melatonin – Be Well Solutions

5 Tips to Sleep Well this Winter

Shorter daylight hours, cooler temperatures, and busy holiday schedules disrupt our sleep schedules. Changes in healthy habits, such as eating a nutritious diet, exercising regularly, and managing stress, also impact our sleep. Although we may feel sleepier during this time of year, we often struggle to achieve adequate, restful sleep. Let’s review five tips to help us sleep well this winter. Get Natural Light Seeing natural light can be challenging to come by during the winter; however, it helps keep your circadian rhythm, or sleep-wake cycle, on schedule. Sunlight, especially in the morning hours, has been found to lower natural melatonin production (Texas ENT Specialists1). Melatonin is a hormone that signals the body to get ready for sleep. Prioritize morning sunlight by spending a few moments outdoors or opening the curtains to let the light in. Limit brighter lights in [...]

Sleep Health: Melatonin

Do you sleep soundly every night? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 35% of U.S. adults do not get enough sleep on a regular basis! If you’ve ever looked for a solution for your sleep struggle, you’ve probably heard about melatonin. It’s a hormone produced naturally in various parts of the body, but primarily in the pineal gland (located near the center of the brain). Melatonin is also a widely available and commonly used dietary supplement that may provide relief from specific sleep disorders. Here’s how melatonin works in the body. When the hypothalamus (in the brain) receives a signal from your retinas (in your eyes) that nighttime is imminent (i.e., darkness in your environment), it signals the pineal gland to release melatonin. Once melatonin enters your blood and cerebrospinal fluid, it travels to distant parts [...]