Popular sleep aid 'can cause nightmares', pharmacist warns
If you're struggling to sleep at night, there are a number of things you can do to try and improve your sleep routine
Many of us find it difficult to sleep at night, especially if thoughts are still swirling around your mind as your head hits the pillow. Some people try things like cutting back on caffeine during the day, or performing breathing exercises to relax.
And then there are sleep aids, which can be taken in the short-term. However, one pharmacist has said these should only be used as a last resort, with some having some less than ideal side effects.
Ian Budd of Chemist4U previously spoke to the Mirror about one of the most common sleep aids, which involves a synthetic version of the sleep hormone melatonin, which our bodies naturally produce at night to regulate sleep. However, synthetic melatonin - which should only be taken for short periods if you're having trouble sleeping - can have "unpleasant side effects".
Therefore, Ian advises seeking medical advice before using melatonin as a sleep aid. He said: "Melatonin can be found in a medicine called Circadin. If you've been struggling with your sleep cycle for a while, it's likely you know that melatonin is a natural chemical in the body that helps you to fall asleep.
"But, make sure you know what you're getting into before you pick up your prescription, as Circadin can have some pretty unpleasant side effects such as abnormal nightmares, night sweats and weight gain. Sleep aids should only be used as a last resort, after first trying to make some lifestyle changes, such as improving your bedtime routine, cutting down caffeine intake and managing stress.
"We would recommend consulting with your doctor before using melatonin as a sleep aid to avoid any unwanted side effects."
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Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
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Daily Mirror
a day ago
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Daily Record
2 days ago
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Cause of death revealed for mum who died on 'dream holiday' to Turkey before 'heart removed'
Beth Martin, 28, became delirious on arrival to Turkey and sadly died the following day. Her family claim her heart was removed after death. A shocking report has revealed the alleged cause of death for a British mum who died unexpectedly on a family holiday in Turkey - with her devastated family claiming that her heart was removed without their consent. Beth Martin, 28, from Portsmouth, had flew to Turkey on April 27 with her husband Luke and their two young children, aged eight and five. However, within a day of what should have been an idyllic break, Beth began acting erratically and was rushed to hospital, reports the Mirror. Despite being transferred to intensive care, she tragically died the following day on April 28. Weeks on, a forensic report has emerged claiming to shed light on the sudden circumstances of her death. The report, issued by Turkey's Forensic Medicine Institution and cited by local news source Sozcu, states that Beth died from food poisoning and resultant complications and noted "no evidence" of any traumatic injury. The document by the Forensic Medicine Institution states: "It has been concluded that Martin's death occurred as a result of food poisoning and its complications." It detailed that comprehensive evaluations of Beth's heart have been performed and samples of her cardiac tissue are being transferred to UK officials today. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The day beth was raced to hospital, her husband Luke Martin was reportedly barred from seeing his wife and given only minimal information about her condition. In a shock twist, he later faced allegations of poisoning from Turking police and was interrogated, before being cleared of any wrongdoing. Luke shared the devastating task he faced on social media: "To top it off, I had to break the news to my babies that their mum isn't coming home. It broke me," he penned. "Two weeks ago, me, my wife and two kids set out for a family holiday to Turkey. Only three of us made it back. I lost my wife, my children lost their mum, we lost the biggest piece of the puzzle that was our family." A GoFundMe page set up by family members claims the Martins were kept in the dark about how critical Beth's condition was and that they were left to carry her body through the hospital in a bag. After facing more than two weeks of delays trying to bring Beth home, Luke claims he had to spend thousands of pounds flying her remains back to the UK with him. It has been reported that Turkish doctors has raised concerns about Beth's heart before her tragic death, yet her family asserts they were not informed. Relatives allege that a subsequent UK postmortem revealed her heart had been removed in Turkey without consent. Recounting his harrowing experience, Luke labelled it as "the worst and most traumatic week of [his] entire life", noting that losing his wife has shattered his family beyond expression.
