Risks And Side Effects Of Sleeping Pills

In this stressful and overwhelmed society filled with insomnia, sleeping pills have become a trend. The World Health Organization ( WHO ) is surprised by these statistics, but few people understand the negative effects generated by the use and abuse of sleeping pills.

Using sleeping pills is risky and has counterproductive consequences.

Depression and high blood pressure

Some time ago, the Mayo Clinic warned the world population about the harmful effects of using sleeping pills.

Through an official statement, the institution said that these products can lead to depression and high blood pressure.

• More surprising was the fact that they stated that this type of medical solution can cause chronic pain in some patients.
• Dizziness and uncontrolled drowsiness  are other negative consequences that come from the use of these drugs.

For this reason, the medical institution recommended that thorough checks be performed on patients suffering from any insomnia-related pathology.

Elderly patients should be careful

We can all suffer from the side effects of sleeping pills, but senior citizens should be extra careful when taking them.

Some symptoms, such as dizziness or drowsiness, may have a greater impact on this part of the population.

Senior citizens who use these drugs have a higher risk of falling and suffering from dangerous increases in blood pressure.

In addition, the human body from the age of 65 gradually begins to lose the ability to tolerate these substances.

An older body breaks down and discards these medications more slowly. For this reason, the effect of the sleeping pills may last longer than expected.

The use of sleeping pills generates addiction

Many of these sleeping pills have an addictive effect on patients.

Regular use of these pills also provides a tolerance, which generates a need to go for higher doses.

In some cases , those with insomnia become addicted to these products in order to sleep. This is an unnatural situation that is negative for patients.

Therefore, you should only use them sporadically and temporarily, for the sole purpose of dealing with specific crises.

It is obvious that their purpose is not to replace the normal sleeping process permanently.

Beware of car accidents

Alcohol abuse and illicit drugs are not the only cause of car accidents. In fact, it has been discovered that many of the unfortunate incidents that occur on public roads are caused by sleeping pills.

The problem is that drowsiness does not disappear when it should. Some people may even experience blurred vision, and this makes it difficult to measure distances between cars.

Driving is an activity that requires the active participation of all the senses in optimal condition. Unfortunately, there are cases of drivers who have fallen asleep at the wheel.

Risk of premature death

According to a collection of studies conducted in 2016 , the use of sedatives may be related to premature deaths.

The comparative study found that the risk increases in higher doses.

The patients studied used drugs such as temazepam, eszopiclone and zaleplon. Barbiturates and antihistamines that cause drowsiness were also considered in this study.

In addition, the study also warns that their use may improve the development of some types of cancer.

Be careful when using sleeping pills

Some formulas can also cause severe depression and anxiety. Every person and body is different, and not all people react in the same way to certain substances.

The most worrying aspect is that there is a whole host of over-the-counter medications available to everyone.

It is very important to consult a healthcare professional who can carry out rigorous tests. These tests will diagnose the patient and prescribe appropriate medications and doses.