Sleep: People Aren't Doing It Anymore
One of the most important things that we do is sleep. Daily movement, stress, even eating and thinking puts a strain on our bodies. When we sleep our bodies repair themselves and become strong and ready for the next day. All of our systems (immune, respiratory, digestive) rely upon this resting period. However, more and more people are suffering from sleep disorders and insomnia than ever.
One indication that sleep problems are increasing is that the sales of sleep aid medicines have increased. This article explains the increase in sales of over-the-counter meds like Advil PM and Tylenol PM. And I'm sure you have also seen these and the multiple prescription-only sleep aids being advertised constantly on tv. (I see a lot of these ads since I'm usually up late watching tv - which is a great time to catch people who are unable to sleep and sell to them.)
It is difficult to know why exactly sales have increased. This article blames the economy - which keeps people awake at night worrying- and necessity for a night's sleep these days. However, I tend to think it has just as much to do with the fact that we are being advertised to more. The more we hear about a problem - the more likely we are to think we have it. It is cyclical - we hear more about sleep disorders and problems and we are more acutely aware of our own sleep issues.
And stress is also at an all time high. People constantly worry and exclaim, "why can't there be more hours in the day?!" It seems we have less time than ever. We are told to be healthy, beautiful, effective, successful, rich, and constantly occupied at all times. We are constantly being pressured to accomplish more and more. If we are not doing something we tend to feel a bit lost. In addition to these pressures, we are using technology more than ever. We stare at screens all day, sometimes right before trying to sleep - which has been proven to cause sleep problems (specifically less deep REM sleep). So it makes sense that we feel more tired even when we do get a bit of sleep.
Many people take these sleep aids (prescribed or otherwise) far more regularly than they should. The over-the-counter version that calls itself a pain-reliever and sleep aid - is actually just marketing an antihistamine. It's the same ingredient that fends off allergies in Benadryl. Tricky, eh? Either way - it's not great to be taking that much of any medication - especially if it's not really helping.
As we age, our bodies dedicate less and less time to cell reparation - so good sleep becomes even more important. As a college student (I'm not going to be able to say that for much longer!) I have gotten used to being perpetually tired. I often find myself staying awake just because. Sometimes it's because I'm working on a paper but more often than not it's because I prefer being up at night, alone, able to relax. But my sleep cycles always suffer. And I'm sure I'm not doing my best work when I am awake. And because my sleep schedule is off - I get super tired around 4pm and require a nap.
So what should we do? Calm down? I tend to think that the more we think - oh no I'm not sleeping what's wrong with me! Go to sleep, self! - the more we stay awake. Do you or someone you know have sleep problems? Have you found a cure? With an increase in sleep aid sales, do you worry that people will become dependent (or mix meds and possibly OD)? It worries me that so many people are taking so much medication and then driving to work early the next morning. That could seriously endanger a lot of lives. Caffeine dependency is also something that seems to increase year by year as well. Do you have any remedies? What do you do when you just can't sleep?
Here are some links to other blog posts about sleep on WEGO Health that I encourage you read & reply to!
Bed Time Relaxation Tips
Sleep and Behavior Problems
Better Sleep With Twilight
Sleeping Problems
Lucid Dreams
Equine sleep disorder videos
(There are so many more great posts - and as always, if you want to see what others have written on a certain topic - click Blogs up top and enter a keyword into the white search box at the top)
One indication that sleep problems are increasing is that the sales of sleep aid medicines have increased. This article explains the increase in sales of over-the-counter meds like Advil PM and Tylenol PM. And I'm sure you have also seen these and the multiple prescription-only sleep aids being advertised constantly on tv. (I see a lot of these ads since I'm usually up late watching tv - which is a great time to catch people who are unable to sleep and sell to them.)
It is difficult to know why exactly sales have increased. This article blames the economy - which keeps people awake at night worrying- and necessity for a night's sleep these days. However, I tend to think it has just as much to do with the fact that we are being advertised to more. The more we hear about a problem - the more likely we are to think we have it. It is cyclical - we hear more about sleep disorders and problems and we are more acutely aware of our own sleep issues.
And stress is also at an all time high. People constantly worry and exclaim, "why can't there be more hours in the day?!" It seems we have less time than ever. We are told to be healthy, beautiful, effective, successful, rich, and constantly occupied at all times. We are constantly being pressured to accomplish more and more. If we are not doing something we tend to feel a bit lost. In addition to these pressures, we are using technology more than ever. We stare at screens all day, sometimes right before trying to sleep - which has been proven to cause sleep problems (specifically less deep REM sleep). So it makes sense that we feel more tired even when we do get a bit of sleep.
Many people take these sleep aids (prescribed or otherwise) far more regularly than they should. The over-the-counter version that calls itself a pain-reliever and sleep aid - is actually just marketing an antihistamine. It's the same ingredient that fends off allergies in Benadryl. Tricky, eh? Either way - it's not great to be taking that much of any medication - especially if it's not really helping.
As we age, our bodies dedicate less and less time to cell reparation - so good sleep becomes even more important. As a college student (I'm not going to be able to say that for much longer!) I have gotten used to being perpetually tired. I often find myself staying awake just because. Sometimes it's because I'm working on a paper but more often than not it's because I prefer being up at night, alone, able to relax. But my sleep cycles always suffer. And I'm sure I'm not doing my best work when I am awake. And because my sleep schedule is off - I get super tired around 4pm and require a nap.
So what should we do? Calm down? I tend to think that the more we think - oh no I'm not sleeping what's wrong with me! Go to sleep, self! - the more we stay awake. Do you or someone you know have sleep problems? Have you found a cure? With an increase in sleep aid sales, do you worry that people will become dependent (or mix meds and possibly OD)? It worries me that so many people are taking so much medication and then driving to work early the next morning. That could seriously endanger a lot of lives. Caffeine dependency is also something that seems to increase year by year as well. Do you have any remedies? What do you do when you just can't sleep?
Here are some links to other blog posts about sleep on WEGO Health that I encourage you read & reply to!
Bed Time Relaxation Tips
Sleep and Behavior Problems
Better Sleep With Twilight
Sleeping Problems
Lucid Dreams
Equine sleep disorder videos
(There are so many more great posts - and as always, if you want to see what others have written on a certain topic - click Blogs up top and enter a keyword into the white search box at the top)
Tags: economy, medication, repair, sleep
Comment
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Comment by Jack Barrette on April 28, 2009 at 1:00pm - The Spine Health folks have a great blog post "11 Unconventional Sleep Tips: How to Get to Sleep and Stay Asleep"
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Comment by amanda on April 28, 2009 at 12:49pm -
Sarah, The reading-before-bed idea is a great one. I forgot that I used to do this in middle school (back when reading was all for fun. *sniffle*... I will return to these days shortly!) Every time I'm trying to read something for class - I zonk out - no matter where I am. That's a sign - I've got to get on a regular sleep schedule! And that I need to be done with college haha.
My mom's advice is always - get out of bed - in reference to my constant in-bed activities. I do everything in bed - read, go on my laptop, talk on the phone, have a snack, listen to music - whatever. It's bad. It's unfortunately the most comfortable part of my apartment even though it's just a mattress on the floor (boxspring didn't fit up the stairwell and never bought a frame). My mom always yelled at me for doing this as a child - I guess I've always been a bed-dweller (and my college bed was a mess of everything in my life since I never left it).
She said that your body associates 'bed' with 'sleep' gets confused when you're not sleeping but you're still in bed/laying down. And then when you try to actually go to sleep - you can't. I'm sure she's right but it's difficult. I need to get a more comfortable couch so I won't have to lay down to feel comfortable on it.
I have an extra hard time sleeping because I'm such a light light sleeper. The tiniest noise or temperature change wakes me. If I'm sleeping near another person I tend to wake up hourly - as if their presence automatically disallows deep-sleeping. Ear plugs tend to help with some noises (though trying to use them at home with my 5 loud family members and 2 dogs is hapless!) - but sometimes I pull them out in the middle of the night because I feel something irritating my ears.
I wonder if there is a cause for light sleeping? My mom is the lightest sleeper too. But my brothers could sleep through a war. I wonder if it has to do with hormones?
Haha I always find myself asking more questions the more I think! Ah! Oh well.
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Comment by Sarah on April 26, 2009 at 7:37pm -
Jack, I am going to start quoting you on the "sleep is the new sex" line. That made me laugh. It's about true, though. So many people need that sleep right now that it's the cool thing to do.
I've never been to a sleep lab, but I worked with a woman who was regularly recorded because her sleeping patterns were so irregular. I guess she was one of those cases where she would get up and do stuff and have sleep amnesia even without Ambien. She found out when she realized that she had moved her CAR while sleeping!
Do keep us updated on what they tell you - sleep news is always pretty interesting.
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Comment by Jack Barrette on April 26, 2009 at 7:31pm
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Sleep is the new fitness routine, the fountain of youth, and according to my friends with kids, sleep is the new sex.
I've been thrashing and snoring so much that I packed myself off to a sleep lab - where you're hooked up to 742 electrodes, and awakened every 14 minutes when one is jostled loose. I'm waiting to meet with a physician to interpret my results, and I'll be shocked if we don't discuss "my sleep problems." The truth is I keep everyone else awake, but if I actually had time to sleep 8 hours a night, I'd be fine.
I'll report my progress - have others had good experience with sleep lab tests? Bad experience? Sleep better now with electrodes plastered all over your body?
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Comment by Sarah on April 25, 2009 at 3:39pm
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I have sleep issues. I always have. In college I could EASILY skate by on four or five hours a night, and regularly would. Now, if I don't get nine hours of sleep, my body revolts! I don't have any *real* solutions. I don't want to start on meds to get me to sleep - my doc has offered but I turn 'em down.
Mostly, I try not to get into bed until I am TIRED. I read a lot of books ... I can't go to sleep without reading books and so that helps. Also, staying in routine with "brush teeth, wash face, take meds (none sleep related though, LOL), read until I start nodding off. Sometimes I'll think I'm nodding off, turn the light off and then be awake for two hours more though. Reading a BORING book is also something that seems to help me ... but that just annoys me!
When you mention caffeine dependency, I know that feeling too ... I have to stop coffee after 2pm otherwise I *know* I'll be up until 3am ... but that afternoon lull always pulls me towards ONE MORE CUP and then I pay for it. Bad bad stuff, but oh so good, too. :)
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