Cindy Monroe was a busy stay-at home mom of two boys. She volunteered at her son

Question

Cindy Monroe was a busy stay-at home mom of two boys. She volunteered at her son's schools, took care of her mom (after several strokes, she needed more help), and took pride in maintaining a tidy and clean home. Lately, she had been having problems sleeping. Her friends told her to take some sleeping aid pills, but those made her feel groggy in the morning. She was also afraid that if she slept too well, and might miss hearing her boys in the middle of the night if they had a problem. This gave her even more anxiety. Another friend mentioned that the active ingredient in those sleep aids is the same as in allergy medications-and to be sure to not overdose! That really terrified Mrs. Monroe. She decided to try something 'all natural': melatonin. Her cousin used it all the time to deal with jet-lag (the downfall of all those trips to Paris), so why not try it?

Explanation / Answer

Melatonin is the hormone secreted by Pineal gland in brain regulates our sleep - wake cycle. Increased melatonin induces sleep.  Retina of the eye also secretes Melatonin.For optimum Melatonin production, complete darkness is necessary. Eating too late also affects melatonin production.

Flat LED T.V. screens, computer screens emit blue light. Retina of our eye is sensitive to light. In darkness Hypothalmus signals the body to produce Melatonin and reduce the temperature of our body which induces sleep. In the morning, light induces the body to warm up and and produce another hormone cortisol.

In artificial lighr from electronic gadgets during night, body gets a false signal and don't produce melatonin. Blue light having shorter wavelength affects the functioning of brain more than any other type of light. Delta brainwaves which induce sleep are supressed by blue light whereas the alpha waves which create alertness are generated.

Production of Melatonin is dependent on production of another hormone Norepinephrine.  Cortisol hormone secreted from Adrenal gland inhibit norepinephrine production.

Eating at late night increases the blood sugar level. so pancreas is stimulated to produce insulin which lowers the blood glucose level. Eating late-night snack regularly induces the pancreas to release large amount of insulin which drastically reduce the blood glucose level. This abnormal fall in blood glucose lavel causes the Adrenal gland to secrete the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol and bright light both inhibit the production of Melatonin. The result is disturbed sleep cycle and insomnia.

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