Having good quality sleep is vital to maintaining one’s overall well-being. So, when you’re having a hard time getting enough sleep during the night time, it could be an indication of insomnia. This common sleep disorder makes it difficult to stay asleep or fall asleep. Usually, a person requires seven to nine straight hours of good-quality sleep every night.
While it isn’t the same for all people, how long a person sleeps depends on various factors. However, the quality of sleep a person gets is more crucial than how long the sleep is. As people age, their sleep requirements also change.
Insomnia can make a person feel fatigued all day. Aside from that, it can impact both emotional and physical health. A person’s ability to concentrate and mood can also be affected without enough rest. The risk for health conditions like heart disease, depression, diabetes, and obesity will also increase.
Transient and short-term insomnia affects many individuals by reducing their quality of life. Around 10 percent to 15 percent of the American population is affected by chronic insomnia. Fortunately, some home remedies exist that can help with insomnia, which are listed below.
Melatonin
Among the popular home remedies for insomnia is melatonin supplement. Melatonin is a hormone the brain produces to control the body’s sleep-wake cycle. This dietary supplement is available in capsule and liquid form, which people use to fall asleep faster.
In addition, melatonin boosts sleep quality. People who work by shift and suffer from sleep disorders and jet lag can benefit from melatonin supplements the most. Although melatonin is safe for short periods, ask a doctor before taking any melatonin supplement because can cause side effects such as nausea, headache, dizziness, and daytime drowsiness.
Melatonin may also cause uncommon adverse effects like irritability, vivid nightmares or dreams, stomach cramps, and short-term symptoms of depression. It can also cause diarrhea, decreased appetite, constipation, a higher risk of falls, night time urinary incontinence, and a higher risk of seizures. Mood swings, confusion or disorientation, and reduced alertness are also adverse effects of this hormone.
As melatonin can bring about drowsiness, do not drive or carry out activities that require focus, like operating machinery, within five hours of consuming melatonin.
