Sources of information and advice about insomnia are seemingly everywhere: magazines, websites, and TV health shows. Some of the information is valid, but individual cases are characterized by particular elements that are a vital part of the general picture and must be considered. Following are some of the most important facts about insomnia that may help you improve night sleep.
First and foremost, if you've been prescribed sleeping pills, do not take them for more than three weeks. Such drugs are only a temporary solution for the problem; they treat only the symptom of sleeplessness through a chemical reaction. The root cause of the problem needs to be addressed in order to make a lasting change. Sleeping pills are highly addictive and in some cases will worsen insomnia.
Certain chemicals in the body are responsible for good or bad sleep. Normally, a human growth hormone is secreted during the night that ensures high quality sleep. As we age, there is a decrease in the levels of this particular hormone; thus insomnia cases are more frequent with elderly people. Chronic insomnia has also been associated with low levels of melatonin, a hormone secreted by the pineal gland. Various stress hormones may also play a significant role in sleep patterns, although there are all sorts of contradictory studies on how sleep is influenced by excessive secretion of these hormones.
Sleep is absolutely necessary for the recovery of the organs and the proper functioning of the body. Medical research about insomnia proves that sleeping disorders prevent the proper function of the immune system. Without enough sleep, fatigue and a compromised ability to fight diseases are the results. People who suffer from chronic insomnia are more prone to infections than those who have a normal sleep-wake cycle. The existent facts about sleeping disorders prove that there is a connection between high stress levels and immune system dysfunctions. Solving one problem would definitely imply improvement of the other.
There are certain foods and beverages that may cause insomnia. Those containing caffeine are the first ones to blame for sleepless nights. Facts about insomnia indicate that many people who develop sleeping disorders overuse products that contain caffeine: tea, coffee, soda or energy drinks. Furthermore, the combination of such beverages with alcohol is even more detrimental to the system, inducing a state of hyper-agitation and anxiety that is incompatible with tranquil sleep. In order to improve your night's sleep, it is of vital importance to actually identify and eliminate the behavioral patterns that are triggering the difficulties.
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9 months ago
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