On Thursday, the National Center on Sleep Disorder Research stated that sleep disorders are one of the greatest plagues of Americans' health, affecting anywhere from 50 to 70 million sufferers. As a result,
the market for pharmaceutical sleep aides like Ambien, Lunesta and Rozerem has exploded into a multibillion dollar industry.
Unfortunately, says the Center, the effects of long term or high dose usage can lead to additional health problems that range from high blood pressure, dizziness, nausea and depression to more dangerous behavioral disorders such as sleepwalking, binge eating, or flagrant inappropriate behavior.
Furthermore, the Center asserts that sleeping pills only fight the symptoms of a sleep disorder but do little to fight the root cause, which is usually a lifestyle problem such as excessive multitasking, being stressed out, not getting enough exercise, a poor diet, or the abuse of alcohol.
The pills induce a hypnotic state similar to heavy alcohol consumption and like alcohol can induce hangover effects. The pills reduce brain cell activity, adversely effect short-term memory, and lower the immune system's ability to fight disease. And, perhaps most insidious of all, their effects tend to wear off after several weeks of continued use, leading to the need for stronger dosages which, in turn, leads to addiction. Long term use can also lead to persistent dizziness or depression.
People who use sleeping pills are in fact notorious for becoming totally addicted to the pharmaceuticals, even if they eventually do come to sleep better. They start using the drugs merely because they had a bad day or to get an easy, liquor-like buzz.
Unfortunately, says the Center, the effects of long term or high dose usage can lead to additional health problems that range from high blood pressure, dizziness, nausea and depression to more dangerous behavioral disorders such as sleepwalking, binge eating, or flagrant inappropriate behavior.
Furthermore, the Center asserts that sleeping pills only fight the symptoms of a sleep disorder but do little to fight the root cause, which is usually a lifestyle problem such as excessive multitasking, being stressed out, not getting enough exercise, a poor diet, or the abuse of alcohol.
The pills induce a hypnotic state similar to heavy alcohol consumption and like alcohol can induce hangover effects. The pills reduce brain cell activity, adversely effect short-term memory, and lower the immune system's ability to fight disease. And, perhaps most insidious of all, their effects tend to wear off after several weeks of continued use, leading to the need for stronger dosages which, in turn, leads to addiction. Long term use can also lead to persistent dizziness or depression.
People who use sleeping pills are in fact notorious for becoming totally addicted to the pharmaceuticals, even if they eventually do come to sleep better. They start using the drugs merely because they had a bad day or to get an easy, liquor-like buzz.
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Sylvia Cochran
11/27/2007
Great points!
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