A patient complains of not being able to fall asleep at night and asks the nurse if there is a safe, non-prescription medication he can try. After consulting the healthcare provider, the nurse should recommend which naturally occurring hormone?
A) Melatonin
B) Cortisol
C) Leutinizing hormone
D) Estrogen

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A rise in the hormone melatonin at the onset of sleep helps to promote and maintain sleep, and a drop in levels leads to eventual awakening. The immune system is enhanced as well during sleep as proteins associated with fighting illness are produced. The circadian rhythm, or the typical 24 hour (more or less) cycle through which the body passes, including both awake and sleep cycles, is responsible for regulating all of the physiologic processes in the body. An adequate amount and quality of sleep, therefore, is essential to all of the regulatory mechanisms that take place in the body.

A Patient Complains of Not Being Able to Fall Asleep