As women reach a certain age, many chemical changes affect their body, mood, and energy. It’s not uncommon for women in the pre-menopause and menopause stages to have a difficult time falling asleep and/or staying asleep.
We’ve known for a while now the importance of quality sleep and its effect on proper health. It is not simply getting sleep that matters, but rather, restorative sleep to help the body heal and function properly. Unfortunately, menopause can cause a lot of discomfort in women such as hot flashes, and mood disorders which can lead to sleep issues.
How Menopause Affects Your Sleep Pattern
Sleep experts suggest at least seven to nine hours of sleep a night for the general population, however, the lack of sleep or sleep disruption caused by menopause can affect the physical, mental, and emotional health of the average woman. This lack of sleep can alter a woman’s hormone levels which could eventually wreak havoc on her body.
Hot Flashes
One of the most common symptoms of menopause is hot flashes. These brief body temperature rises are a result of hormone level changes in the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus (a part of the brain) also happens to act as the body’s thermostat, so when hormone levels shift, women feel that directly in their body temperatures. The constant discomfort of changing body temperatures can lead to insomnia.
Weight Gain & Muscle Decline
The unstable hormone levels can also lead to weight gain and muscle decline – both are a recipe for obstructive sleep apnea. While it can sound like very loud snoring, the cortical arousals from the apnea that fragment sleep cause daytime symptoms.
While women may not notice that they have sleep apnea at first, they must handle this issue because it can lead to poor sleep quality. Many women who claim to get the recommended hours of sleep still wake up tired because of the type of sleep they are getting – the fragmented sleep is not allowing for restorative sleep to take place.
Mood Disorders
While random body temperature changes and lack of sleep can get under anyone’s skin, mood disorders can be a result of imbalanced hormones as well.
Hormone level shifts can trigger difficult mood changes throughout the course of menopause including anxiety, mild depression, or panic attacks. Other social and economic pressures can become difficult to shoulder and can add more stress to a woman’s daily life. These mood shifts and stressors can deeply affect a women’s ability to turn off her brain and attempt getting some rest.
What Can Women Do to Improve Sleep Quality?
Sleep is essential for a healthy, energized, and full life. Sleep provides the body and mind with rest, while also repairing the muscles and brain tissues we use throughout the day. Many women are unaware that they can visit a sleep medicine doctor to improve the quality of their sleep.
If you are experiencing poor sleep throughout the night, schedule a detailed evaluation with Dr. Gingras at Gingras Sleep Medicine in Concord and Charlotte, North Carolina. She will discuss your issues and recommend sleep treatment options that are personalized to your age, sleep disorders, overall general health, and specific concerns, such as menopause.
Schedule a sleep medicine consultation by calling our office at (704) 944-0562 or request an appointment online at www.gingrassleepmedicine.com