What You Don't Know About Sleep Can Hurt You
- Stacey-Anne Bistak
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
What less sleep or poor sleep can do to you
Lack of sleep itself can cause dementia. Many of us are unaware of it, or maybe it was just a fact too low on the totem pole of priorities.
But one day, you feel it... You know you need sleep. You want a quick fix. You get some sleep medications.
But do you know that studies done earlier this year indicate that such pharmaceuticals can eventually lead to dementia and related conditions such as Alzheimer’s?
So, please be aware of the wolves in sheep's clothing:
These supposed helpers make us think that we are sleeping, but we're really not (at least in the full sense of the word)!
The two-in-one Allergy Relief and Sleep Aids
These are chemical concoctions such as diphenhydramine (commonly known as Benadryl in most of the world, except in Europe, where it goes by Nytol Original or SleepEase2). Though they are also used as allergy relief medications, they act as sedatives and are used as sleep inducers. Listen to this video to learn more.
Besides, these drugs increase daytime sleepiness, which can be a huge danger. And they decrease sleep quality scores. This is because they affect the body's natural sleep-wake cycle, making it easier to fall asleep. However, they can reduce the proportion of deep (slow-wave) sleep, which results in next-day grogginess and fatigue.
Current data indicates that the adverse side effects of Benadryl are more pronounced in children and older adults. Countries such as Germany and Sweden are already restricting access to its use. But it is prevalent — diphenhydramine remains available in over 300 formulations, all going by different names, most of which are over-the-counter.
Non-Benzodiazepines You might have heard of Ambien. This medication for insomnia was studied earlier this year by a neuroscientist at Oxford University. They found that it has the potential to disrupt clearance of the brain's waste materials during sleep. This is ironic: though it induces sleep fast, it does not allow for deep sleep. That's the stage of sleep when our brains do their garbage dump. If we could hear the communication in our brains during deep sleep, it would be: "Out with you, toxins! Prepare for a new day!" Yes, all our systems need proper waste disposal.
Benzodiazepines July 11 is World Benzodiazepine Day. They are used as tranquilizers and are very often used to treat anxiety disorders. They are also prescribed and used by many to treat insomnia, vertigo, muscle spasms, seizure disorders, and alcohol withdrawal.
Though these prescriptions can be helpful, they also have long-term dangers that many patients may not be aware of. Benzodiazepines can slow reflexes, affect coordination, and increase dizziness. The stability of walking is compromised. A night's walk to the washroom becomes a high-stakes trek. One fall can fracture a hip or injure the spine, often marking the moment when independent living ends.
Besides, a 2023 study that analyzed seniors for nine years found that those who frequently relied on sleep medications faced a 79% higher chance of dementia compared with those who rarely or never used them.
With prolonged use, people find they can't do without these sleep aids. So, dependence on them increases. But at the same time, effectiveness wanes. The dose that used to work for them is ineffective. What do they do then? They increase the dose. They may try to quit, only to have difficulty falling asleep again, or they may experience anxiety attacks. They fall back on the sleep medications, and at the same time, into the vicious loop of sabotaging their health.
It becomes obvious that turning to natural sleep solutions that are free from unwanted side effects is the preferred choice.
Natural Solutions for Sleep
Get my "Sleep the Night Away" checklist. If you think you do everything on that list but still can't fall asleep, or you still wake up and can't get back to sleep, schedule a call with me so I can personally help you tweak some things that may not be apparent.
Read these blog posts for more information.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), particularly CBT-I (Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia), is a recommended first-line treatment for insomnia when other natural solutions have failed.
References
DISCLAIMER: The content I share is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. If you purchase products linked from these blog posts, I may receive a percentage of the proceeds. These affiliations help to support my work.
Napping does give a relief that Benadryl can't. At least a nap a day , notice I said a day, helps relieve the tiredness that frequently used benadryl can't because it needs to be used only at night or bed time.
I use to use it but found that it was not effective after frequent use. I'm glad that I no longer use it.