Melatonin is a hormone that tells your body when it’s time to sleep. Your body naturally produces melatonin, but sometimes it doesn’t produce enough. You might need supplemental melatonin if you have trouble sleeping or if you want to adjust your sleep schedule.
You’ve probably heard of melatonin before. It’s a hormone that our bodies produce naturally and is responsible for regulating our sleep-wake cycle. A lot of people take it as a supplement to help them fall asleep and stay asleep through the night. But how do you know if you need it? Here are a few things to consider.
You Have Trouble Falling Asleep
If it takes you more than 30 minutes to fall asleep at night, you might need more melatonin. People who don’t produce enough melatonin often have trouble falling asleep. If you find yourself tossing and turning at night, melatonin might help you fall asleep faster.
You Wake Up in the Night
Waking up in the middle of the night is another sign that you might not be producing enough melatonin. If you wake up for no reason and can’t fall back asleep, try taking melatonin before bed. Melatonin can help you stay asleep throughout the night.
You Feel Tired During the Day
During the day, do you feel tired even after getting a full night’s sleep? Feeling tired during the day is another sign of low melatonin levels. People who don’t produce enough melatonin often have trouble staying awake during the day. If you find yourself nodding off during the day, try taking melatonin at night.
Your Sleep Schedule Is Off
Do you find it difficult to stick to a regular sleep schedule? If you have trouble sleeping at the same time every night, you might not be producing enough melatonin. Melatonin can help regulate your sleep cycle so that you feel sleepy at bedtime and wake up feeling rested in the morning.
If You’re Not Getting Enough Sleep, Melatonin Might Help.
The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get 7-9 hours of sleep per night. If you’re not getting that, or if you’re not feeling rested when you wake up, melatonin might help you get the rest you need.
Your Body’s Circadian Rhythm Could Be Off.
Our bodies have an internal clock that regulates when we feel awake and when we feel sleepy. This is known as our circadian rhythm. Sometimes, our circadian rhythm can be thrown off (jet lag is a good example of this). Taking melatonin can help reset your body’s clock so you can fall asleep and stay asleep more easily.
You Could Have a Sleep Disorder.
There are many different types of sleep disorders, but some of the more common ones include insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome. If you think you might have a sleep disorder, it’s best to talk to your doctor so they can diagnose and treat the problem. In some cases, taking melatonin can help with symptoms of a sleep disorder.
Conclusion:
If any of these sound familiar, you might need supplemental melatonin. Talk to your doctor about whether or not taking melatonin is right for you. They can help you decide what dosage to take and when to take it. They can also help rule out other potential causes of your sleep problems before starting treatment with melatonin.