Sleepless in NY
On most nights, I get into
bed and before I can reach over to hit the lights, I am asleep! Even the sound
of the football game that my husband is watching does not disturb my REM’s. There
are other nights where I toss and turn and can’t wait for the sun to rise! I
don’t know a single person who hasn’t had “sleep issues”.
So, what do they do to catch
their z’s?
Recently I have been hearing
more men and women talking about taking melatonin.
What is this magic pill?
Melatonin is a hormone that
helps you fall asleep. It is naturally produced in your brain. It tells your
body that it’s nighttime and it’s time to go to bed. It is a “natural,
non-addicting hormone supplement that assists with sleep”. After having
difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep, many people take this hormone in
order to get a good night’s sleep.
However, many may mistake its power for that
of a sleeping pill and feel compelled to take more for better sleep. However,
at the wrong dosage, melatonin may actually destroy your sleep cycle. Too much
melatonin at one time may also cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, or
irritability.
So, when should you use melatonin? It
can be beneficial for those who know they will be up late for a few nights in a
row and know they will have trouble getting back to their normal sleep
schedule. It also works well for jetlag.
You should not taking
melatonin if you have already taken it earlier that evening, because
it is so powerful, too much melatonin may actually disrupt your sleeping
pattern, which may lead to your waking up in the middle of the night. Some
people complain of a “melatonin hangover,” which may lead to them feeling even
more groggy and unrested! This happens because any residual melatonin in your
system in the morning will make your body think it’s still nighttime – and it
will be even harder to wake up.
You shouldn’t take melatonin if you can’t sleep because if issues like stress,
depression, or anxiety. It may not work in those cases because the problem
doesn’t lie with the body’s ability to make its own melatonin. Practicing ways
to relax your muscles to calm your body and distract your brain will work to
help you fall asleep without the extra aid.
If
you find yourself “needing” the hormone for any prolonged length of time, it
may be “time” to look at the root cause of your sleep disturbances. It also
never hurts to start with changing your lifestyle in order to get better sleep
before popping a powerful hormone supplement.
For
more information, contact me at Rachel@livehealthynyc.com
