Sleep Myth: Sleeping Pills are Harmless –
Sleep is an important part of everyone’s life. The three pillars of a healthy and happy life are exercise, nutrition, and sleep. However, there are different myths and stories surrounding sleep.
The stories that people believe are the ones that affirm their view of the world, whether they are true or not. One of these famous myths is that sleeping pills are harmless.
Do you think sleeping pills are safe? Let’s find out.
The Myth
Sleeping pills were once one of the most commonly prescribed drugs. The prevalence of sleep disorders and accessibility of the sleeping pills made people think that they are harmless. One pill is all it takes to get a restful sleep. In 2010, about 10% of the population in the United States received prescriptions to “cure” their sleep disorders.
The Fact
A large-scale study invited doctors to rethink that medication can cure sleep disorders. Although pills treated insomnia in the short term, the side effect was dependence. Paradoxically, the long-term effect creates further sleep disorders.
There were 60 million prescriptions for sleeping pills made between the years 2006 and 2011.
With the widespread accessibility, plus the perceived blessing from many medical professionals, many people fall prey to these sleep medicines. Addiction probably was the last thing on their mind. Unfortunately, there are those who found themselves unable to sleep without the help of a sleeping pill.
Your body gets accustomed to the drug if you consume it on a regular basis. You need to get higher doses for your body to get the same effects.
If you take a higher dosage, this could lead to depressed breathing while you are sleeping, which can ultimately cause death. A 2012 study also found that any “hypnotic” (sleeping pill) prescription had more than a 300% increase in death rates, including cancer.
Verdict
Taking sleeping pills might help people with insomnia to sleep better, but its effects are only short-term. The myth that sleeping pills are harmless is not inaccurate. They are not a long-term solution. In fact, they can be lethal even at doses of less than 18 pills a year.