Melatonin Is the Top Cause of Poison Control Calls in Kids

Advertised as both natural and safe, melatonin can be easily purchased over the counter. In the past decade, this sleep aid became a home staple that adults take to address their insomnia and sometimes give to their kids. But is this sleep remedy as innocuous as previously thought? Medical experts and agencies disagree, as over the past decade melatonin became the leading cause of parent queries to poison control across the US. 

 

What makes melatonin dangerous to kids, and just how serious an issue melatonin ingestion by children is? Read on for a detailed examination. 

 

What is melatonin?

Melatonin is a hormone that the pineal gland in the brain produces to regulate sleep. With the help of melatonin, the brain regulates the human circadian rhythms (the natural sleep-wake cycles). When melatonin levels drop, we are alert and awake. But when they increase - which usually happens 2 hours before bedtime - we feel sleepy and exhausted. 

 

Towards the tail end of the 20th century, scientists learned to synthesize melatonin in a lab, and it became available on the market in the 1990s. But it wasn’t until the past decade that its popularity skyrocketed, almost tripling in sales from 2016 to 2020. 

 

When it comes in pill form, melatonin is a sleep aid that should be taken an hour or so before sleep. Unlike most sleep medications, melatonin is considered a sleep supplement in the US, which is why it is available without a prescription. This is not always the case in other countries, such as Canada, which regulate melatonin as a medication.

Compared to traditional sleeping pills, melatonin is not considered habit-forming, and it's also available for kids in the form of sweet gummy vitamins. Safer it may be, but melatonin is not a completely benign sleep aid. In fact, overdosing on melatonin can lead to toxicity symptoms, especially in kids.

How is melatonin dangerous to kids? 

According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report in 2020, melatonin is a common cause of poison control queries in kids. During the past decade, calls to poison control centers concerning melatonin ingestion in kids increased by 530 percent!

 

A melatonin overdose can lead to symptoms like headaches, digestive issues, and excessive sleepiness. In the majority of cases, these melatonin overdoses were accidental and didn’t cause any adverse symptoms. However, 14.7% of kids required hospitalization, 1% ended up in intensive care units, and 2 children died following a melatonin overdose.

It is for this reason that, on September 20, 2022, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine issued a notice, advising parents to store melatonin pills away from children, just as you would with any other potentially dangerous medication. The organization also recommends consulting a pediatrician before giving melatonin to kids. 

 

When is the sleep aid helpful for kids? 

 

Pediatricians point out that there are many legitimate uses of melatonin for kids. For one, it was found to help kids with autism who have insomnia. “For children with primary sleep-onset insomnia, melatonin can be helpful. It can also be beneficial for children on the spectrum of neurodiversity, or with neurodevelopment differences, who may have difficulty initiating sleep,” states Dr. Janine Zee-Cheng, a pediatrician in Indiana to Huffington Post. 

 

That being said, it is advised that parents consult and pediatrician before giving their kids melatonin, as doses range greatly (from 0.5 to 6 mg) depending on the child’s issue, age, and weight.

Ask your doctor which brand and type of melatonin they recommend too. Since melatonin is classified as a nutritional supplement in the US, it falls within the same regulations as other supplements. First and foremost, this means that producers of melatonin supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

 

Without rigorous supervision, companies can get away with putting various doses of melatonin or even mixing in unrelated ingredients and byproducts. A research article showed that the dose of melatonin in various supplements ranged by 465 percent even different lots of the same supplement. 

 

The same study also reports that nearly 25% of the melatonin supplements they tested also contained serotonin. In high doses, serotonin triggers a condition called serotonin syndrome, the symptoms of which range from shivering and diarrhea to fever, muscle rigidity, and seizures. “Severe serotonin syndrome can cause death if not treated,” states the Mayo Clinic.  

 

What can parents do?

First and foremost, avoid leaving any medication, including supplements, within the child’s reach. Melatonin often comes in sweet gummies, which are basically candy for a child. Kids may seek out and eat several of these gummy vitamins and supplements, and this could lead to an overdose. And if you’re considering giving your child any supplement, especially melatonin, consult a pediatrician first. 

 

Apart from that, you can promote healthy sleep habits in the child naturally. First and foremost, know how much sleep your kids require. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), kids require between 8-13 hours of sleep daily, namely:

Preschool Age (3-5 years) - 10-13 hours (including naps) 

 

School Age (6-12 years) - 9-12 hours 

 

Teenagers (13-18 years) - 8-10 hours. 

 

To promote healthy sleep habits, start a consistent bedtime schedule for the little ones. You can also try limiting their light exposure 2 hours before bed. This is especially important when it comes to blue light from TVs, phones, and other electronic devices, which have been found to suppress the production of melatonin in the body. 

 

Over time, you’ll surely be able to instill those healthy sleep habits in the little ones. And for a little help, here’s a list of articles full of helpful sleep tips:

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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16 Common Health Mistakes One Should Never Make Past Middle Age

When we’re young, our bodies are capable of pulling off astounding feats. Doing all-nighters, drinking tons of alcohol, and eating more chocolate than seems humanly possible are all a piece of cake when you’re in your 20’s and 30’s. However, once you reach middle age and late adulthood, recovering from events like these becomes a lengthy, and often painful, process that could really affect your overall health.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t extend a fulfilling and active life all the way to your 70’s and 80’s, of course, and to achieve that, prioritizing healthy habits and avoiding health mistakes, even those you could previously get away with, is the way to go once you’re in your late 40’s and up. Below are 15 common health mistakes to avoid at all times for those of you who have reached the noble age. 

 

1. Forgetting to exercise your brain

Our brain may not be a muscle, but much like a muscle, it needs constant training, irrespective of our age. Many people mistakably believe that learning and brain development is just for kids and students, neglecting their brain once they reach their late 40's and beyond. This mistake is completely ungrounded in fact, as older adults are significantly more susceptible to cognitive decline and memory problems even if they don't suffer from neurodegenerative conditions, which is why it is crucial to train your memory and cognition as much as possible.

Trivia quizzes, crossword puzzles, creative activities, tactical games, crafts, and reading are all excellent ways to maintain your brain in top shape, even if you only engage in these activities for 2 hours every week (only 17 minutes a day). 

 

2. Neglecting oral health

Visits to the dentist and hygienist, as well as good oral hygiene, are a crucial element of long-term health, especially since it has been shown that poor oral hygiene is closely linked to cognitive decline and heart problems in seniors. 

 

Even if you tended to skip or delay dentist's visits in the past, you should make it a point to schedule regular appointments every 6 months as you arrive at your late 40's. Apart from preventing oral and dental issues, your dentist is also qualified to detect other serious health conditions (e.g. diabetes, cancers, heart and kidney disease) that often manifest themselves in the mouth and direct you to your physician. 

 

3. Skipping meals

If you're in the habit of skipping breakfast (or any other meal of the day for that matter), you should stop doing so once you've reached middle age or late adulthood. Skipping meals can lead to spikes in blood sugar, which is why people who tend to skip meals are more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes, most often between the age of 40 and 64. You don't have to eat a lot, but keep a steady and balanced meal schedule to maintain long-term pancreatic health. 

 

4. Losing touch with family and friends

Humans are social creatures, and that doesn't change much throughout one's life, no matter your age, gender, or personality. Maintaining or even strengthening familial and friendly ties with people is very important for your physical and mental health, with studies suggesting that socially active people tend to live more than 20% longer than those who are lonely. 

 

Even if your family lives far away, try socializing more by joining different social groups, e.g. become a volunteer, join a book club, or sign up to the gym. Not only will these groups make your day-to-day life more interesting, but they will also boost your activity levels. 

 

5. Being dehydrated 

When you're young, it's easy to brush away the occasional chapped lips and dry mouth that come with dehydration. However, once you reach your 40's and 50's, dehydration can become a serious concern, causing anything ranging from headaches and vertigo to constipation and even kidney damage. 

 

This issue is further worsened if you take certain medications, such as diuretics and laxatives, as these can further dehydrate you.

 

6. Giving up when your health starts to decline 

With age, all of us begin to experience all kinds of unexpected health issues, which can be very discouraging, especially if the diagnosis is very serious and unsettling. However, you must understand that all of these symptoms and conditions are a part of the cycle of life, and most people go through the very same pressures, fears, and doubts you are at some point in their lives, so the best we can do is support each other and carry on living as much of a fulfilling and pleasant life as the circumstances allow. 

 

7. Failing to monitor your sugar and salt intake  

Sugar, be it in the form of white sugar, brown sugar, artificial sweetener, or even sugary beverages such as juice, are all very disruptive for your pancreatic health, heart health, and digestive system when consumed in excess. The same rule applies to salt, as too much sodium is quite potent at disrupting your heart and kidney health and contributing to stomach cancer. For these reasons, the FDA suggests the following recommended daily intake of salt and sugar: 

 

Sugar: 150 calories (37.5 g; 9 teaspoons) for men and 100 calories (25 g; 6 teaspoons) for women. 

 

Salt: 6g of salt (1 teaspoon). ​

 

We highly recommend starting to monitor how much salt and sugar your food contains, as you might be unknowingly consuming a lot more of these harmful ingredients, especially if you eat a lot of packaged foods and eat out frequently. 

 

8. Persisting with bad habits 

Once you reach your 40's and 50's, it's time to acknowledge that your body is changing, and it's unable to handle all that stress it used to. One of the primary things you should realize is that bad habits, such as a lack of sleep, smoking, a poor diet, and drinking alcohol will be more and more difficult for your body to handle, and so these habits are bound to cause more harm than they used to previously. These bad habits are believed to be some of the leading causes of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancers, so it's much recommended to minimize or avoid them altogether.

9. Neglecting your feet

Your feet are likely the most neglected part of your body. While we routinely take care of our hair, nails, and faces, the feet are often completely ignored, which shouldn't be the case. When you reach middle age, you should make sure not to walk on high heels for long and not to wear poorly fitting shoes, as both of these can restrain the blood circulation in your feet, contribute to swelling, and make your feet sore and tired. 

 

You should also examine your feet, toes, and toenails from time to time to make sure there is no discoloration or signs of infection, as both of these symptoms can point to an underlying issue and are best treated at early stages. 

 

10. Ignoring the potential for a fall

This mistake is more targeted towards seniors than middle-aged individuals, but it's a very important one, as older adults often underestimate how easily they could fall in their own home or outside. According to the National Council of Aging in the US, for example, every 11 seconds a senior is treated in the ER for a fall, and every 20 minutes, an older adult passes away as a result of a fall.

For that reason, it's recommended to make sure the rooms in your home are well lit, you wear sturdy shoes, and remove any scatter rugs from your home. You should also watch out for cracks and steps on sidewalks and make use of walking aids and eyeglasses if needed. Strength building exercises are likewise suggested if balance is an issue for you.

11. Skipping recommended screenings

Recommended screenings and up-to-date vaccinations are the primary ways to prevent and catch any dangerous condition in time, and the older you are, the more likely you are to develop such a condition. If you'd like to learn about the specific health checks and vaccinations for people over 50- see my next post.

 

12. Not paying attention to your posture

Bad sitting posture can affect your spinal health and can easily cause back and neck pain, which become all too common with age. To avoid pain and stiffness in the back, the best thing you can do is maintain a healthy posture and engage in core strengthening exercises, such as abdominal exercises and stretches. Don't be afraid to start strengthening and engaging your core muscles in an attempt to relieve back pain and improve your balance even if you're in your 60's or older, as research shows that you can build muscle nearly as well as younger individuals.

13. Having a sedentary lifestyle

We get it. Getting back home after a long day of work or any other activity is not the most conducive to more physical activity in the evening or early in the morning the next day. However, believe it or not, this is exactly what your body needs the most. 

 

As a matter of fact, most of the chronic muscle weakness and pain in the muscles and joints people experience in their late 50's and onwards are largely due to years of inactivity. Try to exercise just a few minutes every day and choose the format that's most accessible to you - no need to start lifting weights and running marathons. This will help you feel stronger, more confident and capable, not to mention improve your health and wellbeing, and protect you from falls and serious injuries. 

 

14. Not eating healthy because you exercise

Another dangerous habit that's awfully common across all ages, but is especially dangerous to older adults is the belief that regular exercise will be capable of compensating for all the junk food you indulge in on a daily basis. Unfortunately, even the fittest looking people can end up suffering from ulcers, cancer, and other chronic conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes, which are heavily associated with poor diet choices. 

 

The fact of the matter is that eating well and including a lot of vegetables, whole grains and healthy plant fats in your diet is necessary for longevity and digestive and overall health, even if you exercise and don't gain a pound of weight. A healthy, nutrient-rich diet will also ensure you get plenty of essential nutrients in your body, which will help maintain your strength, mental health, and energy levels.

15. Failing to use sunscreen daily

Skin cancer statistics are on the rise, despite the attempts of doctors worldwide to make us wear more sunscreen. Unfortunately, age is one of the factors that increase one's likelihood of not surviving a melanoma diagnosis either, and the average age of being diagnosed with the cancer is currently 63 according to the Melanoma Research Alliance. 

 

Also, when you reach your 40's and beyond, skin aging becomes not just something you notice in other people or read about, it becomes the harsh reality. To prevent skin cancer, sun spots, wrinkles, and crepey skin, apply sunscreen daily, and don't forget such areas as ears, neck, and tops of hands and feet. If you're planning on spending time outside, it's also recommended to reapply a fresh layer of sunscreen every 2 hours.

16. Too much screen time before bed

We can hardly imagine our lives without mobile devices and computers these days, but if you care about your sleep schedule, you might keep these devices out of the bedroom. This is because the light these devices emit trick your brain into believing it's daytime and prevents your pineal gland from producing melatonin - the sleep hormone. 

 

The older we get, the more likely we are to suffer from insomnia, be it due to stress or a bothersome underlying condition, and the light from your devices further lowers the likelihood of falling asleep. It is recommended to stay away from computers, TV screens and mobile devices at least 1.5 hours before going to bed.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
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