Numerous people around the world suffer from sleep deprivation and insomnia. These common problems can severely affect every aspect of your life, including your health, mood, energy, and ability to function properly.
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The lack of proper sleeping hours can be responsible for causing even more serious health problems, such as depression and high blood pressure.
How to Treat Sleep Problems
Millions of people who are dealing with sleeping difficulties or insomnia tend to solve their problem by using different medications.
However, the usage of drugs usually causes various negative consequences on your health. Instead, insomnia can be easily treated by making some simple changes in your lifestyle and daily habits.
Causes of Insomnia
Insomnia can be caused by unhealthy sleep patterns, certain biological factors, as well as some physical and psychological medical conditions.
Various researchers claim that this condition is caused by different mild or severe factors. However, in most cases, it occurs as a result of the brain’s confusion between the wake cycle and the sleep cycle. The most common factors that can contribute to insomnia are:
- Endocrine problems (thyroid disorders)
- Neurological conditions
- Arthritis
- Lower back pain
- Chronic pain
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Asthma
- Nasal/sinus allergies
- Overconsumption of high-protein foods, fats, sugars, and spicy foods
- High intake of alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine
Symptoms of Insomnia
The most common symptoms of insomnia include:
- Increased fatigue, tiredness, or sleepiness during daytime
- Poor memory, lack of focus, and difficulty paying attention
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Anxiety or depression
- Low energy levels
- Increased errors or accidents
Side Effects of Using Drugs for Treating Insomnia
Most commonly, the insomnia patients are prescribed to take sedative hypnotics, otherwise known as tranquilizers or sleeping pills, such as barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and other hypnotic drugs.
Usually, the benzodiazepines are used to treat anxiety. However, the usage of these medications often leads to lethargy, irritability, depression, and sleep disturbance. These drugs include Valium, Xanax, Librium, and Ativan. They act by depressing the central nervous system, which leads to sedation.
Sleep-inducing drugs, such as Ambien, Lunesta, Halcyon, Sonata, and Rozerem can easily increase drowsiness and rapidly promote sleep.
But, these sleeping pills can also be responsible for causing numerous adverse effects. Among the most common side effects that can be caused by the usage of these pills are:
- Difficulty maintaining balance
- Uncontrollable shaking of the body
- Burning or tingling in the hands, legs, and feet
- Weakness
- Daytime drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Attention problems and poor memory
- Headaches
- Dry mouth or throat
- Stomach pain
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Heartburn
- Changes in appetite
Natural Remedy for Treating Insomnia
One of the most effective natural remedies for treating sleep disorders is the nutmeg. This spice can provide you with many health benefits.
The nutmeg is very helpful in promoting detoxification, relieving pain, improving the digestive system, increasing the blood circulation, enhancing the skin health, and strengthening the immune system.
Also, it has mild sedative properties that are highly beneficial for treating insomnia.
In order to use this spice for treating sleep problems, you should grind some dried nutmeg. Add ¼ teaspoon of the nutmeg to a glass of warm water.
You should consume this remedy 4 or 5 hours before going to bed. Nevertheless, keep in mind that this spice should be consumed only in small amounts because, when taken excessively, it can act as a toxin.