Dopamine

While focusing on sleep deprivation as a growing concern, there are people who are still at it when it comes to needing to be awake for most of the time, mainly for work and personal reasons to which certain drugs and means are being taken to aid them. Dopamine, a fell-good brain chemical helps keep sleep-deprived people awake. But the question here is on whether it is helpful.

Most people are trying to fend off these drugs that keep us awake. Many are likewise looking for cures to cure their sleep deprivation and sleep disorders. But while these things are a given, it would be wise to analyze how Dopamine helps and for what purpose.

For sure there will be after-effects and consequences. But for people who have to be on the go, stay awake most of the time, Dopamine may be an option but for how long?

Sleep deprivation increased dopamine in the striatum, a part of the brain that registers motivation and reward. Dopamine also went up in the thalamus, a brain region that helps control alertness, when the volunteers were sleep-deprived. Increases in the brain chemical kept the volunteers awake, but those same increases also correlated with the volunteers reporting that they felt tired.

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Normally, people are encouraged not to rely too much on sleeping drugs. For drugs like Lunesta and Vanda, there are proper dosages for them to the people who really want results for their sleep disorders. Normally, doctor’s prescriptions are needed to get them and while many want to play wise, it would be best to stick to the prescriptions given.

Also leave some room for errors in dosage. You may be overdoing it and rather than helping yourself get better, you may find yourself not getting any better. Apparently it would be wise to ask your doctor a second time around just for consistency. One digit can make the difference.

Hundreds of thousands of people rely on sleep aids to get them to bed at night. To try and make sure New Yorkers aren’t abusing the drugs, the state put them all on the list of controlled substances a few years back. Normally, that makes it harder to get more than a month’s supply at a time. But here’s The Real Deal on a man who wasn’t having any problems getting a lot more than that.

(Source) 9WSYR

We have been hearing the growing relation of obesity with sleep these days and indirectly, the point is people have to spice up their lives with certain activities that can perhaps add spice to their normal routine. This does not really entail rigorous activities and in fact, a study has showed that Tai Chi Chih, an ancient form of Chinese Martial arts, can significantly help improve sleeping patterns.

This is a good activity to participate in considering that it is a better alternative to healthier lives compared to the usual reliance of people on drugs to get that much needed sleep.

Studies show that more than half of older adults experience sleeping problems at least a few times a week, Irwin and his team note in their report. While CBT can ease insomnia, few therapists have the training to offer this type of treatment, which is also relatively expensive. And while aerobic exercise can also help people sleep better, vigorous workouts aren’t an option for many seniors.

To investigate whether tai chi chih might be an option, Irwin and his team analyzed sleep quality in 112 people aged 59 to 86 participating in a randomized, controlled trial of the martial art for preventing shingles. Tai chi chih instruction was given in 45-minute sessions, three times a week.

(Source) Reuters

We all know that sleep deprived people would try anything to help them get the much needed respite and sleep. However, it also remains that they have to consider the safety of taking these sleeping aids. Side effects and potential health risks may be in play and rather than addressing the sleep problem issue, they may just find themselves battling worst case scenarios as far as their overall health is concerned.

There are drugs such as Ambien, Lunesta and Sonata that are available in the market for sleep assistance. But the question still remains on how they may affect the health of a insomnia-ridden individual.

“Even though these are non-narcotic according to TV ads, they can be addictive and a person can abuse them the same way they can abuse (other substances),” Schwartz said. “A few extra, especially mixed with alcohol, could kill you.”

(Source) Fox News

As far as sleep is concerned, it would be best to solicit it using the natural means and avoid the sleeping drugs that we often see being endorsed. Not all people who have sleep issues have to turn to the sleeping pills offered today. You can still find the alternative means where you do not put your overall health at stake.

Drugs have side effects and can affect other areas of your body. That is a given. But for people who are desperate to resolve their sleeping crisis, drugs can help but only for a while. It will reach a point that your body will become immune and show some ill effects of fabricated means of sleep.

Most of these drugs, used over a long time, tend to lose their benefit. So although you may take more, they will have less effect. Also, once you get into the habit of taking medication to help you sleep, you may have difficulty breaking the pattern.

(Source) The Chicago Tribune