Pre-Sleep Routine to Fight Insomnia

Do you suffer from the type of Insomnia that comes about as a result of subscribing to an irregular sleep schedule?

This type of sleeplessness is called conditioned insomnia because the brain allows us to form habits if we consistently do something over time even if we are not conscious of it. Whatever we repeatedly do overtime becomes so deeply engraved in our brains that we simply repeat the activities without so much as giving it a second thought. So if you have conditioned insomnia you will have to rewire your brain.

Do you dread bedtime?

If conditioned insomnia is an issue for you then you would have made a habit of sending negative messages about sleep to your brain. It is likely that you do a bit of negative self talk upon approaching your bed and you may often believe that you will not have a restful sleep and you dread the fatigue that is likely to affect you . This is known as “negative associations.”

Can you change this?

This can definitely be changed and that negative pre -bedtime ritual can be transformed into something more positive and conducive to sleep.

Negative Meets Positive; Retraining Your Brain

Change, of course, will not be immediate but over a fourteen day period you should make a conscious effort to think positive and uplifting thoughts. Avoid that negative monologue and do something soothing and relaxing about 30-45 minutes before bedtime. Find something that will relax you and avoid anything that could possibly spoil your mood.It is best to do that or a similar activity at around the same time every night but do not make it into an obsession. It can include simple tasks as washing the dishes, soaking in a bathtub or singing a soothing lullaby. It will be better if you were to establish a routine involving soothing music, rain sounds, therapeutic oils or just about anything of this kind to help you sleep. It doesn’t really matter what activity you choose, what matters is how routinely you do it. So do keep at it .

Things You Can Try:

Listening to soothing song

Listening to white noise

Enjoy soaking in a bathtub

A massage will work wonders and you may also choose to give one.

Try reading something positive (not too intense)

Try scented candles and therapeutic oils and fragrances

Try meditation

Do breathing exercises

Unwind and relax

Try visualization techniques

Here are a few relaxation tips:

Lie on your bed. Place a small pillow under your legs to relax your lower body

Hold your breath on the count of six and place your hand beneath your diaphragm to feel it expand

Hold your breath for four counts

Exhale ( either softly or loudly depending on what you prefer) and allow your body to completely relax.

Do this for at least 3-4 times

Conditioned insomnia is a matter of negative reinforcements and if you can flip the switch to positive in your brain then you will be well on your way to sleeping through the night and that of course is a wholesome thought!

Herbal Insomnia Treatment

Insomnia is a disorder that currently affects millions of people worldwide. It is defined by a person’s inability to sleep or maintain a full night’s sleep. We need at least 8 hours of sleep and insomnia hinders our body’s need to rest which leaves us drained both physically and mentally. There are several remedies available for those who are having some form of sleep disorder. Natural herbal remedies are also available to help ease our mind to rest. Below are some of the most well-known herbal remedies for insomnia.

Kava-Kava

This herbal remedy that is primarily used in treating anxiety has since been discovered to have some benefits to people suffering from insomnia as well. Studies conducted in 2005 showed that people who took at least 300mg of Kava-Kava experienced better quality sleep.

Kava-Kava extract supplements are ideally taken an hour or so before bedtime. It is also important to note that this drug should not be taken by people who are planning to drive or operate machinery as it can cause drowsiness. People who have liver problems should also refrain from taking this medication as it can cause adverse side effects.

Chamomile

This is probably one of the most popular herbal remedy when it comes to treating stress and calming the body. This is a widely used herbal remedy for treating insomnia for its relaxing capabilities. Drinking chamomile tea before bedtime is proven to help individuals get a more comfortable sleep. In order to make an all natural chamomile tea you must take one teaspoon of dried chamomile leaves and put them inside one cup of boiling water for 15 minutes, add some sweeteners like honey if you wish for added flavor. Chamomile tea bags are also available in stores so be sure to take advantage of this natural remedy for your sleeping disorder.

Valerian

Valerian is a type of herb that is well-known for its ability to aid people with insomnia sleep faster and longer. Valerian extracts are often used before bedtime and has been proven to increase sleep quality of the people who ingest it. While further studies are still needed to determine its overall effectiveness in helping treat insomnia, current data shows promising results. Recommended dosage of this herbal medicine is at 200 to 400mg 30 minutes before sleep.

Nutmeg

This herb is believed to have mild sedative properties which will undoubtedly benefit people who are suffering from sleep disorders. This herb is a native in Indonesia and has been used in that region as an herbal remedy for centuries. One capsule 5 hours before bedtime is the recommended dosage and it is actually advisable that you grind fresh nutmeg for best results as the dried variety is not as effective. You can mix freshly grounded nutmeg to your juice of choice for flavoring.

Insomnia is a stressful disorder that should not be taken lightly. Lack of sleep can lead to several other health ailments and must be treated as soon as possible. These herbal remedies are known to help but it is important that you first consult your doctor before trying any sort of medication whether it is natural or not.

Adrenal Fatigue And Insomnia

Adrenal Fatigue – A Common and Curable Source of Insomnia

Due to today’s fast paced lifestyle and busy schedules, more and more people are developing some form of sleeping disorder. While there are over the counter medications readily available for those who are suffering some insomnia taking these drugs may cause some negative side effects.

Dangers of Dependency to Sleeping Medications

It is important for people to understand that these sleeping pills are merely short term solutions and it will require something drastic to truly cure insomnia. Sleeping medications are prone to side effects and constant use will make the individual heavily dependent on the drug, in short, sleeping pills are habit forming. There is also the fact that the body will eventually gain some form of immunity from the drug making it ineffective in the long run. In order to treat insomnia it is vital to first know what the cause of the sleep disorder is. By finding out the root of the problem we would be able to develop a fool-proof plan to treat insomnia. Based on cases of insomnia there is an underlying connection between the sleep disorder and blood sugar imbalances, specifically the body’s adrenal function.

Adrenal hyper function will cause an individual difficulty in sleeping due to the higher cortisol production. Cortisol helps in triggering adrenaline and while that is helpful on certain occasions it is dangerous when produced often and at a high rate.

Insomnia Caused by Adrenal Fatigue

Adrenal fatigue on the other hand means that you can still pretty much fall asleep but staying asleep for the recommended duration to recharge the body is a different story. This can cause the body to have difficulty maintaining sleep. If left unchecked, adrenal fatigue will lead down to insomnia.

Our body needs at least 8 to 10 hours of sleep to fully recharge. During this period cortisol helps keep the body’s blood sugar at a balanced rate as you sleep. The problem is if the body fails to produce cortisol the body will shift to another hormone called epinephrine which will jump start your body leaving you wide awake in the middle of the night.

This can be a huge problem as these sorts of conditions usually occur quite often. Simply put, your body will actively prevent you from going to sleep during a certain point at night or early morning which in turn leaves you drowsy throughout the day. Adrenal fatigue can drive your sleep pattern into disarray which will mostly develop into a type of insomnia in the long run.

A Proper Mind Set is Needed to Treat Insomnia

As stated earlier, there are several factors that should be looked at in order to help determine the appropriate response to sleep disorder. There is no single magic cure all for insomnia, in order to treat this condition we must have a comprehensive strategy for our lifestyle, eating habits as well as a positive outlook in life.

In conclusion, if you consult a doctor regarding your insomnia and they immediately prescribed you with sleeping medications it is recommended you take a second opinion. For insomnia caused by adrenal fatigue, simply throwing in supplements or medication at it will not work. Every aspect of your sleeping disorder must be looked at and specific questions about your daily lifestyle must be scrutinized. The first step in stopping insomnia is asking the right questions so that you will get the right answers.

Menopause and Insomnia

A Connection between Menopause and Insomnia

One of the most common side effects encountered when women reaches their menopausal stage is insomnia. This is an inevitable condition that all women will have to go through in their life. However, that is not to say that they just let it run its course and suffer a great deal of inconvenience from it. In fact, there are several methods women can do to help treat or at the very least, lessen the blow of menopause insomnia. Methods such as diet, proper medication and adjusting sleeping habits are just a few ways to help keep menopause insomnia at bay.

There are several types of insomnia and it is important that you differentiate one from the other so that you will be able to apply the proper treatment and changes. Here are the key types of insomnia that a person can suffer from:

Transient Insomnia – These are the most common types of insomnia and have been experienced by 58% of adults worldwide. This usually only lasts about a week or so and is caused by stress or jet lag to name a few.
Acute Insomnia – This is defined when the condition persist for over a month.

Insomnia also has two levels:

Primary Level Insomnia – This can be attributed to reasons that range between physical, environmental or social.
Secondary Level Insomnia – This is categorized if reason for the insomnia is caused by a current health condition.

In all cases of insomnia, medication is commonly prescribed by a doctor to help treat the condition.

The body has an internal clock called circadian rhythm. This helps our body subconsciously normalize our waking and sleeping time to that of the day and night cycle. However, we can also disrupt our circadian rhythm unintentionally. Jet lag can distort our internal clock and night shift working hours can also lend to the disruption of our internal clock and cause insomnia. Stress and pain or discomfort can also lead to insomnia as well as lack of physical exercise, dehydration and taking stimulants.

Menopause Insomnia on the other hand is caused by hormonal changes in the woman’s body. Doctors can give you a prescription to help ease these hormonal imbalances. As women grow older their estrogen levels decrease. This in turn means a lower level of serotonin which is a hormone produced by the brain to regulate sleep. Lower production of serotonin means a less comfortable sleep. There are natural ways to help decrease the effects of menopause insomnia. One of these tried and true methods is by shifting to a healthy lifestyle. For example, by conducting a half hour exercise in the afternoon your muscle will feel more relaxed once evening comes. A simple change in your diet can also help. Avoiding caffeinated drinks, chocolates, cigarettes and sugar based meals at least 4 hours before sleep will help ready your body for a good night’s rest. Additional changes to your bedtime habit can also help push away insomnia. Try drinking a warm glass of milk or chamomile tea before going to bed. This can further help you relax your nerves. For best results, drink a glass of warm milk alongside a small amount of carbohydrates.

When push comes to shove and simple lifestyle changes just don’t cut it, doctors can prescribe you with medications to help you sleep. Whatever option you choose to help treat menopause insomnia, it is essential that you follow your doctor’s instruction to the letter. Menopause insomnia is a common condition that women will have to go through, but by readying your body early and having a healthy lifestyle you can easily lessen the impact of this condition significantly.

Can Feng Shui Cure Your Insomnia?

Feng Shui – An Alternative Treatment for Insomnia?

Is it possible for Feng Shui to actually help treating your insomnia? What is Feng Shui? Well, if you live under a rock let me enlighten you about this practice. Feng Shui centers on developing a well balanced flow of Chi/Ki (life force) within your home by rearranging furniture. Practitioners believe that Feng Shui can help elevate your luck and even help residents stay healthy. It has been a very popular practice around the world and now it has also found its niche when it comes to being an alternative remedy for insomnia.

A good night’s sleep is necessary as it can recharge your body and mind for the next day. Insomnia obstructs what should be a relaxing rest and warps it into a tiring and mind numbing experience that will leave you drained. If you or someone you know is suffering from insomnia then you might want to try Feng Shui. It is free and easy to do, so what have you got to lose?

Here is a list of tips that might help you treat your insomnia by using Feng Shui:

One of the most popular practices done by those who perform Feng Shui in their abode is to ensure that your bed is not positioned directly at the door with your head or feet pointing outside your room. This is a big no-no in Feng Shui as it is believed that this might drain your energy while asleep.
Another tip when it comes to helping treat insomnia with Feng Shui is by avoiding sleeping under your window. In Feng Shui, sleeping under a window can cause your energy to get drained while you sleep. In the instance that you cannot work around this issue, an alternative is to hang a curtain on the window.
It is also advisable that your bedroom should not have any images/pictures that show water. A picture of a lake or ocean in your bedroom for example is said to cause bad luck.
It is also recommended by Feng Shui experts that you remove any sharp objects inside your bedroom. Alternatively, you can cover furniture that has pointy edges with a piece of cloth or placing a pot of flora to cover of the said object or furniture to help block the negative energy.

You basically have nothing to lose by trying out this simple Feng Shui tips. However, if you go in already thinking negatively about this practice then it is most likely that it will not work. It is vital to have a positive mindset to relieve stress. Maybe that is the key ingredient in Feng Shui, by organizing objects and furniture within your home you will inadvertently help calm your nerves and help you relax.

Why not tryout these tips for a moment and determine how it works out? Sometimes, having difficulty sleeping is caused by stress and by relieving yourself of these negative thoughts, you can help yourself relax better. That is what Feng Shui is all about, letting positive energy come in to your life and driving negative energy out.

What Causes Insomnia?

In order to determine the underlying causes of insomnia one has to examine an individual’s lifestyle. It is important to pinpoint what general patterns you subscribe to that may be causing you to be up at nights. Yes there is indeed a pattern so let’s check: What time do you generally sleep? What is your wake up time? What activities do you engage in before you sleep? What is your diet like and do you exercise?

An Irregular Sleep Schedule

I am aware that you are more than likely an adult and it is not my place to give you a lecture of how to live your life, but what I can tell you is that one of the major causes of insomnia is not having a consistent sleep pattern or regime. However, since you are intent on ending the grueling task of tossing and turning when you really should be sleeping at night then you should consider retiring at a specific time and you should also have endeavor to get out of bed at a specific time on a daily basis as well.This is really what a regular sleep schedule is and I will hereafter refer to this as “Insomnia-Free 101″ because this sets the framework for good quality sleep and is endorsed by renowned sleep experts.

An Ineffective or Non-Existent Exercise Regime

It is not simply the act of not exercising that results in insomnia ( even though it is also a contributor) but when you choose to exercise and the type of exercise may also affect your sleep pattern. It is recommended that you do light exercises such as going for walks preferably in the morning or about an half an hour or more before bed.

Mental Gymnastics Before Bed

What you do immediately before you sleep is likely to have a direct impact on the quality of your sleep. It is necessary to unwind from all the day’s activities before you climb under those covers. Are you engaged in high energy activities before bed? Do you spend time watching action packed movies? Do you engage online activities? Are you involved in conflicts or activities that are mentally stimulating? Well for some people sleep comes naturally but I’m presuming that if you are reading this, then chances are you fall outside of the confines and you should really consider making these changes.

Dietary Requirements

Sure there are tons of diets for different things but is there a diet for insomniacs? Some diets are ruthless and are rightly feared but simply what you need in this case is to go for a balance meal. Limit or eliminate caffeine, sodas and chocolate and reduce your sugar, sugar substitutes and sodium intake.

So is your behavioral pattern contributing to your insomnia? It just might be but it can be corrected if you follow a consistent sleep schedule, exercise at an appropriate time and maintain a healthy diet. This may be your ticket to sleep land and it would be wise to consider it. So good luck on your journey and until then good night.

Different Types of Insomnia

Insomnia Cure Guide: Insomnia Types

Insomnia is a condition that cannot be simply diagnosed by the lack or difficulty of sleeping only. This condition is more complex than that and can be caused by several reasons and will affect each individual differently. In fact, insomnia is separated by a number of types and all of which have different causes and effects.

Sleep Onset Insomnia – This is caused by a person’s inability to sleep. Reasons for this type of insomnia could be physical or mental. Sometimes the mind has difficulty trying to relax due to stress, this unable the person to sleep as their thoughts will be plagued by distress. Another reason revolves around the body’s internal clock which is disrupted with its day and night cycle. This is most commonly found in adolescents to young adults as their hormones start to change.
Sleep Maintenance Insomnia – This is classified as having difficulty maintaining sleep for long durations. This form of insomnia is common with the elderly, probably due to the decreased melatonin production of the brain. People who suffer from this form of insomnia can fall asleep without problem but will most likely find themselves awake in a matter of hours. This causes some very unsatisfactory sleep as the body is never able to truly recharge its energy.
Early Awakening – This is a more serious type of insomnia. People with this type will mostly likely have no trouble sleeping but will always find themselves at a state of restlessness during the early mornings. This is a type that is most common with people who are also experiencing depression.

Kinds of Insomnia

The sleep disorder known as insomnia is not an ailment but is a condition that is defined by several symptoms all revolving around the lack or difficulty of sleeping. Insomnia can be caused by several factors and listed below are some forms of insomnia that is quite common worldwide.

Transient Insomnia – is widespread type of insomnia and is experienced by almost 60% of adults during certain points of their lives. This insomnia is seen as difficulty of sleeping that can last up to a week and will mostly likely disappear afterwards. This can be caused by stress, jet lag and other factors. It can be treated using short term sleeping medications, natural remedies and relaxation methods. What is important for those who are suffering from Transient Insomnia is to ensure that it will not develop into a more serious type by changing some habits that may have caused this in the first place.
Short Term Insomnia – This type of insomnia commonly last between 1 to 3 weeks. This type is most commonly caused by stress with treatments focusing on lifestyle changes and eating habits. It is important to pinpoint the cause of short term insomnia and make the proper adjustments to help treat this condition.
Chronic Insomnia – A severe form of insomnia is the Chronic Insomnia. This is categorized by a person’s inability to sleep that can last up to 3 weeks or more. Those who suffer from this type of insomnia is advised to consult doctors as it can cause a domino effect that will cascade into more serious health problems. Drugs are often used to help stave off insomnia temporarily but it can cause side effects and might be habit forming as well. Because of this, doctors recommend using all natural home remedies instead like adjusting lifestyle/bed time habits and relaxation techniques and using drugs only when absolutely necessary.
Mental Illness Insomnia – This type of insomnia is a long lasting condition that is usually caused by mental illnesses. Mental illness or conditions that are usually connected to this type of insomnia are manic depressive disorder and schizophrenia. This is treated with the help of a doctors as it involves the use of various types of medications.
Fatal Familial Insomnia – One of the most dangerous types of insomnia is fortunately quite rare. This is actually a genetic condition passed down and is caused by a malformed protein in the genes. There is a 50-50 chance of passing this down to the child if one of the parents has this condition.

Symptoms will usually start appearing at around the age of 50 and can be fatal when left uncheck. This type will slowly cause the individual inability to sleep to the point that it will be impossible for them to actually have one. This is a fatal type of insomnia that is affecting at least 28 families worldwide.

These are the 5 common types of insomnia. This is a condition that must not be taken likely as it can cause even more health problems when left unchecked.

Does Melatonin Really Treat Insomnia?

Is Melatonin the Key to Treat Insomnia?

Most people will have a bout of sleep trouble every now and again. But the same could not be said to several people who have difficulty sleeping or sleeping for any amount of time every night. These people have a condition called insomnia wherein they are unable to get the right amount or any sleep at all. It is estimated that 60 million citizens of the U.S. has some trouble sleeping.

Sleep aid medications are readily available to the public to help them get some well deserved sleep but these solutions are mostly short term and others will even include some unwanted side effects. Fortunately, there might be another option that is just as effective if not safer to use.

Using Sleeping Medications and their Side Effects

Sleeping pills are usually prescribed by doctors mainly for those suffering from short term sleeping troubles. Doctors will prescribe drugs with benzodiazepines and while this can actually help an individual get some shut eye it is not a permanent treatment for insomnia. There are easily acquirable medications available but these are also not the answer to insomnia. These over the counter sleep aids can and will not be as effective within a couple of weeks as the body builds up immunity from the drug. Another issue with over the counter sleeping pills is that they can be habit forming and stopping the use of the medication can cause some kind of withdrawal syndrome which will make their insomnia worse.

Melatonin Supplement as an Alternative Treatment for Insomnia

First of all, what is melatonin? Melatonin is a naturally produced hormone within the brain, more specifically in the pineal gland. Researchers are still pretty much in the dark when it comes to any information about this hormone but they have connected it with sleep.

Studies have shown that during day time melatonin levels in the brain are quite low compared to night time. They have deduced that melatonin levels are connected to our sleep and wake cycle. This is why most doctors believe that melatonin supplements are safe and can help treat insomnia naturally.

While Melatonin is considered relatively safe, there are still some health precautions that should be kept in mind before trying out any melatonin supplement products.

Pregnant women, children and people under some form of medication or at a high enough blood pressure level should refrain from using melatonin supplements.
Melatonin may cause some negative side effects for people who have depression, seizures and diabetes to the point where it might worsen these already present conditions.
It is imperative that individuals do not take melatonin with an exceptional dose of sleeping medications as it can be fatal.

Melatonin might also have some unwanted reaction with following medications:

Medicines that can slow blood clotting.
Fluvoxamine
Immunisuppresants
Birth Control Pills

How effective is a Melatonin Supplement to Cure Insomnia?

In terms of its actual effectiveness in combating insomnia, melatonin currently has a couple of tests and researches that helps back up its claims. These tests that were conducted in 2005, while small in scale and not as conclusive, showed that individuals who took melatonin were able to sleep 4 minutes faster than normal and have increased their sleep quality and duration by 3%. At the moment, melatonin supplements will have a bigger impact for the elderly. Melatonin productivity decreases as a person ages and is the cause for many sleep disorders in the elderly. By giving them the right amount of melatonin supplements daily, researcher believes that those suffering from sleep disorders due to old age will be able to sleep better at night.

Melatonin Supplement Conclusion

Melatonin is derived from natural hormones that our brain produces and as such, is believed to be non-habit forming. It appears to be effective based on the short term tests that was conducted but long term benefits are yet to be seen but is promising to say the least. Dosage of melatonin varies from person to person but it is recommended that it is started at 0.3 milligrams. For now, melatonin is showing great promise as an all natural remedy for insomnia.

Treating Insomnia With Acupuncture

Acupuncture is now being hailed a viable alternative to conventional medicine. Acupuncture involves needles, fortunately however, it is not a painful ordeal and the benefits are tremendous. The role of Acupuncture in treating insomnia can be traced back to ancient times and probably has its origin in China. The Chinese however, have managed to perfect it even further, largely drawing from ancient Chinese Medical practices to strengthen benefits.

In order to understand the nature of acupuncture, you must comprehend the concept of “qi” which really means life force or life energy. Qi travels through the body via what is considered “meridians.” You are diagnosed as being healthy if the “qi” flows unobstructed. Wherever there is blockage it will manifest itself as either a condition or a disease. Acupuncture remedies this by freeing the “meridians” and removing the blockage. This is achieved by sticking very small and slender needles into the body. It is believed that there are 2000 “meridians” points in the body and insomnia may account for twelve or more.

Acupuncture should be professionally done

This is a holistic alternative method that takes your general medical history into account. If you are suffering from insomnia, it is important to determine the type of insomnia, your sleep schedule or lack thereof, your overall mental and physical health. Be prepared to have your tongue checked ( since it can be used as an indicator of your overall health) and your overall dietary practices will also come under scrutiny.

You may not be fully able to relate to the philosophy behind acupuncture but I would recommend that you try it because Western medicine tend to treat the symptoms (focuses on releasing happy hormones in the case of insomnia) but acupuncture tries to determine the root cause and this really is something remarkable and it is a practice we should consider adopting.

Acupuncture; An Insider’s View

Many people who have experienced acupuncture, attest to feeling a sense of relief at the initial stage. In fact must people report a unprecedented and inexplicable sense of peace. There is usually a flood of warmth in the affected areas and this really does indicate that acupuncture has some level of effectiveness and it would be in your best interest to try it in the treatment of insomnia.

Is acupuncture for you?

Acupuncture may be used to treat most types of insomnia but if you suffer from sleep anxiety then you will need another type of treatment but it is a safe bet for all others.

Finding a Good Acupuncturist

Whether or not you find an acupuncturist within a reasonable time frame depends on where you live. The best way to go would be by referral from someone you know and whom you trust. Another way would be to ask someone in the medical field; a physician, a physiotherapist etc. You may also browse online and sites such as Acupuncture Today, American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine are good places to begin. Lastly you may simply use the telephone directory and research that person’s credibility. It is worth a try!

The Risks of Sleeping Pills

Sleeping pills are legitimate medications for helping people with insomnia get a good night’s sleep. However, while these sleeping aids are helpful for treating insomnia some people seem to forget that there are also risks in using these types of medication. It is important for those who suffer from insomnia to know the proper use of sleeping pills in order to prevent side effects and dangers that may arise from misuse of the said medication. Before turning to sleeping pills here are some of the risks you are opening yourself to in order to better educate you about the proper use and dosage of this medication.

The Body Will Build Up Tolerance over Time

This is a pretty common knowledge for those who have some inkling on how medications and human bodies work. Your body will be able to build up its immunity from any drug once you have taken it for a long enough time. This means that while it may have worked perfectly for you at the beginning, a week or month or so of continuously depending on this medication will boost your body’s immunity to the drug which may force you to take higher dosages. This in turn will open you up to other risks such as overdosing from the medication which can lead to difficulty in breathing while asleep which could be fatal.

Drowsiness

Studies have revealed that certain types of sleeping pills are strong enough that traces of the sleeping medication is still present within the body in the morning. This is a huge cause of concern especially to individuals who need to work as it can cause drowsiness and may hinder alertness and lower your reflexes. This is the reason why the FDA has required all medicine manufacturers to reduce the recommended dosage for sleeping pills. It is now advised to use sleeping medications only if you can afford at least 7 hours of sleep.

Sleepwalking and Loss of Memory

Some of the side effects that can arise from taking sleeping pills are sleepwalking and memory loss. In some cases, people who are taking sleeping pills also report some erratic behaviors. While not a widespread side effect of taking sleeping pills, it should still be noted as these can be rather dangerous and if you or anyone you know are having these side effects it is best to consult the doctor immediately.

Instability and Vertigo

There are cases when those who are taking sleeping aids will have problems with their balance and will have a higher chance of falling down or slipping. This can also be attributed to drowsiness but at a more serious scale is the body’s own ability to sense its center of gravity is severely dulled by the drug. This can cause injuries and accidents so always follow proper dosage and drinking schedule.

Known to Cause Cancer and Death

Current medical studies have discovered a connection between the chances of developing cancer and sleeping pills. A study that was published in 2012 showed that there is indeed a connection between sleeping medications and cancer development as studies pointed out that most cancer patients used sleeping pills sometime in their life. While these results are alarming it does not guarantee that sleeping pills will cause cancer, it is just that there will be a higher chance of developing the ailment if you use sleeping medications for prolonged period. Studies have also revealed that lifestyle changes and a more positive frame of mind can be just as effective in curing insomnia as sleeping aids.

Withdrawal Syndromes

Taking sleeping pills can cause the individual to become dependent on the drug and may have a hard time of stopping their use and dependency to it. There are cases wherein several individuals experience what is called a “rebound insomnia.” Rebound Insomnia is a condition where the individual feels as if their insomnia has gotten worse after stopping medication. If you wish to stop the use of sleeping pills then consult your doctor and plan a step by step strategy that will ease you through the process. Rather than abruptly stopping sleeping pill use or going cold turkey, it is actually easier on the body if you lower the dosage until you finally get it out of your system naturally over time.