HJBR Mar/Apr 2021

SLEEPING THROUGH COVID 12 MAR / APR 2021 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   body’s process of regulating levels of ghre- lin and leptin, hormones that affect feelings of hunger and fullness. Even one night of missed sleep can create a prediabetic state in an otherwise healthy person. While the relationship between sleep and mental health is not yet completely under- stood, neuroimaging and neurochemistry studies suggest chronic sleep loss can lead to emotional vulnerability along with higher risk of developing certain types of mental illness. Research also shows sleep prob- lems are more likely to affect patients with psychiatric disorders and worsens impulse control. Sleep aids, whether prescription or over the counter, may work temporarily, but long-term use carries risks as well. In mid-January, Nielsen Corp. reported that American consumers spent nearly $826 billion on melatonin supplements last year, a nearly 43% increase from 2019. Often sug- gested by physicians, melatonin is inexpen- sive and easily obtained. It can be effective, especially for patients dealing with shift work and jet lag. There are concerns, how- ever, that surging sales of melatonin could have negative and long-term consequences. Dietary supplements like melatonin are regulated less strictly than prescription drugs or those sold over the counter. Con- sumers don’t always know exactly what they’re buying, and some experts fear that companies might falsely claim how much melatonin is in their products. Patients may report taking several melatonin pills at once to fall asleep, though higher doses have not been shown to be more effective. Over-the-counter sleep aids typically contain Benadryl, which can produce a hangover effect. Meanwhile, prescription sleep aids may offer temporary relief, but they often don’t work as well as patients hope. These drugs, which are typically sed- ative hypnotics, do not provide the same “Left untreated, sleep disorders can damage patients’ overall health. Long-term effects have been associated with an increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attack and stroke.”