Melatonin
Many people can be desperate when looking for solutions to sleep problems. Especially problems such as long-term insomnia directly affect people’s quality of life. People who decide to be treated for this are confronted with a hormone called melatonin. So, what is melatonin? What does melatonin do? You can find the details in our article.
What is Melatonin?
Melatonin is a hormone that stands out in the treatment of sleep disorders. This hormone, which allows people to fall asleep more quickly, also improves the quality of sleep. Melatonin helps the sleep-wake cycle secreted by the pineal gland in the brain. In this way, melatonin, which regulates the circadian rhythm, allows people to sleep more comfortably.
Melatonin, which plays an even more active role especially at night, is directly related to the length of the night and darkness. Therefore, the length of the night and how dark the environment is can affect the excess melatonin production. Especially in the winter months, melatonin production is higher. While melatonin is produced more in the body in winter, this situation decreases in summer.
People who cannot sleep without light are advised to use pale red light. However, avoiding blue screens before going to sleep also increases the secretion of the hormone. As a result, people who have problems with sleep quality usually also have problems with melatonin levels. This hormone, which can also be taken as a supplement, is also used for complaints such as jet lag, depression, chronic pain and dementia.
What Does Melatonin Do?
Melatonin does more than one thing. This hormone, which improves sleep quality, should be present at high levels in the body. Otherwise, many problems such as insomnia and irregular sleep may be encountered. High levels of melatonin support a good sleep. The pineal gland, which examines the day-night cycle daily from the retinas in the eye, secretes melatonin accordingly.
Melatonin, which also plays an important role for female hormones, has an effect on the regulation of the menstrual cycle. It can also prevent progressive loss of function of neurons. Melatonin also has an effect on the treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. This hormone, which also has an effect on strengthening the immune system, ensures that the body temperature is balanced.
It should not be forgotten that melatonin, which has an effect on the above points, can also be taken from outside. However, melatonin supplements should be taken after the specialist doctor’s control and used within the specified period.
What are the Benefits of Melatonin?
Melatonin has many benefits. This hormone, which directly affects sleep quality, also has an effect on diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Therefore, melatonin hormone should be secreted in high amounts. The benefits of melatonin are as follows:
- It minimizes the problem of time mismatch, which is usually experienced after long flights such as jet lag.
- It eliminates the sleep problem of shift workers.
- It is good for disorders such as headache and migraine.
- Provides the formation of sleep patterns.
- It helps to regulate the menstrual cycle of women.
How to Increase Melatonin?
Melatonin can be increased both naturally and externally. Melatonin hormone, which increases with supplements given by experts; It can also increase by consuming healthy food and paying attention to lights. So, how to increase melatonin hormone?
- Bright lights should be avoided while sleeping at night.
- Care should be taken to keep the sleeping room dark.
- Go to bed and get up at the same time every day.
- One hour before going to sleep, devices with blue lights such as computers, televisions and telephones should be disconnected.
- Foods containing melatonin such as cherries, bananas and almonds should be consumed.
- Melatonin can be increased by using melatonin supplements given by a specialist doctor.