One of the most common complaints that I have come across in my practice is insomnia. This condition is defined as difficulty falling or staying asleep that in turn impairs daytime functions. However, this is not the only problem caused by insomnia. Whether it is acute or chronic, inadequate sleep can influence hormone levels, mood, weight, and even gut health.
Conventional Medicine addresses this issue in a general and usually simple way by prescription medications like zolpidem or hydroxyzine. It does help to alleviate the symptoms, but does this really eliminate the cause of insomnia?
It should be noted that there are many causes of insomnia: psychological aspects, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome or medication side effects, but more common reasons are bad sleep habits like irregular bedtime, napping during the day, and too much caffeine throughout the day. My approach thus focuses on addressing the cause as well as managing symptoms of insomnia. I can recommend effective restorative activities that may include mindful meditation, gratitude journaling, deep breathing, guided imagery, massages, sauna, and mindful eating. Medications and supplements make it possible to eliminate the symptoms, but in order to stop or reverse the disease, you will have to address the root cause through lifestyle changes.
Does insomnia affect gut health? – YES.
Gut health can be undermined by insomnia and, most importantly, symptoms of this condition are influenced by poor gut health. As is known, the quality of sleep affects gut microbiome diversity and its richness, therefore, the better you sleep the better your gut health. Furthermore, sleep disruption can lead to hormonal imbalance and promote chronic inflammatory state, which can cause intestinal permeability.
