You’ve heard of so many different sleeping medications, it gets confusing. You’re trying to make out what they are; which ones are safe and effective. You want to know your options and how to talk to your doctor intelligently or get one over the counter from the drugstore.

Here’s how you can easily learn that information and have it at your fingertips. Very broadly, just remember 2 key points :

1.    There are 4 categories of sleeping medication available
2.    There are 3 general guiding principles on how these sleeping medications are picked

4 CATEGORIES OF SLEEPING MEDICATION

1. The “Z” drugs:

They are the newest, most talked about and most expensive class of drugs used today. This class of sleeping medication is the non-benzodiazepines or “Non-Benzos” and sometimes called the ”Z” drugs. They are popularly used because they achieve comparable efficacy with lesser side effects compared to the older generation of drugs i.e. the benzodiazepines.

-Lunesta (eszopiclone)
-Sonata (zaleplon)
-Ambien (zolpidem)
-Rozerem (ramelteon), the newest kid on the block

However, all of this sleep medication may cause severe allergic reaction, facial swelling and complex sleep-related behaviors such as sleep-driving and preparing and eating food while asleep. Bizarre sleep-walking has caught much attention of the public. In one of these cases a patient woke with a paintbrush in her hand after painting the front door to her house. Another case involved a woman who gained 23 kilograms over seven months while taking zolpidem. “It was only when she was discovered in front of an open refrigerator while asleep that the problem was resolved,” according to the report.

2.    The “Benzos”:

Benzodiazepines are the oldest class of sleeping medication and formerly the most commonly used treatment for insomnia. Due to the issues of inappropriate use (abuse), dependence, side effects such as memory or movement impairments, and next-day “hangover”, these sleeping medications are now prescribed with greater caution. This explains why the “non-benzos” are today’s favored and first line treatment of insomnia.

- Dalmane (flurazepam)
- Doral (quazepam)
- Halcion (triazolam)
- Prosom (estazolam)
- Restoril (temazepam)

Even so, benzodiazepines remain a viable treatment option as some practitioners feel they offer better value than the newer more expensive non-benzodiazepines. As it is, proprietary or “branded” drugs like Dalmane and Restoril, sell in generic versions for only 30 to 50 cents each.

”We tend to use the old benzodiazepines,” one medical practitioner explained. ”They appear to be as effective as some of the newer ones, and they’re infinitely less expensive.”

3.    The Antidepressants

You would have heard of antidepressants being used for their sedative side effects to treat insomnia.
-     Desyrel (trazodone)
-    Elavil (amitriptyline)
-    Sinequan (doxepin)

In fact, the inexpensive antidepressant trazodone is the most commonly prescribed sleep medication for the treatment of insomnia in the United States (NIH conference 2005). Yet, the FDA has not approved it officially for insomnia treatment. This is possibly due to lack of long-term studies. As with all antidepressants, there is an inherent small but significant risk of suicidal thoughts or worsening of depression.

4.    The “Over-the-counter” sleeping medication

The main ingredient of over-the-counter sleeping medication is an antihistamine. Antihistamines are mainly used to treat allergies. There are 2 types of antihistamine compounds i.e. doxylamine and diphenhydramine. Again, it is their sedative side effects that make you sleepy.

-    Unisom (Doxylamine compound)
-    Sleepinal (Doxylamine compound)
-    Benadryl (Diphenhydramine compound)
-    Nytol (Diphenhydramine compound)
-    Sominex (Diphenhydramine compound)

It must be noted that other popular brands like Tylenol PM and Advil PM combine the antihistamine with the painkillers acetaminophen and ibuprofen respectively. You may be taking on additional risks with painkillers you don’t need. Generally, while these OTC sleeping medications can have a mildly positive effect on short-term insomnia, the infamous next-day drowsiness can be common and severe. Not to mention tolerance to the sleep medication can easily develop in just a few days.

3 GENERAL GUIDING PRINCIPLES ON HOW SLEEPING MEDICATION IS USED:

1. To help you fall asleep, the sleeping medications below are used

- All the “Z” or “Non-Benzos” i.e. Lunesta, Rozerem, Sonata, Ambien
- “Benzo” drug i.e. Halcion (triazolam),

2. To help you stay asleep, the sleeping medications below are used
- “Z” drugs i.e. Lunesta and Ambien CR (extended release)
- “Benzo” drugs i.e. Restoril (temazepam) and estazolam (a benzodiazepine derivative)

3 . To help you when you can’t sleep and are depressed at the same time , the sleeping medications below are used

- Antidepressants i.e. Pamelor (nortriptyline), Desyrel (trazodone), Elavil (amitriptyline)

LASTLY, here are other facts you should know for a better overall understanding:

-    Sleeping medication is usually used for short periods of time (7-10 days, maximum 2 weeks). This is because they may lose their effectiveness over time.

-    Existing medical conditions like liver, kidney and heart conditions must be pre-empted. Drug interactions between sleep medication and other medication you are taking for these conditions can be serious and life threatening. Also, impaired organ functions can cause the sleeping medication to accumulate in the body thereby increasing the associated side effects.

-    Avoid alcohol. It increases the sedative effects of the pills. Even a small amount of alcohol combined with sleeping medication can make you feel dizzy, confused or faint. Paradoxically, alcohol alone can cause insomnia. Hence, you’ll always be asked whether you’ve any current or past problems with alcohol

-    Your mental state (current or prior psychiatric disorders and depression) is also important as dependence on some of the sleeping medications can develop

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Nearly all people suffer from the inability to fall and stay asleep at some time in their lives. It has been estimated that three-fourths of people suffer from sleeplessness on a regular basis for a long period of time, at least three months. Sometimes people have no problem falling or staying asleep but the quality of the sleep is so poor that they wake up feeling unrested.

The effects from lack of restful sleep can affect your relationships, health and even your career if left unchecked. Many prescription medications are available to treat insomnia. However the side effects associated with these medications may prove as harmful as not getting enough high-quality sleep. Most of these medications are made with narcotics and can be habit-forming and highly addictive, leading to tolerance and withdrawal symptoms. People who take them often complain of drowsiness or sluggishness the next day. In a few cases the side effects can include headaches, dizziness, sore throats and muscle pain. Follows is a summary of these dangers in greater details in order to prove the need to find a better alternative to harmful prescription sleep aids.

The most harmful side effect common with prescription sleep aids is the addictive nature of the narcotics used in these drugs. Very quickly someone who takes these prescription medications for insomnia can find themselves dependant on them for any sleep at all. OTC medications have similar effects but the most dangerous are the sleep aids prescribed by doctors. The only way to avoid the side effect of dependency is to avoid using these prescription sleep aids.

Another problem with prescription sleep aids is that they are often created using very strong drug formulas. In order to try and ensure the patient a full night’s sleep, these medications are made strong enough to last for at least eight or nine hours at a time. Sometimes it takes a while for the sleepiness that these drugs cause to wear off, leaving you tired and sluggish in the morning. It can take many hours after waking for someone who takes prescription sleep aids to feel fully awake.

Eventually you will want to stop taking a prescription sleep medication to help you sleep. Unfortunately, due to the addictive narcotics, this can be difficult and lead to serious withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal symptoms can include:

Headaches
rebound insomnia
spells of dizziness

For this reason, the suggested dose of prescription sleep aids is usually very small although it may be increased as tolerance to the drugs becomes higher.

Due to the dangerous nature of prescription sleep aids, it is in your best interest to research natural over-the-counter, or OTC, alternatives that do not contain addictive ingredients and have no past history of habit forming in people who have taken the medication long term. There are also lifestyle changes that may help with sleeplessness that should be explored before turning to drugs of any kind. Changes in diet and exercise habits may be enough to allow you to get the high-quality full night’s sleep that you need.

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Are you getting difficulty sleeping? Rest – it appears like it must be so effortless however above 50% of men and women will, at some stage in their living, have trouble falling asleep. You can find a number of various sorts of insomnia -short term, chronic, difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, waking up early or poor sleep in general. Stress, anxiousness, depressive disorders, drugs, tobacco, alcohol as well as caffeine can trigger or worsen difficulty sleeping. What do we do for the next morning to fight our sleepiness? Caffeine! -which worsens stress/anxiety/depression as well as quite frequently alcohol the next night -all in attempt to trick our bodies as well as thoughts into feeling “well rested.” Our thoughts do not assistance either…we now have problems slipping asleep, what do we start thinking? “Oh bother, I can’t fall asleep…now I will only get 5 several hours of slumber…what if I do not fall asleep…then tomorrow is proceeding to suck…” as well as on as well as on -a vicious cycle! When we have sleep disorders as well as invest our nights rolling restlessly on our bed and also staring in the ceiling we can get desperate to discover a very good all natural sleep aid. In our desperation, we are able to attempt so numerous solutions as well as all natural sleep aid with out examining whether or not they are trustworthy rest products and also whether or not they are very good for our wellness. We will need to not believe all that’s discovered on the internet. Numerous companies are keen only in marketing their all natural sleep aids plus they are not worried about buyer security. So it gets really essential that you just grow to be a accountable buyer by selecting only trusted products. You should not topic your self to unnecessary dangers by deciding on unwarranted goods for the sleep.

You can discover a number of all natural sleep aids on the internet for slumber problems. Most on the items which you come across are compound products that attempt to induce rest by means of chemical substances. This isn’t a natural method of falling asleep. Although you might uncover short-term relief via such goods, you might be really likely to possess complications at a later stage. You may experience a lot of side effects and also wellbeing connected troubles which are extremely complex. You must consequently attempt to stay clear of these kinds of products and solutions and also only consider naturall or herbal sleep remedies with no any unwanted effects. As long as you are going to pick compound supplements you can suffer this kind of complications.

The only reputable sleeplessness remedy therefore is all natural sleep aid. You will likely be in a position to save yourself from unwanted effects along with other wellness issues only by selecting healthy rest aid. If your rest ailments are connected to dietary deficiencies, you are going to be in a position to rectify your troubles in a very healthy way by getting pure sleep minerals. These all natural sleep aid compensate for that minerals which are deficient in our food. As these minerals don’t force your body to rest by means of chemical compounds, it is a organic sleep help. Also these all natural sleep aid do not have any unwanted effects. Even if you take these all natural sleeping aids all of your existence, you won’t produce any dependency or addiction. As opposed to quite a few other sleep products as well as pills, you won’t suffer any hangovers. You are going to be able to carry out normally not having any problem the following day.

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Do you experience difficulty of having sufficient sleep? If yes, then you are suffering from insomnia. Having difficulty problem with sleeping find sleeping pills to be the best solution to consume plenty hours of sleep but then again you must be careful and aware of the side effects this kind of medication will give you.

Unfortunately, several numbers of prescribed medications for insomnia may have a lot of side effects. It is known that some prescription sleeping pills are made from tranquilizers, sedatives and drugs use in treating with anxiety that may be in need for some doctor’s advice. Problem associated with these prescription sleeping pills may bend of losing its efficiency particularly if you are used to them and may let you suffer withdrawal symptoms if you decided to stop using them as well. But there are some over the counter sleeping pills that won’t require any doctor’s prescription. Diphenhydramine and Dimenhydrinate are one of the various over the counter sleeping pills nowadays that is used in treating minor insomnia but may let you developed unclear vision and unsteadiness.

Still, prescription and over the counter sleeping pills may have both side effects to your body but OTC sleeping aids are recognized to suffer only lower risk of side effects and much more affordable than those with prescription sleeping drugs. To keep you away from suffering severe side effects made by prescription sleeping pills better know the reasons of your insomnia rather than treating the symptom itself. If you think that worrying is the cause of your insomnia then it’s not sleeping drugs that you needed but an antidepressant. Always assure that you know the reason of your insomnia so you’ll know how to take action with the exact medication suited for you. Don’t let yourself depend with the pill, just take it when you much need it. Remember, you already experience sleeping problems and your body won’t need any medication that may give you greater side effects. Anyway, all that you needed is to get through enough hours of sleep so choose OTC sleeping pills to feel only lesser side effects.

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Many people think the quickest way to treat insomnia is with over the counter sleep aids. Although this route can indeed be fast, that does not make over the counter sleep aids safer or more effective than natural remedies for insomnia. Why not? Because there are just too many downsides when it comes to these costly, and typically ineffective drugs.

The biggest downside for these OTC sleep aids is the fact that there is a high risk of dependency. This means that once you start and continue using the drugs for awhile, you won’t be able to go to sleep or stay asleep without them. That may not seem like a big deal to you, but just think of all the money you’re going to throw away over the course of your lifetime; not to mention all of the side-effects you might have to deal with.

Thousands of dollars spent on over the counter sleep aids and a plethora of possible side-effects to accompany that wasted money. Honestly, is this method of treatment really that desirable?

If you’re not interested in using over the counter sleep aids for the rest of your life, then you should try to make the switch to natural insomnia remedies. Natural remedies for insomnia won’t require you to spend tons and tons of cash, nor will they require you to suffer from a bunch of bothersome side-effects. In short, they’ll simply help to treat your insomnia problem.

Are you now wondering about the different insomnia remedies that you can use? Well then, you’re in luck! Directly below are 4 quick insomnia tips that can help to control your sleeping problem and help you to get a better night’s rest.

- Drink a glass of warm milk before bed. It helps to soothe your nerves.

- Take a warm bath with bath salts. Baths can help to calm and relax you, thereby making it easier to go to sleep. Bath salts can help with removing toxins, those of which may be preventing you from getting a deep rest.

- Listen to soft, soothing music. Soft music (specially composed) can help lull you to sleep really quickly.

- Keep a good pattern of sleep. Always wake up around the same time and always go to bed around the same time. A good sleeping pattern will help to program your body to know when it’s time for bed.

Remember, these are but 4 of the many, many insomnia remedies that are out there. In light of that fact, when it comes to over the counter sleep aids, just say NO!

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More Sleep Aid questions please visit : http://www.healthbeautyfaq.com

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If you’re sick and tired of having to take over the counter sleep aids to get a decent sleep, then you may need to turn to natural insomnia remedies. Believe it or not, OTC sleep aids & natural insomnia remedies share a bit in common. They both help you to get to sleep faster and they both help you to stay asleep longer. Unfortunately though, that is where the similarity ends and the differences begin.

Unlike with OTC or even prescription sleep aids, you won’t have to suffer from annoying side effects when using natural remedies for insomnia. This is because there are no chemicals and/or possible toxins/poisons (those of which are present in sleep aids) being introduced into your system.

Even though that sleeping pill may help you to sleep a bit better at night, you’re not yet seeing the negative effects it is having on your health — effects that might not be seen for years to come. On the other hand, natural insomnia remedies have none of these long term health drawbacks; thereby making it the perfect treatment for insomnia and sleep deprivation sufferers.

Aside from the side-effects and health issue, there is also a severe risk of dependency when taking these over the counter sleep aids. Obviously, you won’t be hooked on them during the first week; but after awhile, your body will REQUIRE them in order for you to fall asleep.

At a later stage of dependency, the drug won’t be “helping” you to fall asleep — it will be the one and only thing “allowing” you to sleep. This means if you don’t have any more of that particular sleep aid, you won’t be getting a restful sleep that night. And also, let’s not forget the colossal amount of money you’re going to be spending on this sleep aid each and every year.

Do you know how much money natural insomnia remedies will cost you? Less than a hundred dollars, if even that. This is because there is no fancy equipment, no over priced prescription drugs, and there’s no monthly doctor visits. In short, you’ll get the rest you so greatly deserve without spending a small fortune.

So, if asked to choose between over the counter sleep aids & natural insomnia remedies, which would you likely choose?

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There are many instances in which behavioral and environmental changes aren’t effective at treating or curing insomnia. There are also times when insomnia sufferers simply don’t wish to try these other types of treatments and cures. Fortunately for those individuals, several effective sleep aids and medications are available.

If taken correctly and only as needed for short periods of time, prescription medications need not cause any problems with addiction. That’s good news especially since sleep medications are the most common treatment for insomnia.

Medications to treat insomnia are available by prescription and over-the counter. To obtain a prescription, you of course need to be under the care of a physician. This is actually wise since effective treatment begins with a firm diagnosis and an identification of any underlying causes for the insomnia. For example, if insomnia turns out to be a symptom of depression or anxiety, the patient will fare better when given a prescription designed to treat depression or anxiety rather than the sleep disorder.

When insomnia is identified as purely a sleep issue, the most effective sleep aids for promoting sleep are called hypnotics. The two main goals of hypnotics are to induce sleep faster and then maintain it for a longer period, resulting in better quality sleep.

There are half-life hypnotics and full-life. Half-life hypnotics are designed to stay in the system only half the amount of the time as full-life so they won’t interfere with daytime activities. Hypnotics vary by dosage, too. They’re most effective when taken for short durations and when their use is decreased over a period of time rather than all at once.

Antihistamines are the most common form of over-the-counter (OTC) sleeping aid. Although antihistamines are designed to block the chemicals that the body releases during an allergic outbreak, they have the ability to calm which makes them effective at encouraging sleep. However, this is a point of considerable debate. Some OTC sleep aids contain pain relievers and even if they don’t, OTC sleep aids should never be taken with alcohol. Even though they’re available without a prescription, it’s advisable to consult with a medical professional before taking any type of sleep aid.

Melatonin supplements are another sleep aid that can help in dealing with insomnia. Melatonin is a naturally-occurring hormone the body produces as day turns into night. Melatonin helps the body prepare for sleep by lowering body temperature and triggering other changes inside the body.

Care must be taken when supplementing melatonin because there is always a risk of over-supplementation (ingesting more than the body needs to work effectively). In addition, nutritional supplements such as melatonin lack the stringent testing and reporting requirements that govern prescription medications so side effects and long-term effects may not be fully understood.

Some claim that herbal remedies including St. John’s Wort, valerian root, chamomile and lemon balm are effective at reducing instances of insomnia, but like nutritional supplements, there are no regulations requiring the generation of reports and/or studies to back up these claims or document the benefits or disadvantages of long-term usage.

If you’re having trouble sleeping and nothing seems to help, it might be time to see about speaking with a sleep consultant. Visit www.sleepmanagementconsultants.com to learn more about insomnia– and how you can, with help, finally get a good night’s sleep.

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Over the counter sleep aids can help reduce insomnia. Over the counter sleep aid usage is linked with night-time falls and traumas in older adults. Sleep behaviors may include sleep-driving, driving while not fully awake.

Diphenhydramine may have the opposite effect and makes you excited rather than drowsy. For sleep relief, sleep in a dark, quiet room that isn’t too hot or cold for you or perhaps a snooze during the day.

Sleep medications may help the problem at first, but discombobulation, unrest, and hallucinations may occur because they do not address the root cause of insomnia, they can become a crutch to lean on, rather than a remedy. Sleep medications are meant to provide temporary relief from insomnia, and not serve as a long-term answer.

It’s 2am, and here you are watching another sleeping pill commercial on TV. It’s hard to escape the marketing for sleep medications, if you have insomnia, you may be tempted to give them a try. Or you may see over the counter sleep aids in the drugstore. There is a lot of conflicting information about sleeping pills and their effectiveness. Learning about sleep aids and medications can help you make an informed option about treating your insomnia. In general, sleep medications are most efficient as a temporary aid, not a long term answer.

For chronic insomnia, a good sleep environment, relaxation, and behavioral techniques provide relief without risk of medication side effects.

Are sleep aids and medications right for you Over-the-counter (OTC) If you are taking other medications, sleeping medications can interact with them.

The thought of a pill that can solve your sleep problems quickly is very appealing. Unfortunately, sleep medications don’t cure insomnia, and they can often make the problem worse in the long run, the use of both over-the-counter and prescription sleep medications include: Drug tolerance. You may have to take more and more of the sleep aid for it to work, which can lead to more side effects.

You may come to depend on the medication to sleep, and will be unable to sleep or have even worse sleep without it. There are several side effects to sleep medications, such as drowsiness the next day, confusion, forgetfulness and dry mouth.

There may be an underlying medical or mental disorder, or even a sleep disorder, that if treated would provide more relief from insomnia. Sleep medications are most effective when used sparingly for short term situations sleep medications are used briefly at the beginning of behavioral treatment for insomnia, especially if the sleep deprivation has been severe. You may need a different amount of sleep than before.

As with any medication, it is advisable to consult with your doctor before taking over-the-counter sleep medication. The main ingredient of over-the-counter sleeping pills is an antihistamine. histamine, a chemical messenger in the brain, promotes wakefulness, so antihistamine also has the effect of making you feel very sleepy.

Patients do say that antihistamines help them sleep better, but this effect has not been substantiated through research studies. The antihistamines used in OTC sleep aids can produce side effects.

Common side effects of OTC sleep aids a re drowsiness the next day dizziness and forgetfulness, clumsiness, feeling off balance constipation and urinary retention blurred vision dry mouth and throat.

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Learn How To Sleep Like A Baby – Over The Counter Sleep Aids

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According to the National Center for Sleep Disorders Research at the National Institutes of Health, about 30-40 percent of adults say they have some symptoms of insomnia within a given year, and about 10-15 percent of adults say they have chronic insomnia.

There are many types of over the counter sleeping pills available today. Your doctor can help you decide which OTC sleeping pills will work for you, but it’s also good idea to understand the different types of insomnia. Insomnia is categorized by the length and severity of symptoms and its association with other disorders.

Types of Insomnia

Primary insomnia is often characterized by difficulty falling asleep and by repeated awakenings. People often feel fatigued the next day. People who suffer from this are generally preoccupied with getting enough sleep. The more they try to sleep, the greater the sense of frustration and distress and the more elusive sleep becomes. Co-morbid insomnia

Co-morbid insomnia is insomnia associated with other difficulties such as bad sleeping habits, other medications, medical problems or mental conditions. Intermittent insomnia

Transient insomnia usually lasts from a single night to a few weeks. It is mostly caused by a temporary situations such jet lag, stress, change in temperatures, change in surroundings, Chronic insomnia

Chronic insomnia describes the severity of the length the sleep disorder can last, which lasts for a long period of time. The most common cause of chronic insomnia is depression. Other causes include, restlessness, anxiety, sleep apnea, asthma, arthritis, narcolepsy and even the abuse of caffeine and alcohol. Insomnia Treatment

Over-the-counter medications for insomnia are purchased more than any other type of drug. OTC sleeping pills are a great solution for sleepless nights. Compared to prescription sleep aids, over the counter sleeping pills are cheaper, less addictive, and have less harmful side effects. Various OTC sleep aids are available in any pharmacy and store.

The main ingredient of over-the-counter sleeping pills is an antihistamine. Antihistamines are commonly taken for allergies due to stuffy nose, watery/itchy eyes, and other common cold symptoms. Antihistamines have the effect of making some people feel sleepy and causes drowsiness.

Commonly used over-the-counter sleep medications include:

• Diphenhydramine : used to relieve irritated and watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, allergies and common cold. It’s also used to treat motion sickness and insomnia. Found in brand names like Nytol, Sominex, Sleepinal, Compoz, Benadryl, Anacin P.M., Excedrin P.M., and Tylenol P.M.
• Doxylamine : used in combination with decongestants to relieve runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing caused by the common cold. This is not recommended for young children due to the side effects and even death. Found in brand names like Unisom and Nighttime Sleep Aid

When sleepiness is caused by minor pain, over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or an anti-inflammatory drug (Advil, Motrin) can be useful. Dietary Supplements

Many dietary supplements are being introduced as effective insomnia treatments, although their effectiveness hasn’t been evaluated by the FDA. Here are some examples of the types of nutritional supplements and how they are used to treat insomnia

Melatonin

Melatonin is a natural hormone and is sold at any pharmacy or health food store as a supplement. It is mainly used as an aid jet lag when traveling. It is triggered by darkness and it controls the sleep and wake patterns. It is still not clear what the long term effects are but studies have shown that certain patients that are dependent on sleeping medications withdraw from melatonin and maintain a healthy sleep pattern.

You can find more information here as well as researching online. There are hundreds of helpful guides and suggestions to help you make your decision.

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