From womansworld.com/wellness
She tried various other options to fix her sleep health to no avail
One in four women experiences some insomnia symptoms, including trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep or both, according to the Office on Women’s Health.
The sleep disorder is most common among women, and becomes more of a risk as we age. What’s more, chronic (long-term) insomnia affects about one in seven adults, and can hinder your ability to complete daily tasks such as working or even self-care.
Insomnia treatment generally involves lifestyle changes to enhance one’s sleep duration and quality, but these adjustments are not always guaranteed to fully cure insomnia for every person. That was the case for one woman, who finally alleviated her symptoms with red light therapy.
How one woman found relief with red light therapy
“I’m sorry for snapping, I’m just tired,” explained Johanne Joliat, 69, when she lost patience with her family for the third time during dinner. Being exceptionally short of patience had become commonplace for Johanne, who routinely was unable to sleep well during the night.
Basic sleep hygiene habits didn’t work
For a decade, Johanne went to bed at around 10 p.m. every night, but regardless of trying tricks—like keeping electronics and other blue-light devices out of her bedroom and setting a bedtime routine—Johanne always woke around 3 or 4 in the morning and was unable to fall back asleep.
By mid-day, Johanne was so tired that she fought head bobs and heavy eyelids while struggling to stay alert running errands or watching TV with her family.
Sleep medicine had little effect
For years, Johanne assumed her sleep troubles were a typical product of aging or bad genes, but eventually, she spoke to her physician who prescribed powerful sleep medicine that was effective at first, but after two years, the benefits were diminishing to a point where it did very little to help. So Johanne’s doctor prescribed another type of sleep medicine, that also eventually wore off.
Herbal remedies were short-lived
Tired of experimenting with different medicines, Johanne tried holistic remedies like Bach flower drops—the herbal remedy thought to balance mood and emotions to promote sleep—along with relaxing music, warm baths, melatonin and breathing exercises, which all worked for a week or two, but wore off once again leaving Johanne staring at the ceiling wishing and praying for a good night’s sleep.
How red light therapy restored Johanne’s sleep
Tired of her bathroom cabinet being full of sleep medicines, Johanne was talking to a friend about her desperation to find some way to sleep well and end her frustration and impatience. He suggested she borrow his Helight Sleep unit ($139 on helight.com), a device that emits pure red light at a wavelength of 630 nanometres for 14 minutes, then gradually fades out over another 14 minutes.
Sceptical that it could help, Johanne researched the technology and read that because red light is on the opposite end of the light spectrum than blue light—which can inhibit production of the sleep hormone, melatonin that helps you feel sleepy.
With nothing to lose, Johanne tried her friend’s unit, even though she wasn’t sure if it would provide much relief. However, she placed the unit on her side table and hoped for the best. The next morning, Johanne was shocked that for the first time in more than a decade, she was able to fall—and remain—asleep.
Excited at the prospect of finally sleeping well without taking medicine, Johanne ordered her own Helight Sleep and has been using it nightly for more than a year. If she happens to wake in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, she pops the Helight back on and quickly drifts back to sleep until her alarm chimes in the morning.
“This works like magic and I wish I found it sooner,” she says. “I was ready to try anything and everything to sleep well and I’m relieved this worked so well, so fast and is completely medicine-free!”
This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.
https://www.womansworld.com/wellness/sleep/red-light-therapy-for-insomnia-relief-success-story
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