Why Can't I Sleep? Part 1

by Glen Depke

There are many factors that would define poor sleep cycles. The inability to fall asleep easily, waking often through the night and/or waking without feeling refreshed are the most significant issues and often individuals will suffer with all of these challenges. What I can share though, is that regardless of your sleep challenges, there is hope and finding the underlying components and balancing this is the key.

What, you mean it's not taking melatonin?

I know, you have already heard that all you have to do it take a melatonin supplement, right? Let me tell you that based on my years of practice with my clients the use of melatonin supplementation is not the answer.

While melatonin does play a significant role in your sleep cycle, the use of this from a supplemental aspect does not fix the problem for you. The first step is to recognize what is creating the low melatonin levels in the first place and next week I will address the underlying factors in part 2 of this sleep series.

Print out the list below and take out your highlighter to mark the areas in your life that are challenging your melatonin production. This will shed some light (pun intended) on a subject that can change your life.

These Substances Interfere with Melatonin

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Alkaloids

Caffeine interferes with the endogenous production of Melatonin

Pharmaceutical Drugs

Aspirin interferes with the endogenous production of Melatonin

Benzodiazepines lower the endogenous production of Melatonin

Beta-Blockers lower the endogenous production of Melatonin

Ibuprofen interferes with the endogenous production of Melatonin  

Pharmaceutical Corticosteroids interfere with the endogenous production of Melatonin

Prozac (a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) lowers the body's Melatonin levels

Recreational Drugs

Excessive consumption of Alcohol (ethanol) inhibits with the body's production of Melatonin

Tobacco interferes with the endogenous production of Melatonin

These Factors Interfere with Melatonin

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Aging Process

The onset of the Aging Process decreases the body's production of Melatonin:

Age: Plasma Melatonin Levels

(Picograms per ml)

       Males Females

20  1,000  880

30    900   830

40    800   780

50    700   700

60    600   600

70    500   540

80    400   500 

Aging itself is not an excuse for low melatonin. The fact that most are becoming less healthy as we age is the bigger factor.  

Altered Lighting

The use of Sunglasses impairs the entrance of Sunlight into the Pineal Gland via the Eyes, causing reduced production of Melatonin

Cardiovascular System

Ischemic Heart Disease interferes with the body’s nightly secretion of Melatonin (Ischemic Heart Disease patients have been found to have significantly depressed nightly secretion of Melatonin compared to healthy persons)

Electromagnetic Radiation

Some forms of toxic Electromagnetic Radiation suppress the body's production and secretion of Melatonin

Exposure to Light during Sleep inhibits the secretion of Melatonin from the Pineal Gland.

Immune System

Several forms of Cancer interfere with the body's production of Melatonin (by decreasing the body's production of Interleukin-2):

- Breast Cancer

- Colon Cancer

- Lung Cancer

- Prostate Cancer

- Stomach Cancer

Metabolism

Exercise (when undertaken in at night) lowers night-time plasma Melatonin levels

Nervous System

Excessive Stress depletes the body’s Melatonin levels.

Sexual System - Female

The greatest decline in Melatonin production and secretion occurs during and after Menopause in women

These Factors Interfere with the Potency of Supplemental Melatonin

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Melatonin supplements are highly susceptible to degradation by Heat - Melatonin supplements should therefore be kept tightly closed and refrigerated.

Since I mentioned that melatonin supplementation is not the key, look for next weeks article to recognize the key underlying factors in sleep cycle challenges. In the mean time, make it a point to address the factors that you discovered today that may be creating some melatonin deficiencies at this time.

If you have any questions or comments please post these below for me to address personally.