Insomnia

You never really appreciate that sleeping is a necessary daily function until you can’t sleep.  Forty per cent of women and thirty per cent of men experience difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up too early.  Insomnia is a complicated sleep disorder with many different causes, both physical and psychological.  Drug therapy can be effective, but it can also have serious long-term side effects.

Hormones Trigger Insomnia

Your ability to sleep is directly related to blood sugar, adrenal gland function and hormone production.  Abnormal levels of specific hormones have been observed in people suffering from chronic insomnia.  Studies have found that high levels of the stress hormone cortisol are released by the adrenal glands during stressful times.  If cortisol is too high at night this can prevent you from falling asleep, and if it’s too high in the morning, you may have trouble staying asleep.  Your adrenal gland function is often impaired, producing too much or too few hormones.  Levels of melatonin, the hormone made by the pineal gland, are often low in people suffering from insomnia.  Consequently, increasing melatonin is therefore important for improving sleep disorders.  In addition, as you age there is reduced production of growth hormone associated with deep sleep.  Hormone testing will accurately identify potential hormone imbalances.  Natural hormones and other therapies are then utilized to address deficiencies and excesses.

Stabilize Your Blood Sugar

Many people who have trouble sleeping are responding negatively to something in their diet.  Allergy testing identifies foods that are causing a reaction or throwing your blood sugar off balance.  Diet modification and the selection of foods that support and enhance glandular function, can stabilize your blood sugar during the day.  In addition, eating foods high in tryptophan contribute to a better sleep because of its sedative affect.  Tryptophan is a precursor of serotonin, a neurotransmitter in your brain that helps you sleep.

Control Stress

Vital Signs testing provides an excellent measure of your stress level and how your body is responding to stress.  Reducing your exposure to stress and learning coping strategies to handle difficult situations are paramount.  Treatment with oral medicines and injection therapy can be especially helpful in calming your nervous system so that you can sleep better at night.

Sweet Dreams

Lack of sleep can drastically affect your health so taking action to resolve this problem is critical.  Treatment is individualized to the specific stressors and factors responsible for your insomnia.  The result is a good night’s sleep and better health.

Call 250-545-0800 now to book an appointment