Doctor Debunks Popular Sleep Products

CLEVELAND - With so many sleep products on the market these days, it can be hard to know which ones actually work, like blue light filtering glasses. 

They’re supposed to help you get better sleep, but is that true? 

“Blue light is not good in terms of helping us feel sleepy. But not only blue light, light in general of a certain intensity is going to make us feel awake. So, the glasses filter out the blue light. You have those settings on your phone as well and various other screens, even on your TV, but still, the light is going to keep you awake,” said Brian Chen, MD, sleep specialist at Cleveland Clinic. 

Dr. Chen said besides the light, the type of content you’re watching can also disrupt your sleep, which is why it’s best to turn off all electronics about two hours before bed. 

This will help your brain wind down for the night. 

Instead, you could read, do a puzzle, or finish up some chores around the house. 

The key is to do something relaxing. 

Dr. Chen said a lot of people will also ask him about sleep supplements like magnesium glycinate. 

“Magnesium is a really popular medication to use to help people fall asleep. It does make people feel relaxed. It can relax your muscles and that can help you feel relaxed to fall asleep. It's not been proven to work in large studies of many, many people. It’s not a tried and true, and it doesn't work for everybody,” he said. “Then again, many people are a little magnesium deficient. So, it's not really hurting to take a little bit more magnesium, kind of replace what we naturally don't get in our diet.” 

Dr. Chen adds that sleep supplements are not FDA approved, so it’s important to keep that in mind before buying any. 

Ultimately, he said it’s best to consult with your physician if you are having trouble sleeping.