Definition of Insomnia: The Inability to get enough sleep

This is a subject that is of interest to many. Are you having trouble falling asleep? Having trouble staying asleep? Americans spend an astounding $14 billion per year trying to combat sleeplessness, and chances are the bulk of that money is spent by women. Sleep problems plague women more often than men, and women in mid-life more than younger women. There is no full accounting for the gender and age differences in sleep disturbances, but hormonal fluctuation is one strong factor.

The fact that many people are even taking psychiatric drugs prescribed normally for anxiety to sleep seems to point out the problem. The effect on a person, their body, with a continued reduction of sleep can cause stress, anxiety and depression as well as a real physical malfunctions.

Let's look at some of the factors:

The Hormonal Factor

Although the relationship between female reproductive hormones and sleep patterns is little-explored and not well-researched, many women know the strong connection between the two. Many women report lying awake for a night or two before their period begins, the time when progesterone levels drop off sharply. Progesterone is the body’s natural relaxation substance. As women approach mid-life and make the transition from perimenopause to menopause, sleep interruptions can increase. These sleep changes are often presumed to result from hot flashes at night, but that is only part of the picture. Years before a woman reaches menopause and her estrogen production dwindles, her progesterone levels begin declining. This change in the ratio between progesterone and estrogen may be implicated in sleeplessness during perimenopause and menopause. Progesterone is our relaxing, calming hormone, therefore it only makes sense that women deprived of it may experience sleep disturbances.

For more information on sleep and other disturbances during menstruation, go to P.M.S.

Diet and Lifestyle

While hormones seem to play a very important role, they cannot be held as the sole culprit of sleep disturbances. There can be literally hundreds of possible causes of insomnia. In some cases no precise cause of insomnia can be pinpointed. The first thing to do is to review your sleep habits and behavior to establish a pattern. The following is a list of changes that can be made to help you get a better night’s sleep.

Prepare your body for sleep by relaxing before bed.

1) Read a good book.
2) Listen to quiet music.
3) Take a warm shower or bath.

Watch what you eat and drink.

1) Avoid caffeine in the evening, possibly even after 12:00pm.
2) Avoid alcohol as it robs us of our deepest sleep.
3) Try eating foods containing Tryptophan, i.e. warm milk, dark meat (turkey), cottage cheese.
4) Eat a high protein snack at bedtime to maintain your blood sugar level throughout the night.
5) Take Magnesium as a supplement.
6) Get enough B Vitamins Cataplex B®

RECOMMENDED:

Being unable to sleep is a problem to many people,

Calcium/Magnesium - taking 1 before bed. The Calcium-Magnesium that we found is easily assimilated and relaxes the person so they sleep. You can read about why it works so well and how it delivers all the co-factors to let it assimilate into the body and work for you. Go to Calcium-Magnesium Supplement.

B-Vitamins - Cataplex B®

The complete vitamin B complex

Suggested Use: Two tablets per meal, or as directed.

If you have high blood pressure - Cataplex G®

Proprietary Blend: 602 mg

Bovine liver, nutritional yeast, porcine duodenum,beet (root), carrot (root), dried beet (root) juice, choline bitartrate, rice (bran) extract, defatted wheat (germ), bovine adrenal, oat flour, soy bean lecithin, mixed tocopherols, ascorbic acid, manganese lactate, inositol, and riboflavin. Other Ingredients: Honey, niacinamide, potassium, para-aminobenzoate, calcium stearate, arabic gum, cocarboxylase, and pyridoxine hydrochloride.

Supplement Facts:

Serving Size: 2 Tablets Servings per Container: 45 or 18

Calories 3

Thiamine 1 mg 60%
Niacin 20 mg 100%
Vitamin B6 1 mg 50%
Potassium 10 mg <1%

Introduced in 1934

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We have used our best judgment in compiling this information. The Food and Drug Administration may not have evaluated the information presented. Any reference to a specific product is for your information only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease