Humanity reportedly continues to get less sleep than anyone of us did ever before the global pandemic. So Now What?
Meanwhile, melatonin use is steady while public health officials say we’re relying heavily on the over-the-counter sleep aid.
This could be dangerous for a few reasons. First, a lack of data on its long-term safety, and this supplement is not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Secondly, a published report this year indicates that melatonin overdoses among kids increased by 530% from Jan. 2012 to Dec. 2021, escalating during the pandemic.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine issued a health advisory imploring parents to talk to a doctor before giving their kids melatonin.
Published reports insist that It’s time for a shift in how we think about melatonin. People think it replaces their bad sleep hygiene, and it can become a handy crutch for counteracting late nights spent scrolling. But a pill doesn’t replace a lifestyle.
Consider reserving melatonin for special occasions, like if you’ve traveled to a different time zone and need help adjusting to a new schedule. It’s also important to practice the sleep habits that were a good idea last year, and the year before, and that still will be next year: Stick to a consistent bedtime, and dim your lights because bright lights can interfere with your body’s natural production of melatonin and go device-free for about an hour before you want to fall asleep. https://science.doseofnews.com/