We spend one third of our life time asleep! Ideally, it is best to get good, quality nights’ sleep consisting of between 6 to 8 hours. If you don’t get enough sleep your quality of life is disrupted. Sleep deprivation symptoms include irritability, crankiness and fatigue. Your judgment may become impaired and your memory affected. You need enough sleep so you are alert, focused and ready to perform at your best throughout the day.

There are so many causes of sleep deprivation. A new baby, our partner snoring, and stress to name only a few. Sleep deprived people wake up  with red, puffy eyes and drag through the day with fatigue. This imbalance can cause us to eat and drink poorly to create energy so we can make it through the day. Sleep deprivation effects cause us to eat more sugar, carbs, caffeine, tobacco, and take drugs to stay awake. Over a period of time if we do not get enough sleep our bodies start to mimic the effects of aging. A loss of sleep can greatly affect our metabolism which can lead to age related illnesses such as weight gain, diabetes, memory loss and hypertension. These symptoms of sleep deprivation can be helped with more sleep and in a short time go away.

Besides stress, there are more that 75 different types of sleep disorders that cause sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation statistics show more than 60 million people suffer from some kind of sleep disorder. Some of these can be rather serious and sometimes fatal if not monitered.

The most common type of sleep disorder is insomnia. Insomnia is difficult to treat because it can be caused by so many things. Stress, hormones, and caffeine are very common causes. Ambien is one of the most prescribed drugs in America. It is best to investigate the root of the problem and treat it before you turn to prescription medications which can be addicting and difficult to stop. Many times melatonin supplementation will help. Melatonin is a naturally secreted hormone by the pineal gland. It is commonly called the “hormone of darkness” because it is secreted when night falls, it peaks in the middle of the night and then is inhibited by the light of the sun.

Another common sleep disorder is sleep apnea which can rob a person of a good nights’ sleep. With this disorder, the muscle tone in our airway collapses and obstructs the flow of oxygen to our bodies. This happens usually hundreds of times a night and causes loud snoring. This can cause headaches, dry mouth and confusion upon awakening. Sleep apnea should be treated by a doctor and can be dangerous if left untreated.


Try these methods listed below to get a good nights’ sleep. If your problem persists, go see a doctor. Your sleepless nights can be the symptom of something more serious.

- Avoid Caffeine. It is best to avoid caffeine in the afternoon if you are one of those people that is bothered by it. Some people have trouble metabolizing caffeine and it can keep them awake for a longer period of time than others. This includes chocolate, cocoa, and caffeinated tea.

- No TV or computer an hour before bed. Avoid anything that may be too stimulating for the brain. Do not have any electrical devices in the bedroom. The electromagnetic energy can interfere with your sleep.

- Create a night time ritual. Take a warm soak in the tub, drink some Sleepytime tea and maybe meditate or read to slow yourself down and unwind.

- Listen to a relaxing CD. Sounds of nature or soothing classical music are great ways to calm down your brain waves.

- Keep a consistent bedtime. It is best to get as much sleep as you can before midnight. This is the most restorative sleep and many people miss it by going to bed do late. Record any late shows you may want to watch for another time.

-Remove any clocks. The worst is to be awake in the middle of the night with a clock right in front of you. It only creates more stress which keeps you awake worrying about not getting enough sleep!

-If you need a supplement try some Recue Remedy, Calm Forte or melatonin before you take any synthetic drug store formulas.