Most of us need between seven and eight hours of sleep every night and many of us are persistently struggling to enjoy the benefits of a good night’s rest. Ongoing insomnia is linked with weight gain, heart disease and even Alzheimer’s disease.
Resorting to taking medications prescribed by doctors might lead to the initial recovery of better sleeping patterns but these don’t come without a long-term cost. Taking these for an extended period of time can erode memory function and ultimately may be connected with dementia. This programme offers alternative healthier strategies to manage insomnia and institute normalised sleeping behaviour.
Causes and treatments of insomnia
- Unbalanced hormone production can lead to insomnia. Assessing and rectifying these might help to manage insomnia.
- Nutrient deficiencies such as the lack of magnesium, protein and vitamin B12 can make it harder to sleep efficiently. Blood tests can uncover diminished nutrient status and once these are appropriately addressed insomnia can be reversed.
- Stress and the excessive production of cortisol, a hormone associated with prolonged stress, can be one of the prime causes of poor sleep. Using the appropriate tests to quantify cortisol status and if this is disproportionate instating the necessary remedy might help to re-establish healthy sleep.
- Herbal remedies can be used to treat insomnia and while not being as powerful as sleep medications in the long-term these might be a healthier way to regain a sleep pattern that has become elusive.
- Taking melatonin can also help to restore healthy sleeping patterns.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine at night.
- Healthy sleep hygiene includes minimising screen time before bed, keeping a regular sleep routine and allowing time to wind down before getting into bed.
