Insomnia

Do you have difficulty falling or staying asleep?  How many times during the night do you move and turn, check the clock, and find it ticking away and tell yourself, if I could fall asleep right now I would get at least six hours of sleep? But, sleep doesn't come so you continue to move and turn. This happens to several people that might suffer from a syndrome known as insomnia. People who suffer from this complaint may have many illnesses, and many have similar symptoms. Symptoms can vary from tension to pain to always feeling fatigued. Insomnia is a very complex disease to have to live with. It is harsh for both those that suffer from it and their family members. (What is Insomnia? What Causes Insomnia?. (n.d.). Medical News Today: Health News.)

Insomnia, which is Latin for "no sleep," is a common sleep disorder that affects millions of people everywhere around the globe by not allowing them to sleep. Its severity can vary from a couple of days to a couple of months, and is treatable in most cases. Each year, about one-third of all grown-ups suffer from insomnia. Insomnia itself is not a disease; insomnia is a symptom of a weak mental or physical condition of the person. There is not an accurate definition for insomnia, but it could be said to be a person being not able to sleep, having trouble falling sleep, or having a struggle staying asleep. (Type:. (n.d.). Insomnia (Poor Sleep) | Health | Patient.co.uk. Health Information and Advice | Medicines Guide | Patient.co.uk)

 Insomnia comes in many forms which worry people of all ages, most commonly for just a night or two, but sometimes for weeks, months, and even years. Insomnia has many causes. Insomnia is a symptom, much like fever or stomachache. There are three symptoms commonly known to people of insomnia, difficulty falling asleep, falling asleep but difficulty staying asleep with many awakenings, and waking up too early. Difficulty sleeping at night may be related with the sleepiness, anxiety, loss of memory, low concentration, and bad temper; these symptoms may occur during daytime. (Insomnia (Chronic and Acute Insomnia) Causes and Symptoms. (n.d.). WebMD - Better information. Better health.)

Insomnia has three classifications, transient, acute, and chronic. Transient insomnia continues for less than a weak. It could be caused by a disorder, change in sleep environment, or stress and depression.  Acute insomnia is a disorder when you don’t have the ability to consistently sleep well for a period of time less than a month. Insomnia occurs when there is difficulty getting enough sleep or having a poor quality, non-refreshing sleep. One of the symptoms that may occur is laziness which might occur during daytime. Acute insomnia is also known as stress-related insomnia. Chronic insomnia lasts for more than a month. People suffering from this insomnia will feel muscular fatigue or mental fatigue and hallucinations; they will see things in slow motion and moving things will seem to blend together and this might cause double vision.  Chronic insomnia might lead to depression.  An estimated thirty million people suffer from chronic insomnia. (Insomnia: Complications - MayoClinic.com. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic)

Common causes of insomnia are stress, anxiety, depression, medications containing caffeine, eating too much in late evenings. Concerns about life and school work can make your mind active at night, keeping you from sleeping. Stressful events are one of the causes.  Everyday anxiety and nervousness is a cause too. When depressed you might either sleep too much or have trouble sleeping. This is due to a chemical imbalance in your brain that will keep you from relaxing to fall asleep. Many medication drugs may interfere with your sleep because it might have caffeine. Eating too much before bed time is not proper; it is a bad idea. If you eat too much before sleeping you will feel physically uncomfortable and this uncomfortable feeling will keep you awake. (Insomnia: Causes - MayoClinic.com. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic)

Sleep has an equal importance to your health as healthy diet and exercising. People suffering from insomnia have lower quality of life compared to those who sleep well. Complications of insomnia may include lower performance on the job, psychiatric issues, poor immune system function, obesity and high risks of having long-term diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

No matter what’s causing your sleep problems, it’s important to make and have healthy sleep habits.  Untreated insomnia is related to increased illness. There is research demonstrating that people with insomnia have poorer health, suffer depression and have more work absence. There are many approaches to treat insomnia. Relaxation techniques such as yoga maybe helpful to the body which could prepare it to sleep. Exercise in the early morning can be helpful in reducing stress and increasing joy. (Can’t Sleep? Causes, Cures, and Treatments for Insomnia. (n.d.). Helpguide helps you help yourself and others.)

Here are some tips to maintain a healthy sleep and sleep well. Establish a regular bedtime routine and a sleep-wake schedule. Do not eat too much at bedtime. Create a calm dark cool comfortable sleep environment. Consume less caffeine during daytime. Finally avoid late naps during the evening. (Insomnia: Treatments and drugs - MayoClinic.com)

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References:

What is Insomnia? What Causes Insomnia?. (n.d.). Medical News Today: Health News. Retrieved June 3, 2013

Type:. (n.d.). Insomnia (Poor Sleep) | Health | Patient.co.uk. Health Information and Advice | Medicines Guide | Patient.co.uk. Retrieved June 3, 2013

Insomnia (Chronic and Acute Insomnia) Causes and Symptoms. (n.d.). WebMD - Better information. Better health.. Retrieved June 3, 2013

Insomnia: Complications - MayoClinic.com. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved June 3, 2013

Insomnia: Causes - MayoClinic.com. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved June 3, 2013

 Can’t Sleep? Causes, Cures, and Treatments for Insomnia. (n.d.). Helpguide helps you help yourself and others. Retrieved June 3, 2013

Insomnia: Treatments and drugs - MayoClinic.com. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved June 3, 2013

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, father of the gazelle in Arabic, is the capital of the United Arab Emirates. What is the history of Abu Dhabi that makes the capital an attraction to tourists and the modern generation? The emirate of Abu Dhabi is huge in comparison to the other emirates, occupying approximately 87% of the total area of the country. In 1761 a Bedouin tribe named Bani Yas settled on the island of Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi was ruled by the Al Bu Falah tribe; from this tribe originates the Al Nahyan family, the current rulers of Abu Dhabi. The economy of the village relied on fishing and the pearl trade. There was an abundant reliance on agriculture and camel herding. The prosperity of pearl trading didn’t last too long. The business of pearl trade failed which led to poverty throughout the Gulf region. The year 1958 was a monumental turning point in Abu Dhabi's history; the discovery of oil reserves was declared. From 1958 Abu Dhabi witnessed transformational changes. Abu Dhabi was declared as the UAE’s capital on 2nd December 1971.

After the declaration of petroleum a few solid low-rise buildings were established, and the first pavement was done. The production of oil paved the way for a promising future for the capital. But this massive venture needed a strong and responsible leader with the vision to take the emirate on to the next level. That was achieved by Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. When the dream of Sheikh Zayed to announce the formation of the federation of seven emirates under one constitution came true and under his wise leadership, Abu Dhabi turned into one of the most attractive and popular destinations in the world. Less than 50 years ago the entire emirate of Abu Dhabi was a near-empty desert inhabited by Bedouin tribes and small villages. Thanks to the discovery of oil reserves and the successful rule of Sheikh Zayed which totally transformed Abu Dhabi’s fortune. 30 years ago the capital city was short of electricity supply and roads. Now its expanse of highways is full with traffic and the whole city is booming with the process of development that is spectacular. When reading about the growth of Abu Dhabi, you will notice how the city of Abu Dhabi was remarkably modernized into a rich prosperous Arabian city, filled with luxurious estates and buildings that are tall and mirror-glassed. Studying the development of Abu Dhabi would interest any reader because of its dramatic shift from reed and mud-brick huts to the tall skyscrapers you can see today.

 

The capital is prospering up to the present day and is becoming known for its skyline architecture. Abu Dhabi has started from a humble beginning and has become a center of business and tourism. Tourists visiting the capital will discover modern glassy buildings, as well as huge shopping centers, international hotel chains and fancy avenues. Abu Dhabi is home to important financial institutions and business headquarters of many companies and numerous multinational firms. Abu Dhabi has attempted to expand its economy in recent years through investments in financial services and tourism. Like father like son, when Sheikh Zayed passed away his crown prince Sheikh Khalifa was announced president of the UAE. To this day he continues to make the dreams of his father come true. Abu Dhabi has been named the Middle East’s safest city in 2011. Abu Dhabi's nearly crime-free environment and well-organized emergency services will bring you peace of mind and a relaxing stay.Today Abu Dhabi is a magnificent and interesting capital which offers tourists plenty of things to do and see. Abu Dhabi amazingly changed from a desert into an exquisite city. And it hasn't stopped yet.

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Bibliography

"Abu Dhabi." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Apr. 2013. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Dhabi

"History of Abu Dhabi." History of Abu Dhabi. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. from

http://www.abudhabibusiness.co/Background-on-Abu-Dhabi%2Fhistory_of_abu_dhabi.asp

"Abu Dhabi - A Global Capital City." Masdar City. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. from

http://masdarcity.ae/en/79/about-abu-dhabi/

First Reflection

 

Our first practice summary was on desert police patrols. It wasn’t that difficult. Mr. Hedley gave us lots of advice on how to make a good summary. His advice was to look at the title of the passage and understand what the topic of the passage is, then skim it for the main ideas, and look more carefully at the opening and closing paragraphs. Mr. Hedley’s advice was to get rid of any names or quotations.

The second summary we had, the first graded task, was about traffic accidents being the major cause of child death in the UAE. Mr. Hedley’s advice was to have fewer numbers and percentages in the summary, though, to include some official figures. He corrected our summary and we posted it in the blog.

The third summary, the second graded task, was about a pearl diving tour, a new eco tour in waters off Dubai. The pearl diving tour will attempt to recreate the true diving experience for locals and tourists. At first when I was writing the summary I thought I had to write a summary about the history of pearl diving, then I realized that I had to write about the new pearl diving tour. I remembered Mr. Hedley’s advice when he said to look at the title of the passage and understand the subject of the passage.

Tour provides insight into pearl diving

The Arabian Gulf was one of the largest natural diving economies in the world. By early last century, there were more than 1,000 pearling boats along the Trucial Coast employing an estimated 20,000 pearl divers. Pearl diving was still in play in the UAE but faded away as less expensive pearls became commonplace. To reconnect Emiratis and tourists with the once vibrant pearl-diving economy in the Gulf the inaugural public tour abroad a traditional dhow has now been launched officially giving a chance to travel back in time and dive in search for the pearls. The proud tradition of pearl diving in the UAE may be gone but it’s certainly not forgotten. The whole country used to do pearl diving. Pearling was once the financial lifeblood for Emiratis in the past when pearls were used to trade for goods around the world. The local pearl industry collapsed when Far East pearl farmers created the cultured pearl manually. The pearl diving tour will attempt to recreate the authentic diving experience through the offering of traditional diving clothes, fish and rice dishes cooked abroad for lunch and through the sharing of pearl stories from yesteryear.

 

Road crashes main cause of child death in UAE

                                 

Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among infants and are responsible for 63 per cent of deaths among children in the UAE. This percentage is above the global average of child fatalities caused by vehicles. Although this is a major problem in the UAE, only one law has been passed concerning child restraint in vehicles that says children ten years and older sitting in the passenger seat must wear a seat belt. Campaigns are held annually to raise awareness of the importance of child car seats. A very small percentage of child passengers wear seat belts; this has a large impact on the traffic injury and death rate in the UAE. Child car seat restraints can reduce risks by 50-75 per cent. Child safety seats aren’t only designed for infants and toddlers. Today there are car seats made to accommodate children throughout their various stages of growth. People are unaware of how serious injuries and deaths can result from not wearing a seat belt. Campaigns teach parents and children about car seat safety. They have a goal of reducing road deaths and serious injuries. Donated car seats are distributed during workshops and lectures.

Desert horsemen keep the peace

 

As the sun sets over the sandy hills of the mighty Al Awafi desert, a group of horsemen start making their way silently through the dunes in search of troublemakers and outlaws who may have taken refuge in the desert. Each emirate has a horse patrol division to monitor areas outside cities that are hard to reach by car. Not armed just carrying cellphones and walkie-talkies so they can communicate with each other, the horsemen never mix in with people; they stand close to farms and fenced-up campus areas listening for any signs of trouble. Most of the horsemen are from India. They go out in groups of six or eight, then pair off and patrol in different directions into the wide desert. They try to cover as much ground as possible. They patrol regularly throughout the year; each pair of horsemen works a four-hour shift.