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Journalism of Courage
Sleep 8212; the great rejuvenator, the balm for the weary. A good sleep is a sign of good health. So, naturally the inability to sleep literally becomes a cause for sleepless nights! Insomnia, reportedly, afflicts most people some time or the other. Many opt for sleeping pills as an easy means of combating sleeplessness. But why do people have so much trouble doing an activity that is supposed to come naturally? 8220;Sleeplessness could be due to psychological factors such as depression or anxiety. Another factor could be physical ailments such as high blood pressure, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis etc. Or it could be occupational, that is, people working in shifts or forced to keep irregular sleep routines and frequent late nights,8221; explains Dr B S Chavan, head of the psychiatry department at Government Medical College and Hospital GMCH, Chandigarh.
Excessive intake of beverages containing caffeine and alcohol are also recounted as responsible. Difficulty in falling asleep, waking frequently during the night, or waking up early and being unable to get back to sleep make people resort to pills. 8220;Insomnia is generally a symptom of a problem, and not the problem itself,8221; points out Dr Chavan. 8220;It is, therefore, important to get to the root of the problem.8221; Diazepam, Alprax and Valium are commonly cited as sleep-aids by chemists. 8220;These are essentially tranquilisers, anti-depressants and hypnotics and take 15-30 minutes to show effect,8221; says Dr Chavan. Although these drugs may knock you out, many people wake up with hangovers. They also run the risk of getting addicted to them, Dr Chavan warns, 8220;withdrawal symptoms like palpitations, restlessness, high BP and tremors manifest themselves once the addiction sets in. 8221;
Natural8217; herbal remedies like kava kava, chamomile and peppermint tea are gaining popularity in the West. Ayurveda also offers alternatives. 8220;Ayurvedic remedies like shankhpushpi, brahmi, jatamansi, sarap gandha are essentially nerve-relaxants that promote good sleep without side effects,8221; says Dr Ajay Sharma, consultant physician, S D Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Chandigarh.
So whether it8217;s stress due to exam, depression or work-related stress, coffee or alcohol that8217;s keeping you away from dreamland, the side-effects of long-term abuse of sleeping pills are definitely not worth sleeping over. Take medical counseling as playing doctor could invite potentially nightmarish side effects.
