| Our readers are invited to email us with their questions!
Q: What are the signs that I’m sleeping too much? (Mary C.) A: Mary, more isn’t always better: Regularly sleeping more than nine hours at a time is associated with headaches, back pain, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. These risks may be due to an underlying cause (depression, alcohol abuse, and narcolepsy, for example) rather than oversleeping itself. But either way, it’s worth telling your doctor. Find out some more surprising things that happen to your body when you get too much sleep. --------------------------------------------------------------- Q: If you feel you are suffering from insomnia, should you seek help and get a sleeping pill prescribed? I am afraid of becoming dependent on the medication. (Barry W.)
A: Barry, while sleeping pills can help a person fall asleep more quickly, most patients with chronic insomnia would better be served by learning healthy strategies for getting a restful sleep. It is true that some of the newer medications advertised on TV are not addictive as was the case with drugs of the past. However, some people get psychologically addicted to medicine and find themselves shopping between one drug and another. I generally prescribe sleeping pills for short term use only. For those who have an occasional sleepless night – chamomile tea, a warm glass of milk, a soothing bath or valerian may be effective. People who frequently experience insomnia that interferes with daytime functioning should talk to a doctor.
| 
