Sleep Intensive Care, Plus May 12 Is CFS/FMS Awareness Day!
Vitality101 Newsletter
Hello Reader,
We're up to part 13 of my continuing series on "Fatigue & Fibromyalgia Are Optional." This week I'm sharing my BFF on what I call "Sleep Intensive Care" — a quick list on the importance of getting good sleep, the particular problem of sleep in CFS and fibromyalgia, and tips for getting that healthy sleep.
BFF Summary
- Getting eight to nine hours of solid, deep sleep a night without premature waking or medication hangover is critical to getting well.
- Begin with natural sleep aids. I recommend the Revitalizing Sleep Formula by Enzymatic Therapy, Terrific ZZZZ™, and Terry Naturally®'s Melatonin EP120™ 10 MG.
- Because of the severity of the sleep disorder in CFS and fibromyalgia, most patients will need to add prescription medications for at least six to eighteen months. A low dose of several medications is more likely to be effective without next-day sedation than a high dose of one medication. Zolpidem (Ambien), trazodone (Desyrel), gabapentin (Neurontin), and low-dose cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) are the four best prescription sleep medications. Most regular sleeping pills make you feel worse by keeping you in light sleep.
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May 12 Is International Fibromyalgia & CFS Awareness Day
May 12th is the birthday of nurse Florence Nightingale, who was known to have suffered from what we now know as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. In honor of her many achievements as founder of modern nursing, the day has been designated an international awareness day for these and other chronic immunological and neurological diseases.
You can observe this day by initiating conversations with friends and family who may not know much about CFS and fibromyalgia. Call a friend who has this illness to remind them of this special day and ask how they are doing. Share your struggles and healing and thoughts on social media using hashtag #FibromyalgiaAwarenessDay.
Use a Sleep Mask for Deeper Sleep — and Even Weight Loss?
New research from Northwestern University, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (March 14), shows that if you sleep with a light on — even a light so dim that you can't read by it — this triggers your adrenaline (sympathetic nervous system) to remain active during sleep.
Why is this important? Because one of the reasons for nonrestorative sleep in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia is that the nervous system gets stuck in high adrenaline mode during sleep. So even the sleep they do get is nonrestorative.
Featured This Week
Revitalizing Sleep Formula (90 ct)
The Revitalizing Sleep Formula is a mix of six powerful, yet gentle, sleep herbs that will help you fall asleep faster and maintain a healthy sleep cycle — without feeling groggy the next day. It can help relax your muscles, decreasing pain from muscle overuse, and can also help decrease anxiety during the day.*
(MSRP $43.19)
Terrific Zzzz™
The gentle combination of herbs in Terrific Zzzz™ supports a healthy, restful sleep so you wake refreshed. It's also non-habit forming and leaves you without any morning grogginess.*
(MSRP $26.95)
Melatonin EP120™ 10 MG
Sustained release tablet supports healthy immune function, inflammation response, and deep sleep.*
(MSRP $14.95)
Is This the Beginning of True General Artificial Intelligence?
General artificial intelligence is when a computer can far exceed the intellectual abilities of humans at ANY task or subject. It's thought to be the last invention we ever need to create, because after it arrives, it can design for us anything that can be designed by humans — and do a much better job at it. GPT-3 is a technology heading in that direction. This video shows how it can write essays, design websites, have sensible conversations, and even write its own software.Welcome to our robot overlords.
Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. is one of the world's leading integrative medical authorities on fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. He is the lead author of eight research studies on their effective treatments, and has published numerous health & wellness books, including the bestseller on fibromyalgia From Fatigued to Fantastic! and The Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Solution. Dr. Teitelbaum is one of the most frequently quoted fibromyalgia experts in the world and appears often as a guest on news and talk shows nationwide including Good Morning America, The Dr. Oz Show, Oprah & Friends, CNN, and Fox News Health.
