Sleep monitor subtracts restless minutes

DEAR DR. ROACH »

In one of your columns, someone asked if it was helpful to rest during the night, and how did that compare if one is unable to sleep.

You said just resting was not helpful, that one really needed sleep. What about “restless” minutes as recorded by a fitness watch?

Restless minutes are separated from awake minutes, so I am referring to the times when I’m moving but still asleep.

I usually have no trouble sleeping and wake up on my own within six hours, but my fitness watch subtracts 30-45 restless minutes from time slept. Is that bad?

— A.T.

DEAR READER »

“Restless sleep” isn’t a term used by sleep experts, and I am not sure what your sleep device is registering. It could be that you are indeed asleep and moving around — this might be normal but could also be restless leg syndrome. You may also be awake, or nearly awake, for a short time and not remember it — this can be an issue in people with obstructive sleep apnea.

If you feel like you sleep well, and you aren’t sleepy during the day, odds are you are sleeping just fine.

I’m a healthy 32-year-old woman. I went into the emergency room last week

DEAR DR. ROACH »

with a 103.1 fever caused by a urinary tract infection. The doctor took a CT scan of my abdomen and found fecaliths. I have some constipation, but nothing extreme. I was drinking prune juice to help it pass. I don’t want this to lead into something bigger.

— D.J.

DEAR READER » “Fecalith” comes from Latin and Greek roots meaning hardened or stone-like feces. These occur in people with slower-than-normal stool passage time. The cause could be intestinal disease, lack of fiber or chronic dehydration.

This is often associated with a few bowel movements, such as three per week or fewer. Low thyroid hormone is a potential cause of slow intestinal movement. A fecalith can block the appendix, leading to acute appendicitis.

Since these were found incidentally, and you are reporting no symptoms from them, it’s not necessarily something you need to worry about.

However, you can help keep your intestines healthy by exercising, getting plenty of fiber (from vegetables and whole grains or from supplements), and drinking plenty of water. Fiber can cause bloating, so make dietary changes gradually. Prunes are a good choice because they contain not only fiber but also naturally occurring substances that help to promote intestinal movement.