Is it safe to keep using melatonin as sleep aid?
Q: I work as a nurse on night shift. I plan to do so until retirement, but I am also trying to do everything I can to stay healthy. I use melatonin to sleep during the day. I have trouble sleeping more than about three or four hours unless I take it. Is this safe to continue?
A: There is concern that shift workers may be at increased risk of developing breast cancer (Current Environmental Health Reports, September 2017). People who work night shifts have their natural rhythm of melatonin production disrupted, and this may play a role in cancer susceptibility. Spanish scientists have suggested that women possibly should take melatonin to offset this risk (Molecules, Feb. 6, 2018). They point out, however, that there are not enough clinical trials to evaluate this approach properly.
A painstaking review of the literature concluded that melatonin may help with sleeping problems associated with shift work (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Aug. 12, 2014). A study of emergency physicians working night shifts found that “Melatonin might have a limited benefit on sleep quality” (World Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2018, Vol. 9, No. 4).
Q: I read in your column about a woman who burned her hand on a curling iron. She used cold soy sauce to relieve the pain. Many years ago, I absent-mindedly poured boiling water from the teakettle over my hand instead of in the mug. The pain was incredible. I grabbed a large pot and filled it with ice and water. I put my hand in the icy water to relieve the pain. When the hand got numb, I took it out of the water, and when it started to hurt again I would submerge my hand again. I continued this for a couple of hours until the pain was gone. My hand never blistered or showed signs of a burn.
A: An article in JAMA (Aug. 27, 1960) recommended ice water as first aid for burns. The physician reported: “In each of 150 cases, pain was immediately relieved and the extent of the redness and blistering visibly reduced. Local cooling was continued for several hours, until pain no longer returned when the part was taken out of the bath. This form of treatment has advantages in emergency care for lesser burns, since it is easily available, inexpensive, humane, and promptly effective.”
Q: There was an article in my newspaper about some new research on older people in good health showing that taking low dosages of aspirin does not lower their risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia or disability. The aspirin increased the risk of significant bleeding in the digestive tract and brain, and other side effects.
My wife and I have been taking aspirin for years. To date, neither one of us has had any heart issues. Should we continue taking the low dosage or stop immediately?
A: The new research published in The New England Journal of Medicine (Sept. 16, 2018) found that aspirin did not prevent heart attacks in healthy people over 70 years old. You are right that volunteers taking aspirin were more likely to experience bleeding problems.
You should not discontinue aspirin suddenly without checking with your doctors. Last year, Swedish investigators reported a higher rate of heart attacks and strokes in people who suddenly stopped taking low-dose aspirin (Circulation, Sept. 26, 2017). Your doctors will assess your risk of heart disease before offering a plan of action.
In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Send questions to them via www. peoplespharmacy.com.