Are You a victim of Sleep Aids?

Can’t sleep?Don’t reach for the sleep aid!

Credibility• Santucci, Raymond. "Getting A Good Night's Sleep."

Lee Memorial Health System. N.p., 2013. Web. 30 Oct. 2013.

•  Stark, Lisa. "Study Claims Sleeping Pill Use in US on Rise." ABC News. ABC News Network, 29 Aug. 2013.Web. 29 Oct. 2013.

• Reinberg, Steven. "Prescription Sleep Aids a Common Choice for American Insomnia." WebMD. N.p., 29 Aug. 2013. Web. 8 Nov. 2013.

•  "What You Don't Know About Your Sleeping Pills." The Dr. Oz Show. N.p., 11 Feb. 2013. Web. 30 Oct.2013.

Do you have trouble sleeping?Do you use sleep aids?

Yes

No

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Trouble sleeping?

… ~1/4 of you take sleep aids

Dangers of Sleep Aids

• Magnitude of sleep aids–~9 million people use sleep aids in the

US•5% of women and 3.1% men over

the age of 20–Those of higher education = increase

sleep aid use

Negative Impacts

• Increase risk for cancer and death

• Still impaired 8 hours after getting up– Falling asleep at the wheel

• Addiction

Negative Impacts Con’t

• Most sleep aids do not promote deep sleep (REM sleep)

• REM sleep:– were vivid dreams occur–Body rejuvenates–Memory is consolidated

• Sleep Aid users don’t feel well rested and 82% of our class agree first hand

Causes

• Secondary insomniacs:– Depression

– Sleep apnea

– Restless leg syndrome

Cause Con’t

• Life style– Late bed time– Activities before bed that has a screen

– Caffeine or Food just before bed

Solutions

• Cognitive behavioral therapy – Change bad habits!• No TV or anything stimulating when in bed• Reading chair with dim light• Calming bath• Never lay awake in bed; go read until tired then

go Back to bed.

Solutions Con’t

• Know underlying cause of insomnia for proper treatment–Depression: antidepressants –Sleep apnea: C-PAP or Bi-PAP–Restless leg syndrome: muscle relaxant

Sleep tight don’t let the sleep aids bite!