The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services reports that sleep-deprived drivers are just as dangerous as drunk drivers, and adequate sleep is essential for good health. Although the amount of sleep needed varies from person to person, an average healthy adult requires roughly eight hours of sleep per night. There are a variety of products available to help people with intermittent sleep problems or severe sleep disorders get a good night's rest.
Pills
Three types of prescription drugs are available to help you to get a good night's sleep. Medications like eszopiclone, ramelteon, triazolam, zaleplon and zolpidem work in the short-term to help you to fall asleep. Estazolam, eszopiclone, temazepam and zolpidem also continue working so that you stay asleep. "Sedating antidepressants" help people suffering from depression to sleep. These include amitriptyline, doxepin and trazodone. Be sure to have a complete medical evaluation before starting any prescription sleeping aid to eliminate physical causes of insomnia. Avoid alcohol consumption, watch for any side effects and follow the directions on the label when stopping the drugs, as you may need to decrease the dose gradually.
For intermittent sleep problems, use over-the-counter drugs like diphenhydramine and doxylamine or dietary supplements such as melatonin and valerian. The Mayo Clinic recommends talking to your doctor before taking any of these drugs, particularly if you are currently taking an anti-depressant or other drugs for depression, psychiatric or emotional conditions or Parkinson's disease.
Sound Devices
Noise reducers, designed to emit ambient or white noise, or relaxing music, may have a twofold benefit. The sounds tend to encourage a relaxed state that may lead to sleep, and also block out any external noises--like snoring or traffic--that may prevent you from falling asleep. Consumer Reports conducted tests on several different sound-producing noise reducers, and found that the machines reduced the time it took for study participants to fall asleep and the number of times they woke up during the night. Dr. David Neubauer of the Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorders Center says, "You don't need to have a bad sleep problem to benefit from white noise in the background...I'm sort of an evangelist about these machines."
Essential Oils
Some plants produce aromas that help to treat insomnia and induce sleep, like lavender, mandarin, orange blossom and chamomile. Lavender is the most widely recognized sleep-inducing scent, and one of the few backed up by scientific research. A Korean study concluded that the scent of lavender had "a beneficial effect on insomnia and depression in women." Many soap, shampoo, baby products and laundry detergent manufacturers use lavender essential oils in their products. Dab a bit of the oil on your pillowcase or stuff a pillow or sachet with dried lavender to help you to fall asleep.
