Millions of people suffer from sleep deprivation. The fact is that most of them don’t seek the help they need to in order to protect themselves from the problems that lie beyond not getting enough rest. Sleep deprivation is something to take seriously and to get help from. How do you know if what is happening to you is something to be worried about? There are actually many things that you can do.

It would be pertinent to have your adrenal hormones tested by making an appointment with me to see how your body is handling both physiological and emotional/mental stress. Our bodies weren't meant to run on pure adrenalin all the time, hence we wear our adrenal glands down over time. Reproductive hormones also play a part in this, since they are directly affected by adrenal function or lack there of. There are cases where menopause itself is tied to sleep abnormalities too. The best way to know what you are dealing with is through saliva hormone testing at my office.

Clearly, the consequences of sleep deprivation go far beyond the miseries of fatigue and dimished performance. Other areas that can be affected are skin health, glucose levels, cardiovascular health, good mood, proper cell function and growth, blood pressure, etc.

To add insult to injury, sleep quality and duration decline as we grow older- at a time when we need the health benefits of a good night's rest more than ever.

What we need the most is a new set of standards in providing relief for this. First, the steps to take to embrance a scheduled change. Second, proper natural medicine intake under naturopathic care.

What we need to achieve is support restful sleep, support healthy response to stress and target sleep debt-related factors associated with skin aging.

-Bioactive Milk Peptides; Found naturally in milk and used widely in Europe, bioactive peptides promote sustained and restful sleep patterns. A low dose was used in clinical research trials and success was seen as early as 2 weeks.

-Melatonin; Melatonin levels naturally decline with age and adversely affect sleep patterns. Supplementing with a low dose of either time-released or immediate melatonin.

-Ashwagandha; This important plant-based powerhouse herb is known to promote a healthy response to stress and aids relaxation over all.

Again, just simply using these 3 options may not be the best fit and adrenal testing should be considered to arrive at the most customized care plan once under naturopathic care at my office.

Some tips to get you started-

Determine your Sleep Pattern. Keep a daily record of the amount of time that you sleep. Write down the time that you went to bed, the last time you looked at the clock and when you woke up. Write down any times that you woke up during the middle of the night, too. You should also write down any times that you laid down and took a nap too. Bring this record in when you come for a visit with me.

• Determine also the quality of the rest that you get. If you find that you sleep but didn’t feel like you were getting enough rest, then this could be a potential problem for you. Write that down.

• Write down what you did before you slept. You should include any foods that you consumed and when you ate them during the day, especially those that you ate the last few hours before you went to bed.

• Note any daytime activities that keep you up. For example, if you ran a marathon that day, you’ll need to note that as well as the effect that it had on you during your nighttime rest. You should keep track of any physical activity that could play a role in your outcome.

• Also, track a few more changes. For example, include how much caffeine you drank, and when. Determine what amount of alcohol you drank. You should write down if there are any emotional considerations that could have played a role in your sleeping problems.

All of these things can contribute to the problems of sleep deprivation. If you find yourself recording this information and finding a pattern with it, then you can try to make changes that will ultimately improve your condition. Call to make an appointment to consider the best possible plan for you and get you on the road to a better you.

Til next time!

~Dr. Morgan

"My presence shall go with thee and I will give thee rest." ~Exodus 33:14