Are Sleep Aids Bad for You?

Sleep problems are common among adults. With so much going on in your life, sleeping at night can be difficult to catch.

Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder. Most adults experience symptoms of insomnia that include difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. Insomnia also involves slowed thinking and sleepiness.

Unfortunately, insomnia is tied to sleep deprivation, which can affect your physical and mental health.

To address sleep issues, you can turn to sleep aids.

Read: What sleep aids are safe when you’re pregnant?

Are Sleep Aids Bad for You and How Common are They? 

They are pretty common as more and more people suffer from insomnia. The number of people who are using sleep aid is rising.

But are they bad for you?

Sleep aids come in two categories. You can use medications or dietary supplements.

It’s the sleep aid medication that can be bad for you if you use it every night.

Plus, it has associated side effects. They can cause dry mouth, urinary rendition, blurred vision, and constipation.

The use of sleep aid medication is alarming in older individuals because they are at a higher risk of falls and dizziness.

On the other hand, you can take those dietary supplements that can aid you in falling asleep at night.

Read: Alternatives to Sleep Aid Medications

Melatonin

It is a common sleep aid dietary supplement. Melatonin is a hormone. Your body releases it when it is time to sleep.

Unfortunately, as you get older, your body’s ability to produce this hormone is reduced. When you take a melatonin supplement, it triggers your body’s melatonin production so your body starts to relax.

It is generally safe and effective. However, you may experience headaches and confusion as side effects.

Chamomile 

If you love tea, then you will not have a problem drinking chamomile tea as a sleep aid.

Chamomile has been used for centuries for people who have difficulty falling asleep. Drinking it comes with little risk.

Chamomile tea isn’t the only tea you can use at night to help you feel sleepy and fall asleep. Valerian root is also useful to help you put yourself to sleep at night.

Unfortunately, some people have allergies to these teas. Thus, if you’re one of them, you should take them with caution.

Read: The Best Sleep Aids to Use for Adults

Is it Bad to Take a Sleep Aid Every Night? 

If you are taking sleep medications to assist you in falling asleep, then you are at risk of developing unsafe habits. You may also become dependent on them.

Keep in mind that these medications must only be used as part of your overall treatment plan for your insomnia. They are addictive and cause serious side effects.

Instead of using sleep aid medications, you may want to try cognitive behavioral therapy. It is typically the first line of treatment because it is generally safe.

CBT can address stress, anxiety, and other emotions that can affect your sleep. This therapy can also teach you to start sleep hygiene habits that can result in long-lasting sleep benefits.

In that case, it is not actually bad if you take sleep aid medications every night for a short term. They only get worse if you take them every night for months or years.

That’s why when you want to use a sleep aid because of your severe insomnia, you should talk to your doctor. Your physician may take note of your mental health concerns.

There are different sleep aids on the market and not all of them are ideal for you. Your doctor can help you choose a sleep aid that helps you fall asleep faster with fewer side effects.

When taking sleep aid medications, you need to take the lowest dose possible. In that way, potential side effects can be greatly reduced.

Sleeping pills must only be used short-term.

The use of sleep aids for more than four weeks is linked to a higher risk of mortality. They also affect sleep stages that correspond to sleep quality.

As mentioned, you may get addicted to them. You may also develop tolerance.

If you do, you need higher doses to get the same effects. You may also experience withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, irritability, and strange dreams.

What is the Safest Sleep Aid to Take? 

The safest sleep aid depends on your age, health, and other factors.

Benzodiazepine is a common sleep aid. It is safe but it can cause addiction because you can develop a tolerance to its effects.

OTC sleep aids that contain antihistamines may be safe.

Melatonin is one of the safest OTC. It is a dietary supplement that can still cause side effects.

But compared to sleep aid medications, melatonin dietary supplement causes fewer side effects and is not habit-forming.

Try Weighted Eye Mask 

If you still can’t sleep despite the use of the safest sleep aid, you might want to invest in a weighted eye mask.

There’s enough study to confirm its usefulness in insomnia. However, deep touch pressure stimulation uses firm but gentle pressure making the body switch from the fight or flight sympathetic nervous system.

The gentle pressure starts to loosen your muscles so you can relax. Your heart rate also slows down while your circulation improves.

The additional weight from the eye mask calms down your nervous system so you can sleep better.

However, not all weighted eye masks are the same. If you want the most effective one, choose an eye mask with a sleep design that contours the eye area.

In that way, it applies the right amount of pressure around your eyes.

Your eye mask must have enough pressure and weight. It means that it is not too heavy or too light that it will just fall off when you change your sleeping position.

Furthermore, the weighted mask must be soft so it won’t cause friction around your eyes. It should also be adjustable to fit your head.

A weighted eye mask can go well with a weighted blanket. But before you invest in a weighted blanket, you should try the deep touch pressure stimulation of a weighted eye mask first.

It can be a perfect sleep aid that is more affordable than other sleep aid medications. It is a natural sleep aid that is not bad for you and you can use it every night. To shop for a weighted eye mask to help you fall asleep, please visit and get FREE shipping worldwide.