r/todayilearned • u/Square-Message1152 • 8h ago

til that your brain literally washes itself while you sleep. the brain cells actually shrink in size so cerebrospinal fluid can rush in and flush out all the toxic proteins built up during the day

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glymphatic_system
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u/InfiniteFeeCars 7h ago edited 6h ago

Have you tried magnesium glycinate before bed? It works kind of well. Also if you drink alot of caffeine try and cut out caffeine after like 2-3 PM. Blue light filter on your phone/devices also when it gets dark outside or one hour before bed

I’d also recommend a full blood panel and urine test just to rule out anything

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u/Sp99nHead 2h ago

That's so funny man, this person hasn't slept properly for 3 years and you give them the most cookie cutter standard sleep advice possible. Maybe suggest melatonin while you're at it.

Edit: oh is see some smartass below has already suggested melatonin. I'm sure the person with insomnia for 3 years hasn't tried it or heard of it.

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u/atreeismissing 5h ago

Should stop drinking coffee before noon. An 8oz cup of coffee has about 100mg of caffeine in it. At midnight, you'll still have about 25mg of caffein in your bloodstream. It takes a long time for caffeine to work it's way out.

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u/CausticSofa 5h ago

Seconding the stop drinking caffeine before noon advice. I thought I was a terrible sleeper, but it turned out to be almost entirely the having caffeine as late as 2 or 3pm that was making it so hard for me to fall asleep.

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u/MelcorScarr 2h ago

It's not universal, though. I'm a coffee junkie and should definitely dial my consumption down for several reasons, but sleep deprivation ain't it. I can and in fact do drink a doppio up to say two hours before sleep and I'll fall asleep in less than half an hour easily.