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Solutions for Sleeplessness

Occasional Sleeplessness | Help for Seniors | Light Sleepers

Nearly eight in 10 married couples say their partner has a sleep problem, like snoring, insomnia, or incessant tossing and turning. Twenty five percent say sleep difficulties force their mate into separate sleeping quarters. More than 20% say they're too sleepy for sex.

Despite growing public awareness of sleep disorders, there are still many who don't understand how sleep problems can cause medical conditions. "They think sleep problems are something you just put up with," says Lawrence Epstein, MD, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

But don't make the mistake of thinking that it's no big deal. The next time you are sitting in traffic, look around at the nearest five cars and know that one of them has a sleep-deprived driver behind the wheel. Studies have shown that people who are tired perform no better than someone who is intoxicated.

A new report released this year by the Institute of Medicine states that millions of people have chronic sleep disorders, such as insomnia, sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome. Millions more are affected by occasional lack of sleep. Fatigue from lack of sleep is estimated to cost billions in lost productivity, work-related mishaps, and motor vehicle accidents.

A growing list of health risks has been documented in recent studies, too. Heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity have all been linked with chronic sleep loss.

A good laugh and a long sleep
are the best cures in the doctor's book. ~Irish Proverb

Sleep is not a luxury, it's a necessity. Deep restful sleep is just as important for overall health as diet and exercise. Very few people manage effectively on less than 8 hours a night. If you're averaging only four hours a night, your brain reacts as though you haven't slept at all for three consecutive nights.

The Good News: Sleeplessness is Not a Disease

Despite what advertisements for prescription sleep aids tell you, these conditions are not diseases. In fact, often they are symptoms of chemical depletion caused by an over-stressed body and brain. Those depleted brain chemicals can be restored with natural solutions that may help you with sleep problems, depending on the underlying causes. Some alternative approaches are effective in treating insomnia caused by anxiety or emotional stress.


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