Expert provides recommendations on alternatives to sleeping pills



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DENVER – The Centers for Disease Control report that one in three adults do not sleep enough.

More than 500,000 people are taking prescription medications like Ambien or Lunesta to get the sleep they need, but the Food and Drug Administration now requires labels to warn patients of the possibility of dangerous side effects .

Robert Turner, clinical supervisor of Rose Medical Center's Sleep Center, said users of these drugs may not know all the effects.

"With Ambien, people can do things while they are asleep without knowing it," he said.

Turner advises anyone considering treatment for a sleep disorder to disclose all of their health information to their doctor in order to make the best decision for their health.

"(Sleeping pills) have interactions with other drugs," said Turner.

He added that potent sleeping pills are designed for short-term use in times of depression, stress, or anxiety.

"Your daughter is getting married and you are worried about marriage," Turner said as an example.

Turner recommends that anyone who has trouble falling asleep regularly try to reduce their caffeine intake.

"There are people who consume caffeine at dinner time – having coffee at dinner – and then wondering why they can not fall asleep," he said.

Supplements such as melatonin, if approved by a doctor, may also help. Do a lot of exercise, but not within three hours, and follow a regular sleep schedule, which means you do not sleep late on weekends.

Doctors say that we should all sleep between seven and nine hours a night. Failure to do so can eventually lead to diabetes, heart disease, stroke and other health problems.

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