Information and facts on Insomnia

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Not sleeping night after night is known as insomnia. It maybe that the person cannot get to sleep or that they wake-up and cannot get back to sleep. Around 15-18% of the general population is suffering from insomnia at any given time. Poor nutrition can make you vulnerable to this problem. There are other causes as well like: hypoglycemia, muscle aches, indigestion, breathing problems, anxiety, stress, grief, caffeine, and depression. A lack of calcium or magnesium can  cause you to wake up after a few hours of sleep and not be able to go back to sleep.

Habitual sleeping problems, repeated night after night, is known as insomnia. Insomnia can take the form of being unable to fall asleep when gingo to bed, or waking during the night and being unable to get back to sleep. An estimated 15 % - 17% of  people suffer from insomnia. While insomnia can be extremely frustrating, it is not life threatening and may be only a temporary annoyance, although in some cases sleep related problems may last months or even years. Insomnia can result from a wide variety of causes, including hypoglycemia, muscle aches, indigestion, breathing problems, physical pain, anxiety, stress, grief, depression, jet lag, caffeine consumption, and the use of certain drugs, including the decongestant pseudoephedrine which is found in many cold and allergy remedies, most appetite suppressants, many antidepressants, beta-blockers which are medications used for high blood pressure and heart ailments, the anti-seizure medication phenytoin "Dilantin", and thyroid hormone replacement drugs. A lack of the nutrients calcium and magnesium can cause you to wake up after a few hours and not be able to return to sleep.

Systemic health problems with the lungs, liver, heart, kidneys, pancreas, digestive system, endocrine system, and brain all may affect sleep, as can poor nutritional habits and eating too close to bedtime. A sedentary lifestyle can be a major contributor to sleep disorders. While 1 or 2 sleepless nights can cause irritability and daytime sleepiness, with decreased ability to perform creative or repetitive tasks, most people can adapt to short term periods of sleep deprivation. After more than three days, however, sleep deprivation starts to cause a more serious problems in overall performance and can even cause personality changes. If chronic, inadequate sleep compromises productivity, creates problems in relationships, and can contribute to other health problems.

There are no specific rules about how much sleep is enough, because each person's needs are different. Some people can do well on as little as 5 hours of sleep a night, while other people appear to perform better with nine, ten, or even more hours of sleep. Most adults need about 8 hours of sleep nightly in order to feel refreshed and function at peak performance during the day. Children, especially very young children and adolescents, generally require more sleep than adults to be at their best. It is not uncommon for people to sleep less as they get older, especially after 60 years of age. Millions of people have trouble getting to sleep due to a condition commonly known as restless leg syndrome. For reasons not known, when these people are in bed, their legs jerk, twitch, and kick involuntarily. Restless leg syndrome has also been linked to the painful nighttime leg muscle cramps that afflict so many people.

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious disorder that can cause repeated waking during the night. This problem is commonly associated with snoring and extremely irregular breathing throughout the night. In sleep apnea, breathing actually stops, for as long as two minutes at a time, while the individual is asleep. When breathing stops, the level of oxygen in the blood drops, resulting in oxygen deprivation. The individual then awakens, startled and gasping. A person with sleep apnea may awaken as many as 200 times throughout the night. The affected individual may not remember these awakenings, but anyone else who is awake at the time can naturally become alarmed when a person with sleep apnea stops breathing. Aside from disrupting normal sleep and causing extreme sleepiness during the day, sleep apnea is associated with other, more serious, health problems. People who suffer from sleep apnea tend to have high blood pressure and are more likely to have strokes than other people, and face an increased risk of heart disease, although the reason for this is not known. People with sleep apnea also seem to have a higher than normal incidence of emotional and psychotic disorders. Experts attribute this to what they call a "dream deficit" lack of adequate rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep, which is the stage of sleep in which dreaming occurs. Proper nutritional supplementation, dietary changes, and lifestyle changes can help with insomnia and related health problems.

 

Nutrient / Supplement Importance
( 1 - 10 )
Helpful notes
vitamin B complex 10 promotes a restful state, relieve stress, and works with both calcium and magnesium. Often used in a female herbal formula or a sleep aid formula. The B vitamins are also important for proper functioning of the body's nervous system.
Pantothenic acid 9 good for relaxing, relieving stress, and insomnia
Inositol 9 aids sleep and REM cycles
Calcium 10 works with the mineral magnesium to help sooth, calm, and relax both the body and mind
Magnesium 9 has a calming effect, benefits the nervous system, and balances the body for people suffering with insomnia.
Aloe vera 9 herb often mixed in a relaxing formula to help combat stress and aid in sleep. The herbal formula often contains chamomile, kava kava, and passion flower.
Kava kava 9 herb used to unwind and calm the mind. It helps to sedate the central nervous system.
Chamomile 8 helps calm people under stress and very useful for children also
Passion flower 8 induces sleepiness and relaxes the muscles
Bioflavonoids 8 helps to reduces stress and works well with vitamin C
vitamin C 8 stress reducing vitamin
Zinc 7 mineral helps body tissue recovery while sleeping

 

 

Other Changes To Make

  • drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or filtered water a day

  • eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)

  • nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good

  • juice is good (make your own with a juice machine)

  • do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods

  • carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack

  • a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)

  • do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks

  • do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...

  • use stress relief like going for walks in the park (or the 10/90 rule - see Stress)

  • brown rice is good to eat

  • avoid red meat and animal fats

  • reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others

  • fast a few days a month

  • get at least 8 hours of sleep 

  • exercise light to moderate amounts

  • avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet

  • do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke

  • do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal

  • do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry

  • do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else

All information presented on these web pages is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or to administer to any physical ailments.
In all matters related to your health please contact a qualified, licensed Medical Consultant or Doctor.
Symmetry herbal and nutritional products for Women, Children, and Men includes vitamins, herb supplements, skin care, weight loss, water filters, sport's nutrition, and health maintenance. Giving you and your family an alternative natural way for prevention and healing treatment of disease - also to aid in well being of mind, body, and spirit.

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........Symmetry herbal and nutritional products for Women, Children, and Men includes vitamins, herb supplements, skin care, weight loss, water filters, sport's nutrition, and health maintenance. Giving you and your family an alternative natural way for prevention and healing treatment of disease - also to aid in well being of mind, body, and spirit.