Sleeping Pills Dangers

Sleeping pills are supposed to help you get some shut eye, but they might also be causing some serious health problems.

While sleeping pills might help you get some sleep, they are now being linked to both a higher risk of death and a greater chance of developing certain types of cancers. And that is getting some experts concerned about how much and how often they are used.

A new study, just published in the British Medical Journal, found that adults taking sleeping pills were nearly 4 times more likely to die early on. And they were also more likely to be diagnosed with certain types of cancer including lung, colon, prostate cancer and lymphoma.

The surprising part of the study was that even those taking sleeping pills only once in a while, up to 18 times per year, had this increased risk. And the more you took, the higher the risk went. But experts are arguing about what all this really means. Is this risk of dying and developing cancer higher because of something in the pills or is it higher because those with sleep problems already have other health issues?

Like all medicines, sleeping pills can have side effects, so they should only be taken when needed. And the shorter amount of time they are taken the better. Plus, if you find yourself needing them more than not, then it's best to visit a sleep expert to see if you can fix whatever is causing your sleep issues and not just cover it up with medication.