30 Days to Better Sleep: Cut Out the Caffeine

<p><img class="alignnone" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/sleepdisorders/1/9/V/1/-/-/Coffee_Hand.jpg" alt="Getty Images" /></p> <p>Caffeine can be one of the great joys of life. No matter your preferred indulgence - coffee, espresso, cappuccino, tea, hot chocolate, soda pop, or energy drinks - it can give your energy and spirit a boost. But, unfortunately, it may also disrupt your sleep. For people who have difficulty falling or staying asleep, symptoms of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sleepdisorders.about.com/od/commonsleepdisorders/a/What_Is_Insomnia.htm">insomnia</a>, it may be time to cut out the caffeine. How does caffeine affect sleep?</p> <p>Caffeine is a natural stimulant. It improves alertness and decreases sleepiness. How does this occur? Caffeine interferes with a chemical in the brain, or neurotransmitter, called <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://sleepdisorders.about.com/od/sleepglossaryae/g/Definition-Of-Adenosine.htm">adenosine</a>. The longer a person stays awake, the more adenosine accumulates within the brain. In a sense, adenosine is a marker of sleepiness: the higher the levels, the sleepier a person feels. By blocking the effects of adenosine, caffeine decreases sleepiness. This may seem most desirable, especially if you are struggling to stay awake. However, it may also lead to difficulty sleeping at night in susceptible people.<...
Source: About Sleep Disorders - Category: Sleep Medicine Source Type: news