Do I need sleeping pills?

I have been having problems with sleeping of late. Kindly let me know if I will need sleeping pills.

Chukuka (by SMS)

Even though a lot of people regularly take some medications before they can sleep, doctors warn that doing so can be dangerous. Prescription and over-the-counter medications taken for sleep have also been linked to an increased risk for cognitive decline and confusion in older adults, as well as urinary retention and constipation.

Not to mention that relying on a drug or supplement for sleep could be causing you to overlook an underlying health condition that’s behind your insomnia, like anxiety, depression or restless leg syndrome. If you’re having trouble sleeping, talk to your personal doctor about your sleep troubles, especially given the links between poor sleep and other health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and depression.

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Your doctor may refer you to a sleep specialist or therapist trained in cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia, which experts in the field say is the first line of treatment for sleep problems.

It is also important to increase your physical activity since exercise has been confirmed to be extremely important in helping people to sleep.