How Melatonin Improves Sleep Disorders

Poor sleep or insufficient melatonin can seriously affect your quality of life. A random survey shows that 30%-40% of adults worldwide have mild or severe sleep disorders. Today, lack of sleep has become a major cause of insomnia and mood problems. Moreover, sleep problems have become a common challenge for office workers. For those who have tight work schedules, going to bed late and getting up early is their normal life. Jet lag and shift work are also common causes of poor sleep. Extending sleep time for a long period of time can disrupt our sleep patterns and thus cause sleep disorders. This condition, especially in adults, is more likely to be blamed on fatigue, poor concentration and memory loss.

MelatoninIt is a sleep hormone that occurs naturally in the body, but unfortunately, as people age, their melatonin levels decrease. However, several recent medical experiments have shown that increasing melatonin intake may provide a quick, soothing sleep-inducing effect. This article mainly wants to explain how melatonin can improve sleep disorders and mood problems through human sleep patterns.

How does melatonin affect sleep?

Sleep is not as simple as you think. It is the result of the joint regulation of multiple chemicals in the body. These processes go through different stages in the brain before an individual enters a deep sleep state. Once these chemicals are released into the body in a steady stream, brain activity, eye movement, and skeletal muscle tone begin to decrease, and over time, blood flow to the brain increases, while breathing rate and heart rate decrease. Interestingly, melatonin is just one of the chemicals that regulate sleep. It is a natural component secreted at night to help you sleep. Its main function is to regulate the circadian rhythm and keep it running normally.

Circadian Rhythm and Sleep Disorders

You must have noticed that you become very energetic or start to feel sleepy at a certain time/period of the day. This is not a coincidence; it's the circadian rhythm that's at work. "Circadian rhythm" refers to how the human body naturally regulates sleep and wakefulness in a 24-hour cycle. It is called the "internal clock" because it regulates sleep patterns, as well as other activities such as body temperature and eating habits. However, some environmental factors can also disrupt circadian rhythms, including day-night changes, light exposure, and sleep disorders caused by diseases. This is the main reason why people experience jet lag and prolonged sleep, and if sleep disorders are not properly managed, they can lead to serious consequences such as insomnia and mood problems.

Sleep disorders: How melatonin helps you regulate your clock

Over the years, scientists have discovered many substances that can regulate circadian rhythms (the body's internal clock), but melatonin is considered "safer" because it is natural, non-toxic and suitable for long-term use by the elderly. In addition, it has very few side effects and is well tolerated. These studies suggest that taking melatonin can have a rapid effect on circadian rhythms. That is, taking 5 mg of melatonin supplements orally at night can induce sleep within about 20-45 minutes. This can only be done by stimulating the brain's sleep receptors. Oral melatonin sends a signal to our body clock, which can then be reset every day.

Melatonin has been tested several times to improve sleep latency and sleep quality. Its efficacy also allows shift workers and intercontinental travelers to improve or maintain good sleep patterns by taking a certain dose of melatonin orally. In addition, a significant study by the British Association of Psychological Drugs concluded that melatonin should be the first choice treatment for insomnia patients over the age of 55.

Conclusion

The use of melatonin in several sleep disorders is still being explored. But for now, taking melatonin provides a highly effective and reliable treatment for mild sleep disorders such as jet lag, mild insomnia, and sleep disturbances. Melatonin has no addictive or dependence-causing side effects. Because of its safety and sedative effects, melatonin is strongly recommended for shift workers and the elderly to maintain high-quality sleep.