Night starts are typically experienced just as you drift off, somewhere between wakefulness and sleep.

You may suddenly have a sensation that you are falling, then awake suddenly. You may also experience muscle contraction, called myoclonic twitch, which can pull you back to wakefulness from the lightest stages of sleep. These events may also be called hypnic or hypnagogic jerks.

There is no clear cause for night starts, and the occurrence is not fully understood. In general, they seldom recur after falling back to sleep. Learn more about this condition and whether treatment is necessary.

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As the holiday season gets into full swing, your stress level is no doubt climbing as well. Whether the stress is from financial concerns, endless travel, a houseful of visitors, or the demands of making the most of your holidays, it can be a lot to handle. And your sleep may suffer.

It is important that you try to maintain your sleep schedule during these busy times. Keeping a regular bedtime as well as waking up at the same time every day will help you to sleep better. When you are better rested, you are also better able to cope with stress.

So don't become overwhelmed by the demands of the season. Instead, be sure to settle in consistently each and every night for your long winter's nap.

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Insomnia relates to difficulties falling or staying asleep. There are many potential treatment options, including the use of medications. Two of the more common prescription medications for insomnia are Ambien and Trazodone.

Learn what Ambien and Trazodone are, including their use in the treatment of insomnia. Find out the indications for use, how they work, who should not use them, what the potential side effects are, and what safety monitoring should occur.

You can use this information to determine if Ambien or Trazodone may be a good treatment option for you.

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In a recent study of cancer patients treated with chemotherapy, sleep disorders such as insomnia are surprisingly common and may become chronic conditions.

Published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the research examined 823 cancer patients and found nearly three in four suffering from a sleep disorder, nearly three times the rate of the general population. Younger patients and those with lung or breast cancers were especially at risk.

The concern is that the sleep problems may lead to fatigue and depression and may adversely affect their long-term cancer survival. Fortunately, insomnia and other sleep problems are very treatable conditions.