Insomnia, why is that?
Every now and then, everyone has difficulty sleeping: the crying baby, you worry about your upcoming meeting, or drinking coffee too late in the evening. But for many people, sleep trouble is a nightly occurrence. Why is that?
You spend approximately 1/3rd of your life sleeping to give our body a chance to rest, repair, consolidate the memory of the days events, and even reduce levels of inflammation. A typical healthy night’s rest is approximately 8 hours of non-interrupted sleep. Although falling and staying asleep is automatic for some (I’ve timed my wife falling asleep in 5 seconds), a few nights of limited or disruptive sleep can make anyone a little cranky or “spaced out”.
Sleep troubles come in many forms: difficulty falling asleep, waking once or more during the night, or waking earlier than planned in the morning. Common sleep disruptors include stress or worry, stimulating late night activities, late night work shifts, or hormonal and neurotransmitter imbalances. Once altered sleep patterns begin, it can lead to memory impairment, poor work or school performance, or general fatigue. Rather than wait until these common problems cause new setbacks, it’s better to address sleep issues early and get your life back into balance.
Fortunately, there are many natural ways to promote a normal sleeping schedule. For some it’s as easy as hitting the sack early for a few nights. Others can benefit from an Epsom salt bath, some Chamomile tea, or not watching the news just before lying down. Unfortunately, sometimes a sleep solution can be more difficult, such as when your night sweats necessitate a wardrobe change at 3 am or when you’ve been waking up in the middle of the night so long it’s become your normal schedule. Working with Naturopathic practitioners who can balance hormone levels or boost particular neurotransmitters can oftentimes re-establish healthy sleeping patterns. Acupuncture and herbs can also help quiet down an overactive mind and allow it to take a break. Lastly, severe snoring or waking up gasping may necessitate a visit to the local Sleep Center to check for sleep apnea.
In the end, without a good night’s sleep no one functions to their greatest capacity, has optimal immune status, or can temper their emotions when things get a little tough. Make sure you spend those nighttime hours resting and recuperating to keep your overall health on track.
