Unusual sleep positions can cause puffy eyes

by Janet Martin


Do you toss and turn in bed during sleep? Are you always on the move when visiting dreamland? Do you shift from one position to another whenever the lights go out?

If you answered "yes" to the above questions, you may be a candidate for puffy eyes that can make you look older than you really are.

Puffy eyes can be caused by many things. Heredity, fluid retention due to changes in weather or hormone levels, and allergies are just a few reasons why people have them. Puffiness can also be a side effect of certain medications, according to Mayo Clinic dermatologist Dr. Lawrence Gibson.

"When we cry, it is often accompanied by swollen eyes. This is due to the fact that our body reacts to emotions and causes more blood to flow through the eyes which leads to swelling. The production of too many emotional tears can strain the eyes leading to puffiness. We can also get puffy eyes after sleeping. This can be caused by too much sodium in the diet that causes water retention and excessive drinking of alcohol," according to EyeCareSource.com.

In some, the reasons are less obvious. Persistent puffiness that is accompanied by pain and swelling in other parts of the body may signal kidney or thyroid problems - serious conditions that need a doctor's attention.

"The skin around the eyes is very thin and is full of blood vessels which make it very sensitive. Usually puffy eyes will go away after a little bit of time or some treatments done at home. However, puffy eyes are also symptoms of other eye conditions that may require examination by an eye care professional. In cases where puffy eyes are severe and persistent or are accompanied by pain, discomfort, blurry vision, or other conditions, a doctor should be contacted about the problem," added EyeCareSource.com.

Fortunately, in the majority of cases, the condition is harmless and temporary. Often it all bogs down to the way you sleep. Whenever you hit the sack, fluid accumulates in your eyes because of the force of gravity. If you stay up late at night and sleep in awkward positions that cause more fluid to accumulate in that area, you may wake one day with swollen or puffy eyes.

To avoid this, here are some practical tips from Gibson:

● Raise the head of your bed at night. This helps prevent fluids from accumulating around your eyes as you sleep.

● While sitting up, apply a cool tap water compress to the skin under your eyes for a few minutes. You can also use chilled cucumber slices, a refrigerated gel mask or chilled, damp tea bags.

Some say that hemorrhoid cream applied under the eyes can reduce puffiness. However, Gibson warned that this is not supported by scientific evidence. He added that the ingredients in hemorrhoid cream may irritate the skin around your eyes.

To be on the safe side, use Eyevive instead. This revolutionary eye cream contains special ingredients that can reduce if not totally eliminate puffiness, dark circles under the eyes, fine lines and wrinkles to give you a fresher, more vibrant, and smoother look. Check out http://www.eyevive.com for details.

About the Author
Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine. http://www.thearticleinsiders.com.