What is the harm of eating melatonin for a long time?

Difficult to sleep is a common problem of contemporary people. It is also the normal work of our generation to often work overtime and stay up late to cause insomnia. The White Paper "20021Exercise and Sleep" issued by China Sleep Research Association shows that there are more than 300 million people with sleep disorders in China. Last year's survey showed that the incidence of insomnia among adults in China was as high as 38.2%. So how to make yourself fall asleep smoothly is a key.

The following is melatonin that we often use. I think everyone has used it. Anyway, I often use it, and sometimes I eat it when I am busy and stressed. Melatonin is a health product that we often use in our daily life. Its main function is to improve sleep and anti-anxiety.

Then, the question is, can melatonin be eaten for a long time? What are the hazards? Let me tell you something about it.

Melatonin, also known as pineal hormone and Merlot Keith Downing, is a biological sex hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the pituitary gland.

What is the function of melatonin?

Its main function is to improve sleep and improve the immune state of the body. Melatonin reaches its peak in childhood and youth. With the increase of age, the pineal gland gradually calcifies, melatonin secretion decreases, sleep quality and sleep time of the elderly decrease, and immunity decreases. Therefore, melatonin can be supplemented orally in clinic to improve sleep symptoms and improve the immune state of the body.

Can melatonin be eaten for a long time? The answer is yes, melatonin can't be eaten for a long time.

What are the hazards of taking melatonin for a long time?

1, which affects the secretion of melatonin.

Taking exogenous melatonin for a long time will lead to the decrease of melatonin secretion in the body. When melatonin stops, the self-secretion function may not be fully recovered, thus forming dependence on exogenous melatonin, leading to sleep disorders and aggravating insomnia symptoms.

2, increase the burden of liver and kidney

Long-term excessive use of melatonin will increase the burden on liver and kidney, and may also cause headache, gastrointestinal reaction, depression, anxiety and other adverse reactions.

3, affect fertility

Taking exogenous melatonin for a long time will cause hypothermia, secrete too much lactation hormone, lead to infertility and reduce male physiological desire.

4, affect the spirit

Because melatonin is a kind of health care product to help sleep, long-term use may also lead to dizziness, headache, and even drowsiness and other adverse symptoms during the day.

5. Interaction with certain drugs

Melatonin has an effect on some diseases and drugs, so be careful when using it. For example, patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases who take aspirin for a long time are not recommended to use melatonin, because aspirin and melatonin will interact and affect the curative effect.

6. Drug addiction

Taking melatonin for a long time will cause drug dependence, inhibit the production of melatonin, and make the already worrying sleep situation "worse".

7. Endocrine disorders

Melatonin is a hormone. Long-term and large-scale use may lead to endocrine disorders, which is not conducive to people's health.

8. Melatonin may affect children's development.

Sleep problems are common among children, but it is unwise for parents to let their children take melatonin. Doctors also don't recommend that children take melatonin. Although researchers have not extensively tested this hormone in children, animal experiments show that it may affect the reproductive development function of adolescents.

Correct use of melatonin

Melatonin should be taken for a short time, usually for a few weeks, not more than one or two months (depending on symptoms and drugs), and stopped as soon as it has an effect, such as when the time difference is adjusted. In order to avoid side effects, take it from the lowest dose. 0.2~5 mg is considered as the initial dose range of melatonin supplementation. Insomnia patients should start with the lowest dose, especially when taking it for the first time.

Melatonin is suitable for three types of people:

"Exogenous melatonin" is generally used as a dietary supplement or health care product to adjust jet lag in clinic, and it is only suitable for three situations:

1. Shift workers who are on duty at night and sleep during the day;

2. Sleep time is delayed, such as people who can fall asleep in the early morning or even at dawn;

3. Business travelers who need jet lag.

In addition, melatonin is not recommended for the following people:

Pregnant women and nursing mothers

senile dementia

Depressed patients

Hypertension, diabetes, organ replacement, coagulopathy

Below I summarize the methods to improve sleep quality through personal experience, hoping to help everyone.

Physiological mechanism of stable work and rest time, fixed sleep and fixed getting up. (super important)

Change the curtains in the bedroom into shading curtains.

Take a bath before going to bed 10- 15 minutes.

Don't watch mobile phones, computers and other electronic products 30 minutes before going to bed.

Don't exercise 2-3 hours before going to bed. You can relax properly, such as soaking your feet in hot water, listening to music that helps you sleep, and establishing a good sleep state for yourself.

Stay away from caffeine and nicotine (nicotine makes it difficult for you to fall asleep+wake up early)

Don't drink before going to bed (it's easy to wake up when the alcohol fades)

Don't eat too much meat at night (indigestion) and don't drink too much wine before going to bed (running to the toilet)

Avoid taking drugs that delay or interfere with sleep (consult your doctor)

In fact, we want to improve our sleep. Taking melatonin is only an auxiliary effect, and we can take other measures. For example, people with mild insomnia symptoms can use physical therapy first, such as improving sleep hygiene and creating a comfortable sleeping environment. Severe symptoms can be combined with physical, psychological and drug comprehensive treatment.

In addition, melatonin can be supplemented by food intake, such as increasing the intake of oats, sweet corn, tomatoes, bananas and other foods, and diversifying the diet.