No Comments November 19, 2007 – 1:48 am

If you have trouble sleeping tonight you are not alone. Forty million Americans will go to bed tonight hoping and praying for just a few hours of restful sleep. Chances are, sleep will elude them and they will toss and turn until morning. Insomnia is a growing epidemic in our country as evidenced by the growing number of commercials and print ads featuring prescription sleep medications.

Sleeplessness is the root cause of many health and social problems. While nearly everyone has an occasional sleepless night, people with chronic insomnia spend night after night having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. They look at the bedside clock dreading the thought of facing another day in an exhausted state. Often the sleep that they do manage to get is not restorative so they wake up feeling just as tired as they were when they went to bed.

Sleep disorders have been directly linked to serious health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes, depression and memory loss. Because adequate sleep is critical to a strong immune system, people who suffer from insomnia may also be more susceptible to auto-immune diseases.

Sleep deprivation has been linked to major disasters like plane crashes, traffic fatalities and serious work related injuries. The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration reports that 100,000 vehicle fatalities this year can be directly linked to sleeplessness.

In addition to health risks, sleep disorders can profoundly affect quality of life because just getting through day becomes a chore. The classic symptoms of insomnia are:

• Trouble falling asleep
• Trouble staying asleep
• Waking up too early in the morning
• Daytime fatigue, irritability and inability to concentrate

Because insomnia is such a chronic problem in our country and throughout the world, considerable research has been conducted and there have been some significant breakthroughs in recent years. If you suffer from the symptoms of insomnia you should see your doctor to rule out any physical ailments that may be robbing you of sleep. Certain conditions like restless legs syndrome, sleep apnea and depression can contribute to insomnia. Fortunately, all of those conditions are treatable.

Let’s face it. There’s nothing more refreshing than a night of restorative sleep and there’s nothing more exhausting than night after night of sleep deprivation. There are many prescription medications, holistic remedies and lifestyle changes that can enhance your ability to sleep. Check out your options and take the necessary steps to give your body the restorative sleep it needs to function at peak performance.