sleep

[W. K. Brecher]

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Approximately one third of the adult population will have trouble sleeping sometime during this year. Usually trouble sleeping is short term, just a few nights, but when the problem persists for long periods there are major negative consequences. Obviously focus and concentration are severely impaired when getting no sleep or having trouble sleeping for long periods of time. There are also a lot of negative effects on the brain when it comes to long term trouble sleeping; it is difficult to form new memories or recall old ones, processing information becomes far more difficult, a person can become confused easily, and in the most extreme cases hallucinations occur. Having trouble sleeping or getting no sleep at all can result in weight gain because of hormonal changes and a slowing of the metabolism. Hypertension has been reported and there are a lot more negative physical conditions that can arise from trouble sleeping. The situation is more serious than you may think, and you should look for ways to remedy an inability to sleep.

You are probably well aware of the drug Diazepam, though you most likely know it by its commercial name Valium. It is one of the most popular drugs in the world and is used to treat a variety of conditions. Diazepam was not the first benzodiazepine to be developed, but is by far the most popular and widely used, though in many cases Xanax is taking its place. Developed in the 1960s, Diazepam can be used to treat insomnia, anxiety, seizures and occasionally it is used for other purposes. Diazepam is not without its drawbacks however. It can be damaging to the liver and kidneys, it is habit forming and dependency forming, it interacts negatively with other drugs and with alcohol. Like most drugs it has side effects as well; Diazepam's side effects include blurred vision, loss of sex drive, hallucination, personality changes and difficulty urinating. Pregnant and nursing mothers should not use Diazepam. For all of these reasons herbal alternatives should be given careful consideration. Natural remedies can be used in place of Diazepam for both anxiety and sleep problems. Herbal supplements are generally safer and side effect free, as well as effective.

If you are suffering from insomnia you can get to sleep without the negative side effects of pharmaceutical drugs with a natural sleep aid. Not only is a natural sleep aid much safer, usually they are cheaper as well. While a prescription drug will leave you groggy and drowsy the next day, a natural sleep aid provides natural sleep, and allows you to awaken refreshed the next morning. Your natural sleep aid will also not expose you to the risk of addiction and dependency, and will not result in a strong rebound of insomnia if you discontinue use. They should always be used before considering prescription drugs; pharmaceutical sleeping pills should only be used in the most severe cases, and then it is not recommended to use them for long periods of time. Insomnia affects millions of people and the severity can range from something that is an annoyance to completely debilitating sleep deprivation, under these circumstances people use prescription drugs because it is the quickest fix; though as I demonstrated above, it is not the healthiest solution. So try a natural sleep aid and get the sleep you need without the side effects you don't.

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