Have you been having trouble sleeping lately? You’re not alone. This frustrating issue may not be as uncommon as you think. Almost 70 million Americans suffer from some kind of chronic sleep disorder.
If you’re one of the many people in the USA who doesn’t get enough sleep, you shouldn’t just ignore the issue. Not getting a good night’s rest can seriously impact one’s overall health and well-being. Keep reading to learn more about sleep disorders, healthy sleep habits, and natural plant-based sleep aids.
Lack Of Sleep Symptoms
Everyone has experienced that zombie-like feeling of trying to navigate through the world after staying up all night at least a few times in their life. Pulling an all-nighter every once in a while might not be such a big deal, especially when you’re young, but chronic sleep deprivation can have grave consequences. Here are some common symptoms of sleep deprivation:
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Excessive daytime sleepiness
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Poor decision-making skills
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Slowed thinking and reaction time
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Impaired memory
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Rapid mood swings
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Abnormal irritability
If you are regularly experiencing these symptoms on a daily basis, you may want to evaluate your sleep schedule to determine if you are suffering from a sleep disorder.
Long Term Health Risks Of Sleep Deprivation
While the short-term side effects of acute sleep deprivation can impact the quality of one’s life, the long-term effects of chronic sleep deprivation can prove disastrous to a person’s overall health.
Almost every system in the body relies on regular sleep to function properly. Frequently missing out on sleep can lead to severe health problems down the line. For example:
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Obesity: Research suggests that sleep deprivation can impact the brain’s ability to regulate appetite, leading to an increased desire for high-calorie food. Consequently, poor sleep habits could play a significant role in unwanted weight gain.
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Diabetes: Poor sleep can impair the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar, leading to an increased risk of diabetes.
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Heart Disease: Studies have found a connection between sleep disorders and several cardiovascular issues, including coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.
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Hormonal Imbalance: Frequent sleep disturbances and chronic sleep deprivation disrupt hormonal rhythms, leading to a whole host of potential health issues.
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Mental Health Disorders: Sleep and mental health are strongly linked. Getting a good night’s sleep is one of the best things you can do to help maintain mental and emotional stability.
Different Types Of Sleep Disorders
Not all sleep disorders look exactly alike. Here are some of the most common forms of sleep disorders:
- Insomnia: When the average person pictures a sleep disorder, they very likely think of insomnia. This condition is characterized by difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.
- Sleep Apnea: A person suffering from sleep apnea persistently stops breathing during sleep, causing them to wake up. Often, those with sleep apnea snore loudly and experience a severe reduction in sleep quality.
- REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD): While most people experience paralysis during REM sleep, those with RBD physically act out their dreams. This can look like vigorous arm and leg movement or talking/yelling during sleep.
- Narcolepsy: Narcolepsy creates extreme daytime sleepiness/drowsiness in sufferers, often resulting in sudden bouts of unwanted sleep during the day.
- Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS): This condition is characterized by the uncontrollable urge to move one’s legs when sitting or lying down, making it difficult to fall asleep at night.
How To Get Better Sleep
Fortunately, if you’re someone who has trouble falling asleep, there are steps you can take to potentially improve the quality of your sleep.
First, you may want to limit certain beverages, especially leading up to bedtime. Both caffeine and alcohol can wreak havoc on sleep hygiene.
Additionally, avoiding blue light at night can benefit your sleep. As tempting as it is to fall asleep with Netflix playing in the background, the blue light from your screen can throw off your circadian rhythm and cause potential sleep issues.
Regular exercise and limiting daytime napping can also go a long way towards helping you get to sleep. It’s also advised to maintain a consistent bedtime routine and sleep schedule, as the stability will help prevent adverse fluctuations in your sleep quality.
For severe or chronic sleep conditions, always consult a licensed physician to help you create a treatment plan.
What Vitamins Are Good For Sleep?
One of the best ways to promote good sleep patterns is with vitamins or plant-based remedies. Preliminary research suggests that both melatonin and CBD can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
The Vitaldiol Rest Capsule combines both of these ingredients into one ultimate plant-based sleep aid experience. Each capsule contains 5 mg of melatonin and 35 mg of hemp-derived CBD isolate to encourage a peaceful night’s sleep.
How much melatonin for sleep will vary somewhat from person to person, but we recommend one capsule a night 1-2 hours before bed. Always consult your doctor before starting a new supplement regimen to ensure it won’t interfere with any existing treatment plans.