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A comment on Ask HN: What is one thing that improved your cognitive skills the most?. Parent comment

Re:Ask HN: What is one thing that improved your cognitive sk... by happymellon on Wednesday January 18, 2023 @05:07AM (#34425106)
> Perfect your sleep schedule. I used 10mg EXTENDED RELEASE melatonin about 1 hour before bedtime.

Why are so many Americans reliant on melatonin? I don't know anyone who has significant sleeping issues, and no one who takes melatonin. However it comes up quite often in conversations with folks from the US.

Are people there more likely to be stressed because work doesn't let them switch off?

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Re:Ask HN: What is one thing that improved your cognitive sk... by d9000 on Wednesday January 18, 2023 @11:32AM (#34428886)
Some people can't get good sleep in the US mostly because of non-stop noise/parties at night. Dogs barking, sirens, people fighting, etc. In Germany you can call police on your neighbour if they are louder than a ceiling fan. No such laws in the US.
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Re:Ask HN: What is one thing that improved your cognitive sk... by mattwest on Wednesday January 18, 2023 @09:28PM (#34436029)
It's rooted in American marketing and lack of regulation. Many people don't view melatonin as the hormone it really is. Kinda wild we can buy unlimited amounts of it with no regulation. Pretty cheap too.

I have yet to hear a clinical neurologist actually recommend melatonin for sleep management. It is highly disruptive and while you may feel you slept well, there will be nagging consequences which result in negative net gain.

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