Greetings,  

How Many people today can't seem to get a good night's rest?  I found this on Newsmax and thought that I would share it.   Seems like too many people have to turn to dangerous drugs to try and get a good nights sleep.  You know that if you were to go to your doctor, I'm sure that he would be only too happy to prescribe you one drug or another.   Debbie and I always laugh whenever we catch a Drug companies commercial on TV.  Did you ever listen to the laundry list of Side Effects?  Check out this list...

Common side effects of prescription sleeping pills such as Lunesta, Sonata, Ambien, Rozerem, and Halcion may include:

burning or tingling in the hands, arms, feet, or legs

changes in appetite

constipation

diarrhea

difficulty keeping balance

dizziness

drowsiness

dry mouth or throat

gas

headache

heartburn

stomach pain or tenderness

uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body

unusual dreams

weakness

How they ever get someone to take them never cease to amaze us...  

Enjoy the info and let us know what you do to get a goods night sleep.  

All the best,  Lou & Debbie

Chronic insomnia can be caused by a number of factors including chronic diseases, medication, alcohol, stress, and shift work. The condition is more common in women and the elderly.If a good night's sleep eludes you, youíre not alone. About 32 million Americans suffer from insomnia, and the numbers are growing as modern life becomes ever more hectic and the population ages. Experts estimate that 50 percent of Americans over the age of 75 have chronic insomnia

Pharmaceutical companies are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to advertise and promote sleeping aids, but Newsmax Health expert Dr. Russell Blaylock says, 

The problem with drugs is that they rarely produce restful sleep and often plague users with a number of complications and side effects, including next-day drowsiness, sleepwalking and confusion.

Instead of popping a pill, try these tips for a good night's sleep:

Be consistent. Go to bed and get up at the same time, even on weekends. Varying your schedule on weekends will reset your biological clock.

Always go to bed by midnight. Staying up any later will also reset your biological clock.

Keep your room dark. Eliminate even night lights and bright clock dials.

Keep your bedroom cool. Even Ben Franklin advised using a cool pillow.

Wind down before bedtime. Avoid watching television and reading for one hour before bedtime.

Take a natural sleep cocktail. Before bedtime, take 1,000 mg of vitamin C, 120 mg of magnesium citrate, and 1 mg of melatonin to relax you as you drift off to sweet dreams. A just-released study found that even though people taking beta blockers to control their high blood pressure often had problems with insomnia, taking melatonin at night helped them fall asleep sooner and sleep longer than those who took a placebo.

Don't take naps during the day, especially after 3:00 p.m., and limit any naps to less than one hour.

Exercise regularly, but early in the day, and avoid exercising at night.  Exercise gives a boost to your metabolism which can keep you awake.

Don't eat large meals close to bedtime, and avoid spicy foods if you're prone to heartburn.

Avoid caffeine and nicotine. Caffeine takes eight hours to be eliminated from the body and smokers can be awakened at night by withdrawal symptoms.

Get comfy. 

Choose a mattress and pillow that's comfortable for you.

Drink a soothing cup of tea. Chamomile, valerian root, passionflower and catnip all help calm and relax

Start a nighttime routine. Bedtime rituals, whether a warm bath or listening to soft music, can signal your body that itís time to chill out and relax.