Eye Problems May be Causing Your Insomnia

[Guest guest]

My guess would be that much of the damage to the optic nerve is mainly caused by

environmental toxics including pharmacuticals and lack of antioxidents in the

diet.

Frank

 

 

http://mercola.com/2004/feb/18/insomnia_eyes.htm

 

 

Eye Problems May be Causing Your Insomnia

 

 

 

Scientists have found that lack of sleep can be due to eye diseases, which cause

people to have difficulty using daylight to synchronize their internal rhythms

to the outside world.

 

 

 

It has been found that daytime napping is a sign of disturbed sleep at night. A

study conducted found that blind people with optic nerve disease were 20 times

more likely to need naps during the day than those with normal sight. The study

also found patients with optic nerve disease were nine times more likely to

suffer from daytime sleepiness than a blind individual with no damage to their

optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain.

 

 

 

These findings are believed to be true because previous research has found that

the retina is not only used for vision, but also houses special non-visual cells

that act as the eye’s light meter. The eye’s light meter synchronizes the body’s

sleep patterns, telling the body when it is time to sleep and time to get up. It

resets the internal body clock and regulates the release of hormones such

melatonin. However, damage to the optic nerve prevents its signals from reaching

the brain.

 

IC Wales February 2, 2004

 

 

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

As the article states above, people with damage to their optic nerve can have

problems sleeping, including difficulty falling asleep, waking up at strange

times, sleepiness during the day and insomnia at night.

 

Insomnia can certainly wreak havoc on your health. Studies have shown that more

than 82 million Americans have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. And,

over 40 percent of the U.S. population over the age of 15 reports they have

experienced insomnia occasionally.

 

Here are my some suggestions from my Guide to a Good Night’s Sleep for those of

you who are having sleep problems, and you can check out the guide for more.

 

Avoid before-bed snacks, particularly grains and sugars. This will raise

blood sugar and inhibit sleep. Later, when blood sugar drops too low

(hypoglycemia), you might wake up and not be able to fall back asleep.

 

Sleep in complete darkness or as close as possible. When light hits the eyes, it

disrupts the circadian rhythm of the pineal gland and production of melatonin

and serotonin. There also should be as little light in the bathroom as possible

if you get up in the middle of the night.

 

 

No TV right before bed. Even better, get the TV out of the bedroom or even out

of the house, completely. It is too stimulating to the brain and it will take

longer to fall asleep

 

 

Journaling. If you often lay in bed with your mind racing, it might be helpful

keep a journal and write down your thoughts before bed. Personally, I have been

doing this for 15 years, but prefer to do it in the morning when my brain is

functioning at its peak and my coritsol levels are high.

 

 

Get Daily Exercise. Exercising for at least 30 minutes everyday can help you

fall asleep. However, don't exercise too close to bedtime or it may keep you

awake. Try exercising in the morning, afternoon or early evening instead.

 

 

Related Articles:

 

Less Than 8 Hours of Sleep May Not Hurt Health

 

One of the BEST Cures for Insomnia

 

If You Sleep Less Than Six Hours You Are Creating a 'Sleep Debt'

 

Want to Prevent Cancer? Make Sure You Sleep Well

 

Is Insomnia Wreaking Havoc on Your Health?

 

Overactive Adrenals Leads to Insomnia

 

Lack of Daylight May Cause Insomnia

 

 

 

 

 

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