Sleepless In The Temecula Valley? Again?

by Andrea Purcell, N.D. | August/September 2005

Do you have trouble falling asleep? Are you unable to stay asleep throughout the entire night? You are not alone. 82 million Americans suffer from insomnia, according to Tabers Medical Dictionary Insomnia is defined as: A Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or enjoying a restful nights sleep.

Statistics show Sleep problems affect more women than men. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, women who slept less than 5 hours a night over a ten year span increased risk of Coronary Artery Disease by 30%. Scientists are now suggesting a link between sleeplessness and obesity.

In a 1999 university of Chicago study, men who slept only four hours a night experienced a 30% decrease in their ability to secrete and respond to insulin. Another study showed a decrease in the ability to process carbohydrates during sleep deprivation. Furthermore test subjects had the same glucose tolerance test results as a diabetic patient.

Sleep deprivation causes a lack of cellular repair and sets us up for a host of diseases. During deep sleep two major hormones are released. Melatonin a super-antioxidant, promotes tumor necrosis factor, which assists in our body’s defense against cancer cells. Growth hormone is also released and acts to repair cells and build up our energy stores during the night. If we aren’t sleeping deeply enough we lose the benefits of these hormones and are bodies are not able to properly repair during the night.

Many life situations and medical conditions can cause insomnia. Insomnia itself is not a disease; it is usually a symptom of another imbalance that is occurring in the body. Once that underlying condition or situation has been addressed then the insomnia will fade away.

Treatments for insomnia can range from relaxing herbs and regulating hormone imbalances, to treating depression. If you are not sure why you just cannot sleep a good place to start is to create a bedtime routine that you follow nightly. This will help you relax and unwind from a stressful day. Natural therapies for sleepless individuals can be very successful; the key is to find the underlying cause that is specific to the individual.