Insomnia, What Happens to the Body and What To Do About It

Insomnia can play havoc to the body. Sleeplessness affects the body in more ways than one. Having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep throughout the night has a wide-reaching effects on the body. Here’s what happens to the body when insomnia strikes.

Muscles During sleep, the body produces growth hormones. This is a necessary function for building and maintaining muscle tissues that are healthy. Over time, sleeplessness robs the muscles of strength. This is what happens to the muscles with even the short term insomnia.

Brain To revitalize the connection between brain cells, sleep is necessary. So did the study find out. The longer one is awake, the more erratic the connections become. The researchers found that the most easily result of the disruption were those having to do with memory, attention and functioning.

Blood Sugar Sleeplessness gets in the way of the ability of the body to metabolize glucose. In fact one who regularly sleeps less than six hours every night is 4.5 times likely to develop pre diabetes than those who sleep the regular number of hours required.

Immune System There is proof that being deprived of sleep can lead to irregularities in the nervous system, thus making people get infections and inflammations. Insomnia reduces the activity of the white blood cells which can lead to higher risk of getting sick.

Mood Insomnia does not only make one irritable but it also can make one five times more likely to develop depression and 20 times more chance of developing panic disorder. It certainly takes a toll on the mood and the ability to function during the day.
There you have the effects of insomnia on the body. What now? What do we do to fight this challenge? What do we do to put a stop to those sleepless nights? Simple changes to the every day habits and lifestyle can help. Here they are:

1. Check your bedroom and dim the lights. The digital clock, the blue glow from the TV and computer may contribute to sleeplessness. Make sure the bedroom is dark, quiet and cool. Check the mattress too as it is where the dust mites live that can trigger allergies which can keep one awake. Then chill out as a cool body slows down all the metabolic processes.

2. Put a cap on the night cap. Some people use alcohol to sleep but after the early tranquilizing effect wears off, it leads to a more restless sleep. Stop drinking caffeinated beverages eight hours before bedtime. Quit smoking or do not smoke at night as nicotine is a stimulant.

3. Put on some socks as the feet get colder the most. Wearing socks will keep the blood vessels in the feet dilated and will cool you thus setting off sleep.

4. Keep a regular sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day even when you are tired or on the weekends. A regular sleep pattern is what the body wants. Believe me, I have been there and it took me a long time to learn this.

5. Don’t take naps during the day as it will be more difficult to sleep at night which is one way to do neuropathy management.

6. Avoid stressful and stimulating activities before bedtime.
How about you? Have you found something special that helps you get a good night sleep. Let us know so we can share your recommendations to the rest of the people who need them. There is nothing better than sharing with people the experiences that may help others avoid insomnia.