Sleeplessness

If you have trouble sleeping, you’re not alone.

As many as one in three Canadians suffer from insomnia.

Insomnia can affect anyone.

However, the following make insomnia more likely:

• Anxious thoughts, for instance about some bad news or a difficult task the following day. Using cannabis can help relieve anxious feelings. If this interests you, it might be worth reading this guide to buying cannabis.
• Shift work or frequent travelling, where the internal body clock is constantly being re-set.
• Inadequate sleep environment, such as a bedroom that is too hot or too noisy, or an irregular bedtime routine.
• Unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, too much caffeine and too little exercise.
• Discomfort due to pregnancy or menstruation.
• Physical illnesses, especially those that cause pain or discomfort, including arthritis, overactivity of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), asthma, cystitis, allergies and an enlarged prostate with nocturnal urinary symptoms.
• Psychiatric illness, such as anxiety or depression. Excessive need for sleep or early waking are classic symptoms of depression.
• Drugs such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs and some illicit drugs can cause insomnia, as can the withdrawal symptoms of some sleep medications.
• Age. The elderly are particularly prone to insomnia because they spend less time in slow wave or deep sleep. A 60-year-old will have a harder time falling asleep and can awaken more than twice as often as a young person at night.
• Specific medical problems that are directly connected to sleep functioning.
• Restless leg syndrome (RLS) – an irresistible urge to move the legs to relieve disagreeable leg sensations.
• Sleep apnea – Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when an individual stops breathing for 10 seconds or longer during sleep. Central sleep apnea is caused by problems with the mechanisms that control breathing and can be life-threatening. Using a dental night guard can be an effective way of dealing with sleep apnea and may be crucial for anyone suffering from the condition.

Sleeplessness, or insomnia, is the inability to sleep satisfactorily. People with insomnia may have trouble falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, wake too early or simply feel unrefreshed in the morning. With this being said, it then comes as no surprise to find that the use of products such as og shark (medical marijuana) is used to help manage the symptoms of insomnia, in the hopes of getting a good night’s sleep. No one should have to go through this every night, as we all know how important sleep is.
They may also complain of daytime irritability and fatigue, and problems coping. Some people mistakenly believe that they have insomnia because they sleep less than a full 8 hours. However sleep needs vary widely: some people need just 4 hours a night, others 9 or 10.

Here are a few ‘Natural’ Remedies:

There are some effective insomnia natural remedies to help regulate sleep patterns. One insomnia home remedy has to do with the benefits of thiamine and vitamin B. These two food elements promote strong and healthy nerves and help the body relax and prepare for natural sleep. Lettuce is also known to contain lectucarium, a sleep inducing substance that has been likened to the sedative qualities of opium without the accompanying excitement. One tablespoon of lettuce seeds can be boiled in half a liter of water until it’s reduced by one third. Sleeplessness can also be alleviated by a tea made from aniseed. A teaspoon of aniseed can be boiled in about twelve ounces of water and allowed to simmer for fifteen minutes. It should be strained before drunk and can be sweetened with honey or milk. Herbal Remedies for Insomnia in Menopause Herbal supplements are some of the most prominent herbal remedy insomnia treatments used. They are easy to follow regimens that can treat a hormonal imbalance at its source. There are two types of herbs that can be used: phytoestrogenic and non-estrogenic. Phytoestrogenic herbs contain plant estrogen components. Herbs such as this initially treat the imbalance by adding these plant based estrogens to the body. An example would be black cohosh. The downside in using these types of herbs is that the body begins to rely on them too much as sources of estrogen and stops producing it on its own. This will cause further decreases in estrogen levels. Non-estrogenic herbs do not have estrogen in them. Instead they nourish the pituitary and endocrine glands which help them more efficiently produce natural hormones. One of these herbs that naturally stimulate hormone production is Macafem. This herb is a radish like root of a dehydrated vegetable plant. It has been cultivated for over two thousand years. It is thought to be one of the safest and most effective ways to treat menopause and insomnia since it helps the body create what it needs naturally. The fact that it’s not a source of artificial hormones but that it keeps the body producing them in a natural and healthy way is making it very popular worldwide. As Macafem improves the endocrine system it also will help alleviate other menopause symptoms along with the sleeplessness. Another herbal remedy is Rauwolfia. It has a very hypnotic affect that has been known and used since ancient times. Usually the powder of this root is mixed with other scented substances. Its potency ensures a sound sleep throughout the entire night and is used in patients who have chronic symptoms that would otherwise make sleep impossible. Menopause sleeplessness can be treated using a combination of alternative treatments and lifestyle changes. In very severe cases it may be necessary to seek pharmaceutical options such as hormone replacement therapy and prescription sleep aids. A professional health care provider should be consulted in these types of cases. All women experience differing degrees of menopause symptoms. Education is a good first step to finding successful treatment options that will bring you relief in your own individual case.

Always remember….

It is sleep quality, rather than the quantity, that is the problem in insomnia.