Taking a sleeping pill for a good night's sleep may come at a price. Experts even warned that the long-term harm may be greater. Research shows that people who take sleeping pills for a long time are 1 / 3 more likely to die early than those who do not take sleeping pills. This figure has taken into account other factors affecting life expectancy, such as social status, the impact of smoking and alcohol on the body. Most importantly, the study did not distinguish between patients who took large doses and patients who took them occasionally.
Researcher Genevieve billiwell said: "these drugs are not candy. There must be harm in taking them." However, British experts questioned whether the Canadian study overestimated the risk. They stressed that doctors should be cautious about prescribing sleeping pills because of their unusual status. Dr billiwell analyzed 12 years of health data from 12000 Canadians. Other factors being equal, people taking sleeping pills and antidepressants had a significantly higher risk of death than others.
These drugs range from antihistamines to the powerful prescription drug diazepam. After considering alcohol, tobacco, physical health, exercise levels and depression, Dr. billiwell found that sleeping pills increased the risk of death by 36%. People who take sleeping pills seem to be prone to various diseases, including parasitic diseases, cancer and so on.
Dr Billy weir of Laval University in Quebec wrote in the Canadian Journal of psychiatry that the appalling findings may have several explanations. Sleeping pills and antidepressants affect reaction speed and coordination, and increase the risk of falling, she said. These drugs may also inhibit the respiratory system and aggravate respiratory symptoms during sleep, especially for patients with heart problems. In addition, they may also affect the brain's judgment and mood, increasing the risk of suicide.
Dr. billiwell suggested that doctors should give patients more cognitive behavioral therapy advice than just sleeping pills. But British experts said that although Canadian researchers tried to explain the causes of these people's deaths, the dissolution of marriage or other factors may be the "potential cause" of the results. Professor Ji horn of Loughborough University said the research seemed to put people in a dilemma. If patients don't take sleeping pills, will their life be worse.
