When too much sleep is really just not enough

We all desire a good night’s sleep. Restful and refreshing sleep is an important part of our well being. Of course, we all have occasional sleep problems; but having sleeping problems on a regular basis can have significant adverse affect on our ability to lead a normal productive life.

If you have trouble getting off to sleep, or toss and turn and your sleep is generally disturbed, or you feel more weary than wide awake each morning, then you’re not alone. About 30% of Australians suffer with sleep problems.

Sometimes there is a particular and easily identifiable problem – perhaps pain – that causes sleep to be less than ideal and, if this is the case, the underlying cause needs to be addressed.

Often, however, your body clock just gets out of “sync” – maybe because of shift work or jet lag. It becomes a vicious cycle. It seems the less you sleep, the harder it is to get to sleep.

The question is – what to do about it? So-called hypnotics and sedatives certainly have a place in treating insomnia – where insomnia is defined as more than very occasional sleep disturbance.

New prescription medicines have been hailed as revolutionary by many doctors because, compared with older preparations such as the barbiturates and benzodiazopines, they are rapidly absorbed and quickly eliminated from the body. There appears, therefore, to be less of a residual effect – that is less likelihood of drowsiness continuing long after it is desired.

Nevertheless, there is no doubt all these medicines are best taken for the short term only. It seems likely a habit forming tolerance will develop when continued use exceeds a few weeks.

If you have chronic, (that is long-term), sleep problems, there may be some simple ways you can get into a regular sleep pattern more easily. The new Fact Card entitled Sleeping Problems, gives some valuable tips. This card is available from pharmacies around Australia providing the Pharmaceutical Society’s Self Care health information.
It’s most important to establish a routine. Try to get up out of bed at the same time every day; and once you’re up, stay up. It helps your body maintain that natural waking and sleeping rhythm that makes sleep easier.

Avoid caffeine-containing drinks (tea, coffee, cola, chocolate) in the evening. As well as being a mild stimulant, caffeine also causes us to pass water more often; so our sleep can be disturbed by the need to visit the bathroom during the night. If you can’t go without your tea or coffee at night, try the ‘decaf’ varieties.

Exercise is important too, but late evening sport and strenuous work-outs can stimulate the system and make sleep difficult. Afternoon exercise, probably after work and before dinner, seems to be best.

We should be aware that night caps are for keeping the head warm. The alcoholic variety really don’t do anything for normalising our sleep pattern. Alcohol can actually disturb the balance between the various stages of sleep and we tend to wake up still a little hung over. And just like coffee, alcohol can also encourage those extra trips to the bathroom. Some prescription and over-the-counter medicines can disturb sleep. Ask your pharmacist for advice about the possibility of this occurring. If you need a cold and flu remedy the so-called day-time/night-time formulas are worth considering.

Remember that persistent sleep disorders, especially those involving pain or breathing difficulties need to be investigated by your doctor.