| Best
Remedies for Insomnia
from -Reader's
Digest.com
Don't suffer through another sleepless night without giving one
of these tips a try!
More Than a Sleepless Night
There's more to insomnia than just trouble falling asleep. Some
people fall asleep just fine but wake up in the middle of the
night and can't get back to sleep. Others sleep through the night
but wake too early in the morning. And still others appear to
sleep through the night with no problem, but never wake rested.
While it's normal to experience an occasional bad night of sleep,
if your sleep problems become chronic, it's time to do something
about them. Lack of sleep interferes with immune function and
increases your risk of insulin resistance. Then there are the
dangers of trying to get through the day (especially if you have
to drive) when you're overtired.
Various health issues may contribute to
sleep problems, including menopause, depression (early morning
awakening is a common sign of depression), and just about any
condition that causes pain. Other culprits include restless legs
syndrome and sleep apnea, in which you slightly awaken dozens
of times a night because your breathing stops.
Just as important as the ability to fall
asleep and stay asleep is the ability to cycle in an orderly fashion
through the five stages of sleep several times a night. This is
critical to cell growth and repair and a strong immune system.
If something (for instance, alcohol, heavy smoking, or abnormally
hot or cold bedroom temperatures) interrupts the progression of
these sleep stages, you won't feel well rested and your immune
system, mood, and memory may suffer.
Not being able to sleep can be extremely
frustrating. But before you turn to sleeping pills, there are
plenty of natural approaches to try. | 
