Insomnia Can Be a Nightmare—Do Your Hormones Need a Tune-Up?

Few things are as frustrating as lying in bed wide awake at 3 am with no prospect of sleep, especially when you know that you’re going to suffer for it the next day—dragging through the day exhausted, craving the sweets that will give you a quick boost of energy, only to be followed by a crash that makes you feel worse than ever. You’ll start regaining the couple of pounds you struggled to lose, and the fear of not sleeping the next night will almost guarantee another wakeful night. You may have tried over-the-counter sleep aids, which may or may not work and can have side effects. Or you may have trouble sleeping even when you avoid heavy meals before bedtime, turn off the TV and other devices with screens two hours before bed, and keep your bedroom entirely dark and soundless—all good practices for getting a good night’s sleep. If you’re still fighting sleeplessness despite your best efforts, it may be time to look at your hormones. Read more…