If you are having a little bit of trouble getting to sleep at night, you might be lacking in the hormone known as melatonin. Produced naturally by your brain, melatonin can help you keep your sleep patterns regular while preventing your sleep schedule from being disrupted. Your sleep doctor may have recommended melatonin to you in order to help you get better rest overnight. Below, we explore the role of melatonin in sleep.
Role of Melatonin in Sleep
Melatonin provides plenty of benefits throughout the body. But the role of melatonin in sleep is vital for understanding the state of your sleep health. Today, a high-ranking New York sleep doctor will break down the role of melatonin, its benefits, and the best ways to regulate your sleep using this hormonal aid.
How Does Melatonin Work?
Humans naturally feel more tired at night, and melatonin has a lot to do with it. As soon as it gets dark, the human brain starts to produce the hormone known as melatonin as your body’s way to get ready for sleep. As a natural substance, melatonin is integral to a healthy sleep cycle. It is important that the right conditions are met each night to ensure enough melatonin is produced.
Certain outside factors, such as exposure to artificial light during the nighttime, can halt the production of melatonin and create an unstable sleep situation. Those who are suffering from an imbalance of melatonin may be able to take melatonin supplements or invest in other treatments that can promote the healthy production of hormones in your brain.
How Does Melatonin Help Promote Sleep Health?
Your sleep cycles can be disrupted by a number of factors, whether medical or environmental. A professional sleep doctor can help you understand why and how you deal with a deficiency in melatonin. The goal remains prescribing a treatment that can help you build yourself back up to healthy natural levels.
Melatonin isn’t just prescribed to people who have trouble sleeping every night. Sleep health can be affected by a number of other present or temporary conditions, including:
- Sleep disorders in children or young patients
- Surgical anxiety creating a lack of sleep
- Jet lag after long travels
- DSWPD, also known as Delayed Sleep-Wake Phase Disorder
In most cases, melatonin is prescribed as a short-term treatment to help regulate the body as quickly as possible. While taking this hormone can greatly benefit your nighttime health and restore balance to your circadian rhythms, long run use remains less beneficial.
Does Melatonin Work For Insomnia?
Temporary insomnia may prove treated by melatonin. But your sleep doctor may recommend a different type of treatment if you experience long-term symptoms. Unfortunately, there are not enough studies to prove that taking melatonin for long periods of time has beneficial health effects.
Instead, your doctor may recommend other sleep aids in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help you get into the deeper issues of your sleep irregularity. Melatonin can cause sleepiness, making it dangerous to take during work or while driving. Make sure you follow all of the instructions given to you by your doctor before attempting to take melatonin.
Learn About Your Body’s Sleep Patterns
Melatonin exists as a fascinating hormone responsible several factors. Among these include your body’s ability to feel tired and go to sleep at night. Several outside factors can cause an imbalance in the production of melatonin, making it harder to sleep throughout the night. You may be a good candidate for a personalized circadian rhythm disorders treatment with melatonin if you are dealing with unique sleep struggles. Get in touch with our staff today and schedule an assessment so we can review your sleep health and provide you with the right treatment ASAP.
