{"id":4398,"date":"2019-02-25T05:39:03","date_gmt":"2019-02-25T05:39:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=4398"},"modified":"2021-03-29T13:52:54","modified_gmt":"2021-03-29T13:52:54","slug":"10-facts-to-know-about-the-hormone-melatonin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/10-facts-to-know-about-the-hormone-melatonin\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Facts to Know About The Hormone Melatonin"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Melatonin has long been known for its sleep-inducing capabilities. Some have even called it the safest sleeping pill that the world has ever seen. It is often used as a substitute for prescription medication. The reason for this substitution is the fact that many prescription medications bring a myriad of side effects with them \u2014 hardly what you\u2019d want if you have an important appointment the next morning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seeing as melatonin is already produced within your body for sleep purposes, getting a few supplements into your routine could help with problems like insomnia. The same concept holds true for both adults and children. That being said, there are still many people who don\u2019t understand the basis for how melatonin works. It\u2019s very important to understand how something works before you rely on it to give you a good night\u2019s sleep, WIth that said, here are six facts that will clarify everything for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. 0.7% of American children have used melatonin.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health has stated that 0.7% of all children within the United States have used melatonin at one point or another. It is most commonly administered to children who struggle with various types of sleep disturbances including night terrors and insomnia. Many parents that have children with disorders such as autism or ADHD <\/a>also rely on melatonin to get their kids to sleep the full recommended length. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same study found that the percentage of adults who use it in the United States is almost double at 1.3%. This makes it a pretty widespread treatment bearing in mind that it isn\u2019t considered a prescription medication like Valium. Most parents are more willing to give their kids melatonin supplements as it isn\u2019t as risky as giving them prescription medications at a young age. Bear in mind that some complications could arise depending on any underlying conditions that the child might have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. It works wonders for kids with autism<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many parents struggle to take care of their kids who have autism<\/a>. And we know that you\u2019re wondering if melatonin can be used to treat autistic kids. The answer is a resounding yes. You can use melatonin to treat kids with autism, and it often makes their life a whole lot easier. Children who are on the autism spectrum have difficulties in sleeping \u2014 and most doctors suspect that this is due to the irregular schedule of their melatonin secretions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This makes it not only harder to fall asleep, but also to stay asleep. Irregular melatonin secretion is likely why many autistic children don\u2019t get enough sleep. Providing melatonin supplements to children with autism can ensure that they get enough sleep. It also yields far fewer side effects to them than if you were to administer prescription medications such as Valium or others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. It starts working less when you’re older<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the drawbacks of using melatonin <\/a>to aid with regular sleeping schedules is the fact that its efficacy degrades with age. Many studies have shown that the effect that melatonin has on the body becomes less pronounced as people get older. The human body also reduces its natural production of melatonin as you age. This leaves a greater deficiency of melatonin in some. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you seek to balance the levels of melatonin in your body throughout the course of your life, you can gradually raise the dosage of your melatonin supplements as you get older. Be sure to consult with your doctor before changing dosages to ensure that no adverse effects manifest as a result of excessive levels of melatonin. As the saying goes, too much of a good thing is a bad thing. The same is true for water, vitamin C, and melatonin \u2014 among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Blue lights can prevent melatonin from working properly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve Googled the causes of insomnia before \u2014 and we\u2019re pretty sure you have \u2014 then you likely know about the fact that blue light can make it harder for you to get to sleep. Many things can count as blue light. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everything from the displays on your smartphones to the flatscreen TV in your room emits blue light. If you look at blue light for extended periods of time, your body will start to release melatonin. You see, the brain <\/a>is tricked into thinking that it\u2019s morning whenever you expose it to blue light. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It thus tries to stay awake since sleeping during the day isn\u2019t normal in human behavioral patterns \u2014 otherwise, we would be classified as nocturnal primates. This being the case, you should avoid looking at blue light before you sleep to avoid any interruptions in your sleep or bouts of insomnia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Melatonin impacts a woman’s period<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Believe it or not, the menstrual cycles of a woman can also be impacted by the levels of melatonin in the body. The melatonin in your body is used to dictate the circadian rhythm<\/a>, telling you when to sleep and wake up, but it can also command the schedule of your menstrual cycle. The body doesn\u2019t know what minutes and hours mean seeing as those are human creations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What your body does understand is the schedule at which your body secretes melatonin. That being the case, using melatonin supplements can adjust the way that your body functions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, taking melatonin supplements during menopause can reduce or even outright prevent usual insomnia that comes with other menopausal symptoms. Menopause is actually one of the few times in adulthood that your melatonin supplements can be just as \u2014 or even more \u2014 effective in aiding with sleep as the times you took it in your childhood. Remember, melatonin is the clock of your body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Melatonin supplementation can help blind people<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We are all very lucky to have the gift of sight, but not everyone is able to reap the benefits of billions of years of evolution. Sight is one sense that has evolved in many species independently through the eons in what is called convergent evolution, but some people are born blind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the obvious drawbacks of not being able to see, blind people also can\u2019t tell whether it\u2019s night or day. This can lead to poor sleep due to a dulled circadian rhythm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seeing as melatonin is the hormone <\/a>responsible for regulating the internal clock of your body, it can make life easier for those who are blind. This is also useful for workers who have night jobs as it can regulate their circadian rhythm even if they get limited exposure to natural sunlight \u2014 making it easier for them to sleep during the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. It is a natural body-produced hormone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many people see melatonin as a natural type of sleeping pill. In reality, it\u2019s simply a hormone that your body can produce on its own to regulate your sleep. Some scientists have even referred to melatonin as the Dracula hormone due to the fact that it is only secreted at night \u2014 like a vampire that can\u2019t come out during the day. Melatonin is actually produced within your pineal gland<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This gland is no bigger than the size of a pea and is above the midbrain. It is only activated whenever the sun is down, thus, you are unable to produce melatonin during the day. Whenever night comes around, the levels of melatonin in your body increases and stays at this heightened level while you\u2019re sleeping. When the sun rises, your melatonin drops back down. This is how your body tells the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Melatonin can help you fall asleep more easily, but it won\u2019t help you sleep more soundly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is a common misconception that many people fall victim to. Melatonin can make it easier for you to fall asleep, but it isn\u2019t responsible for the quality of sleep that you\u2019ll get on that specific night. While there are some juvenile studies that show that long-term use can lead to generally better sleep, there aren\u2019t any studies that show you\u2019ll get immediate results in your sleep quality by popping a melatonin pill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are taking some melatonin supplements with the hope of getting the perfect night\u2019s sleep, you\u2019ll likely be disappointed. If you really want to get good quality sleep, you should stick to a regular sleep schedule. Assuming you aren\u2019t exposed to blue light<\/a>, your body will produce melatonin a couple of hours prior to the time you normally sleep, thus going to sleep at the same time every day will lead to better quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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