Melatonin is not a sleep hormone, it is a substance that signals the body that it is night time, in some cases it can help cope with insomnia, in others it can aggravate the condition. This is MV Lomonosov Alexander Kalinkin to socialbites.ca by the Head of the Center for Sleep Medicine at the University Clinic of Moscow State University.
“Melatonin is not a sleeping pill. For some it can improve sleep, for others it can worsen. But for the majority it does not work at all because the causes of sleep disorders are usually not related to its development,” Kalinkin said.
The somnologist added that acute insomnia usually resolves on its own, but sometimes short-term sleeping pills are required.
“For chronic insomnia lasting more than three months, it is not recommended to take psychotropic and hypnotic drugs: they can be fatal. In general, there are more than 80 types of sleep disorders. It is more important to fully influence the causes and not mask violations with sleeping pills, ”Kalinkin explained.
Many times, lifestyle changes can significantly improve sleep quality. Kalinkin noted that you shouldn’t view sleep as a waste of time: you need seven to nine hours of sleep. If you notice violations, you should add physical activity, spend more time in the sun, establish a sleep schedule, try to fall asleep and wake up at the same time, and also train yourself to get up without an alarm clock. Also, try to limit your caffeine intake. According to the doctor, even chocolate eaten in the morning can affect sleep.