In today’s world, consumers are constantly on-the-go and plugged in to devices that keep them from achieving the quality sleep they need. With nearly one-third of U.S. adults reporting less than seven hours of sleep a day, healthy sleep patterns across the nation seem to be a thing of the past — and health care providers throughout the country are noticing the repercussions.
Dark circles and uncontrollable yawning aren’t the only adverse effects of a lack of sleep. With increasing evidence suggesting an association between sleep duration, mental and physical health, there’s an emphasis on the importance of sleep maintenance to ensure mind and body are functioning at their peaks. Furthermore, according to a recent study published by RAND, a nonprofit research organization, sleepless nights don’t just lead to the development of multiple health problems. They can also result in a 10 percent higher mortality rate.
For those struggling to fall asleep and stay asleep, conventional prescription and over-the-counter sleep aid solutions can come with various limitations in effectiveness , plus side effects that include a drug hangover in the morning and the potential for tolerance, dependence and withdrawal issues. Natural sleep aids, including melatonin supplements, have become a popular choice in the sleep aid industry as well. Melatonin is the body’s own natural hormone produced by the pineal gland. However, not all melatonin supplements are the same. If you’re still not finding it easy to drift off to dreamland after using a traditional melatonin supplement, a recent study presented in June at SLEEP 2018 — an annual scientific and clinical meeting — reported that a melatonin delivery technology provides continuous release and absorption melatonin (CRA-melatonin), which can help users achieve optimal sleep levels.
[See: The Best Foods for Sleep.]
While the majority of melatonin supplements immediately release melatonin to help you fall asleep, most products aren’t providing the melatonin your body needs to keep you asleep for the recommended seven hours needed each night. Due to increased frustrations and sleepless nights reported by consumers, there’s been a need for a melatonin-delivery system that would achieve a release profile that mimics your body’s natural delivery of the sleep-inducing hormone.
Why You Should Consider a Melatonin Supplement
As a natural alternative to help your body achieve its natural full sleep cycle, melatonin supplements are regarded as an effective approach to improve your sleep quality without any harmful side effects, risk of dependency or withdrawal symptoms. Developed to regulate your body’s circadian rhythm, which controls your sleep and wake cycles, conventional melatonin supplements have been used primarily as a treatment for jet lag and shift work.
In order to properly treat your sleeplessness with melatonin, it’s helpful to first identify the cause of your body’s resistance to getting some sound shut-eye. Multiple factors can contribute to your tossing and turning, including your age. The amount of melatonin your body naturally produces begins to decline as you get older. This usually begins as early as your 20s, but production levels decrease even more rapidly as you approach 60.
External factors can also impact your sleep quality. Stress, alcohol, medications, noise and light have all been found to contribute to sleeplessness.
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Melatonin Supplements Are Not Created Equal
With so many melatonin supplements to choose from, you might think they’re all the same. However, depending on the quality of the melatonin, dosage and timing, conventional melatonin may not provide the sleep maintenance benefits required so you can achieve seven hours of quality sleep.
Conventional melatonin sleep aids immediately release melatonin after consumption, but it’s primarily absorbed by your stomach, providing sleep support for up to four hours. CRA-melatonin mimics your body’s natural melatonin production and can be absorbed beyond the stomach, delivering melatonin continuously throughout the intestinal tract for up to seven hours. Not only does the unique system keep you asleep, it was also designed to help you fall back asleep quickly should you wake up in the middle of the night.
Research presented at the SLEEP 2018 conference continues to underscore the dangers that lie in sleepless nights, leading to multiple health issues.
CRA-melatonin is delivered through a technology called an ion-powered pump. This uses a high-quality melatonin designed to address the limitations of conventional melatonin sleep aids. A peer-reviewed study presented at SLEEP 2017 found this scientifically advanced product releases and absorbs 99 percent ultra-pure melatonin for up to seven hours, which may help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer and experience quality sleep. A second study of 500 patients presented in June at SLEEP 2018 confirmed those findings, providing confirmatory real-world evidence of the correlation between CRA-melatonin’s seven-hour release profile and improvement in key sleep parameters, including sleep duration, sleep onset, maintenance and quality.
Years ago, it was acceptable to simply tell a patient to “try this medication and see if it helps.” Today, my patients are more conscious of the medications they take, and many prefer organic supplements that can remedy their health issues. I urge my colleagues to carefully listen to patients’ frustrations about sleep deprivation and educate them on using an organic solution, such as the one offering CRA-melatonin.
[See: 8 Ways to Relax Now.]
Many consumers are skeptical about using sleep aids, given the misconception that these products are only used to treat jet lag. But it’s become more common to use sleep aids or melatonin supplements to help consumers achieve quality sleep. Before trying stronger medications, I recommend trying an organic solution that provides a CRA-melatonin that imitates the body’s own natural sleep pattern and has revolutionized the role of melatonin as a sleep aid. Benefits include staying asleep longer and achieving six or more hours of quality sleep, while also promoting better health and a more youthful appearance.
Dr. David Brodner, M.D., is a leading sleep specialist who is double board-certified in otolaryngology and sleep medicine, and founder and principle physician at The Center for Sinus, Allergy and Sleep Wellness in Palm Beach County, Florida. Dr. Brodner was one of the authors of a recent sleep study on a new ion-powered pump continuous release and absorption melatonin, REMfresh.
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Continuous-Release Melatonin: A Better Option for Quality Sleep? originally appeared on usnews.com
