Google encourage their employees to take daytime naps.

You don’t have to spend too much time napping because just 90 minutes is enough to reboot the brain and rejuvenate you. Many adults hesitate to indulge in naps because they believe it is for children. Some think daytime naps might have a negative impact on nighttime sleep, but that’s not the case.

You just need to make sure your nap length is relatively short. If you take a 3-4 hour siesta, the sleep cycle will be disrupted and that will affect the nighttime sleep cycle. Here are some reasons why daytime naps are important for your brain:

1. The Eight-Hour Sleep Cycle is a Recent Trend

Different cultures have different notions when it comes to sleep cycles. Countries with hot or temperate climates like India, Spain, Italy, Greece, etc., have a “napping” culture where people will take 2 to 3 hours to finish lunch and take a nap. They also have the habit of getting up early and sleeping at a relatively modest time.

This two-sleep schedule has worked well to keep their minds active and alert during rest of the day. Chinese employees are known to place their head on the desk for a short 1-hour nap before or after lunch. All of these factors boost productivity and prove that the 8-hour cycle doesn’t have to be the norm. Studies have shown that giving the brain a break can help a person feel much more focused and energetic.

2. Sleep Deprivation Hampers The Brain’s Ability to Focus

Sleep deprived people will perform at the same level of efficiency as someone who has had a restful sleep. This means if you give both individuals the same task, their performance will be equal. But maintaining that level of competence is difficult if you’re sleep deprived as your brain will have trouble refocusing.

Almost everyone loses their focus, especially if they have to perform repetitive tasks. A person who has slept well will lose attention for a short span of time before the brain reacts and increases focus. This is where a sleep-deprived brain falters because once you lose focus, there’s little to no reaction.

The brain simply fails to get back to the task, which is why a power nap can help. Even a 20-minute break with absolutely no disturbances can help rewire it and put you back on the right track. However, if you don’t have the ability to focus despite getting ample sleep, it is time to consult a Las Vegas Neurologist because the problem might lie elsewhere.

3. Prevents Burnouts

Our minds are constantly subjected to information and stimulation. This can cause a considerable amount of stress to the brain. Constantly calculating data, making logical leaps, providing creative input, and making decisions can overload the mind. This leads to a drop in productivity and performance.

There was a study conducted in Massachusetts involving students who weren’t sleep deprived. They were asked to stare at the screen filled with horizontal bars. Every once in a while, three diagonal bars would flash on the screen and students were asked to identify if they were stacked vertical or horizontal.

They underwent this frustrating task 1,250 times in a day. Results showed that students who took an hour’s nap performed better than those who didn’t. Similar tests indicated that the brain becomes overstimulated after three trials, which led to burnout. The only way to remove such stress and overstimulation is through a nap or full sleep.

4. The Effect of a Nap Lasts for a Long Time</h2

The effects of a good, restful nap can last for a long time and will see you through the rest of the day. For example, an hour’s nap will help a person stay alert until dinner time. 2 or 3-hour naps will cause drowsiness for at least an hour before the brain refocuses.

Once the brain has refocused, you will be alert for at least 5 to 6 hours easily. It’s a good idea to limit the nap to under 90 minutes for best results because you don’t want to slip into a deep sleep in the middle of the day. Deep sleep shouldn’t be interrupted as it can cause drowsiness and increase fatigue.

Naps have a positive impact on memory and can help you retain information better. A study proved this by providing test subjects with cards to memorize. After they had memorized the cards, they got a 40-minute break. One part of the group napped during this break while the other stayed awake. Unsurprisingly, the group that napped performed much better than the group that didn’t.

It indicates that napping helps your mind solidify and store memories efficiently. This happens because information is first stored in the hippocampus immediately after memorization. This memory can become lost because it can be easily overwritten by other data. Napping pushes this memory to the neocortex, which provides permanent storage. This ensures the information isn’t easily overwritten, and that preserves your memory for a long time.

Weak and fragile memory can sometimes be a sign of degenerative diseases. If you experience unexplained memory loss or have difficulty retaining information, contact a good neurologist to determine the root cause.

The left part of the brain, which is dominant in most individuals, is fairly silent and inactive during a nap. The right side of the brain is very active during this time and researchers speculate this is because it’s performing a cleanup. During this active period, the right side pushes memories deeper and sorts through pending tasks that are in the way. When you wake up, all lingering information is sorted and the brain is ready for more challenges.

As you can see, a nap can have a significant impact on the brain, mental health, and you’re your physical health. It’s why Silver State Neurology recommends that people of all ages take short naps during the course of their day.

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Categories : Alzheimer's disease, Blog, Brain Health, brain stress, Headaches, las vegas neurologist, Las Vegas neurology clinic, Silver State Neurology, Sleep Disorders, stress, stress relief
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Soothe the brain with music

By silverstate neurology · Comments (0)
Friday, July 13th, 2018

Stress and exhaustion can play havoc on the body as well as the mind. Unfortunately, people, today deal with this on a daily basis in their personal and professional lives. Most have demanding jobs that require intense focus for long hours of the day; others have to deal with family issues, raising children, or taking care of dependents, all of which can take their toll on their health and wellbeing.

It is important to focus on your health by finding productive outlets to all this buildup. If you don’t find something to soothe your mind, the stress will eventually lead to physical health consequences. Silver State Neurology agrees that music can have a big impact on the mind and can soothe the brain.

Does Music Really Help?

People have been making and listing to music for thousands of years. Even the earliest humans made small, crude musical instruments from wood, stones, and other available materials. There’s something about music that attracts our attention and influences our mood. Lively dance music can send energy rushing through a person’s veins, a love song can make people cry, and hard and angry rock music can help people vent anger. So it’s not surprising that soothing, mellow music can calm the mind.

Various studies have been conducted on the influence of sounds, rhythm, and melody on the mind and most of them show positive results. A research study involving 60 healthy female subjects with a mean age of 25 showcased that soothing music had a marked impact on an individual response to stress and recovery. This means that not only do you deal with stress better when listening to music, but you also recover from it quicker.

There’s a branch of medicine dedicated specifically to music and its ability to influence the nervous system psychologically and physiologically. Music therapy is used by neurologists to treat and soothe people with disabilities, disorders, chronic diseases, and similar health concerns. While music is great for everyday stress, it is important to consult with a professional neurologist if you’re looking for treatment for anything beyond that.

How Do You Hear Music?

When you understand how a human being hears sounds, it’s easy to understand why they have such a big impact on the mind. When sound enters the ear, the eardrums vibrate in response. Small piston-like bones in the middle of the ear amplify these vibrations, which is carried to the inner ear. The inner ear has a small chamber full of water and around 30,000 microscopic hair cells. These hair cells respond to the vibration frequencies; the shorter ones responding to higher wavelengths and longer ones responding to lower wavelengths.

These movements are then transmitted as nerve impulses to the brain, which then translates into sound. The ear is just an instrument and the brain actually does the hearing. According to recent research, the first brain cells to respond to sound influence early functional organization, which is why there’ s a link between sound and cognitive function.This shows sounds and music directly influence the brain and thought processes. It’s one of the reasons why neurologists believe in the power of music and sometimes will even recommend it to patients.

Influencing the Default Mode

Most people don’t know that the brain goes into a default thought process when it is not actively working on something. This is a predictable and consistent neurological activity that doesn’t have any direction; however, it does have an impact on your mood. It is very common to ruminate during this neurological state, to think painful thoughts, focus on worrying subjects, dwell on the past, etc.

The mind goes over these thoughts repeatedly with no resolution or productive outcome. People prone to this default are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, moodiness, or even anger. Soothing music can help draw focus away from these thoughts and even direct it outward. Natural sounds are most effective in drawing attention outward; so things like wind blowing, crickets chirping, birds singing, rain, waves, etc., will soothe the mind.

Mellow, soft, and repetitive music that doesn’t have many sharp pitches has a similar effect and will elevate your mood. Playing music or nature sounds when your thoughts drift can help you maintain a positive mindset and help you de-focus from stress. Even a short break for 15 to 20 minutes can make a harrowing day less stressful.

How to Choose Relaxing Music

Individual responses to musical stimulus vary, so find music that soothes you can be challenging. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

•Choose a Genre You Prefer – You prefer certain genres over others because they stimulate the brain in a specific way and have a better effect. Many people find classical music relaxing but if you don’t really prefer it, such songs won’t do much to relieve stress. Start with genres you love, even if it is lively EDM.

•Keep Pace in Mind – High-paced music will stimulate the brain and encourage it to be more active, which isn’t what you need. Choose slow songs or songs that slow down in pace gradually. Music that has a consistent pace of 70 BPM will get both your body and mind to a relaxed state. Music that starts at a high BPM but gradually slows down to 60 or 50 BPM will slow your body and mind down gradually, which is more effective.

•Skip Complex Music – Complex music with abrupt changes in rhythm, pacing, or tone force your brain to focus. Such music is jarring and will add to your stress instead of soothing the brain. Choose music with a steady beat, consistent tone, and very little change in pace.

It’s a good idea to skip songs with words, especially words in a language you speak. For example, people who speak English and Spanish should skip songs in these languages and choose instrumental or music in different languages. All of these factors will help you choose the best music option for relaxation.

Music is for therapeutic purposes only and can’t be considered a cure. People experiencing problems like substantial anxiety, health concerns caused by excessive stress or strain on the brain, and neurological disorders must consult with your Las Vegas Neurologist.

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Categories : Blog, Brain Health, brain stress, las vegas neurologist, Las Vegas neurology clinic, Silver State Neurology, stress, stress relief
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How to Care For Someone with Alzheimer’s

By silverstate neurology · Comments (0)
Tuesday, June 12th, 2018

When someone starts to develop Alzheimer’s, it can cause strain on their loved ones. Sometimes it becomes difficult because we often don’t know what to do when their behavior changes. It’s important to keep in mind: their actions often cannot be controlled. Still, how can we care for someone afflicted by Alzheimer’s?

Short and simple

Those with Alzheimer’s will often forget that they’ve just asked a question multiple times. You will probably be tempted to give them an answer you would give someone else. But this might involve a lengthier and more complicated response. If you keep your response short and concise, you won’t be as frustrated when you have to repeat it as many times as they ask. It will also be easier for them to understand what you are saying.

If you find yourself having to repeat yourself often, keep these tips in mind:

•Consider (why they are asking); think about how they feel and give a response that can resolve frustrating emotions.
•Distract; the best way to get their mind somewhere else is to ask for help. Ask them to perform a simple task to occupy their mind for a few minutes. This can be as simple as setting the table or folding the laundry.
•Break; don’t be afraid to take a second for yourself if you are becoming angry. Losing your temper on someone with Alzheimer’s will just be frustrating for everybody. Take a moment to gather yourself to keep your cool.

Keep it consistent

As someone with Alzheimer’s declines the memory more, it can be difficult to keep new things organized. New experiences are jarring and can be frustrating without having patience. When a family member is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, consider making a weekly schedule. Include things like laundry, grocery shopping, meals, and anything else you can keep consistent.

Give them independence

Early on, those with Alzheimer’s simply need a small reminder to accomplish their daily tasks. Guide them softly at first, letting them keep their control. The longer they stay active and aware, the longer their memory will stay in better shape.

For more complex tasks, like managing money or keeping track of medications, make sure they don’t make mistakes. If they do, gently correct it for them and assure them you are there to help.

Take care of yourself

Sometimes the best thing you can do for someone with Alzheimer’s is to take care of yourself. Seeing a loved one’s memory decline is can be frustrating. Consider a few of these tips to keep yourself ready for whatever comes your way:
•Keep yourself connected; having people around you as you care for someone with Alzheimer’s will make it easier to decompress. Try to find others that are going through the same thing for encouragement and comfort.
•Ask for help; know that the people around you want to help. We never want to take a break from helping our loved ones with Alzheimer’s, but sometimes we need a moment to recollect. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to step in for an afternoon, so you can get the time you need to recharge.
•Don’t take it personally; Alzheimer’s is a disease that someone can’t control in their head. Sometimes they forget important things, and you must be forgiving. They don’t mean to hurt you, so care for them even when it’s difficult.
•Laugh and be happy; your loved ones with Alzheimer’s are still your loved ones. Laugh with them and let yourself fall into the moments that make you happy. It’ll remind you of why they mean so much to you.

Taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s is difficult but manageable. Know the tips to care for them and yourself, and you’ll be an incredible caretaker and loved one. And don’t forget, Silver State Neurology can help.

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Categories : Alzheimer's disease, Blog, Brain Health, brain stress, Health Tips, las vegas neurologist, Las Vegas neurology clinic
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Declutter your Brain

By silverstate neurology · Comments (0)
Thursday, May 24th, 2018

Our lives are constantly dictated by tight schedules and lengthy to-do lists. The stress of the workplace or the home can quickly compound, making even simple tasks seem like a hassle. The best way to stay calm and collected even in those frustrating situations is to keep an organized mind. The goal isn’t to compartmentalize every aspect of your life into an even stricter schedule and to-do list. The goal is to declutter your brain of unnecessary thoughts so that you can focus on one thing at a time (and do it successfully, too).

But how can we go about getting our mind in the right state? With all these stressors surrounding us, it’s a lot tougher than said. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Keep a journal

Yes, I’m sure we have all heard “keep a journal” a thousand times. But, what makes it so useful? Journals are essential for word blurts. When we feel overwhelmed by the thoughts, sometimes the best option is to get it all out at once. Open a document on your computer, and start typing away. Don’t stop until you have nothing left to say. Once you’re done, you’ll be able to focus on specifics without worrying about all those other “things” bouncing around.

Learn a few strategies to make decisions

One of the most stressful aspects of our lives is making decisions. Even choosing what to eat for breakfast can be stressful when you only have 5 minutes to make yourself something that stays true to your diet. Deciding if you want to go out with your friends on a Thursday night, knowing you have work early the next day is another. Or maybe you’re torn between staying with your current job and moving to a new city to pursue something better but making less.

All these decisions that we must make every day of our lives pile up quickly and cause the mind to get cluttered. A useful strategy is Heath’s WRAP method: widen your choices, reality-test your assumptions, attain distance before deciding, and prepare to be wrong.

If you’re short on time, use the tried-and-true method of a pro/con list. Listing your options and their potential benefits and downsides might give you an obvious answer that you weren’t able to see with a cluttered mind.

Know when it is time to see your local Las Vegas Neurologist to help guide you to better brain health management. Sometimes our bodies are trying to tell us something and we don’t listen. If your body and brain is overwhelmed, listen to it. Stress can impact the brain’s health.

Rearrange your priorities

What’s more important to you: family or your career? What about loyalty or honesty? What are your core values? And what do you want to be kept at the forefront of your mind when making decisions? Oftentimes, in the heat of complicated situations, we sacrifice what’s important to us to complete a task. If we constantly remind ourselves of what is important to us, we can make better decisions and make them faster. Keeping a set of principles ahead of us at all times also helps to declutter the things that aren’t as important.

Get out of the past

The biggest clutter in our mind is what we’ve done in the past. We miss one deadline, and it becomes the only thing we can think about for the next week. The best way we can help ourselves is to acknowledge when our mind returns to a negative memory of the past and calmly bring it back to focus. Slowly training our minds to see the positives and stay in the present keeps us free from the clutter of the past.

Clean your physical space

A big contributor to the mess in your mind is the mess that is all around you in your physical space. The unnecessary visual stimuli kick your mind into hyperdrive, making you think you constantly have to accomplish tasks. Taking a few minutes to keep your space clean each day will help you relax.

Conclusion

The stressors that we experience each day of our lives sometimes make it difficult to keep a clear mind. But taking the time to do some clean-up following the tips outlined above can help you live a less stressful life. If you are experiencing brain health issues, visit your local Las Vegas Neurologist and seek help.

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Categories : Blog, Brain Health, brain stress, Health Tips, las vegas neurologist, Las Vegas neurology clinic, Migraines, Silver State Neurology, stress, stress relief
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