Girls get a troublesome break with regards to menopause. Scorching flashes, night time sweats, temper modifications and weight acquire are simply a number of the undesirable signs you may experience1.
However sleep disturbances are one of many signs.
Submit-menopausal ladies might be unhappy with their sleep. Earlier than reaching menopause, round 12% of ladies report sleeping points. Then when ladies attain their late forties to early fifties, this determine rises to nearly 4 occasions the variety of pre-menopausal women2.
Analysis additionally exhibits as much as 60% of post-menopausal ladies have a sleeping disorder2.
So, why do post-menopausal ladies have such poor sleep?
In a nutshell, it’s to do with hormones.
Menopause occurs when a lady’s ovaries cease making estrogen and progesterone. Each hormones have a direct influence on our sleep2.
For example, latest analysis means that decrease ranges of progesterone could contribute to sleep apnea. It seems to forestall the comfort of the higher airways, inflicting the type of respiration pauses seen in obstructive sleep apnea.
Estrogen in the meantime can have an effect on our temper and sleep-wake cycle. It additionally helps preserve our physique temperature low at night time, permitting us to get higher high quality sleep2.
The excellent news is that poor sleep doesn’t must be inevitable post-menopause. There are measures ladies can take to get higher sleep. However first, let’s dive somewhat deeper into the influence of menopause on our sleep.
Leap to chapter
The Symptoms of Sleep Apnea in Menopause
The Impression of Menopause on Sleep
Scorching flashes, insomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea are the most typical sleep points skilled by post-menopausal ladies.
Scorching flashes
Scorching flashes contain a sudden rise in physique temperature and blood move to the face which creates a sensation of warmth.
Due to this, ladies can get woken up and discover it laborious to fall again asleep because of the energising impact of the elevated warmth and adrenaline. The truth is, amongst these ladies that suffer extreme scorching flashes, almost 44% additionally meet the medical standards for chromic insomnia2.
Insomnia
Girls are already unfortunate sufficient to expertise insomnia at a fee of 1 in 4 ladies (experiencing some signs), which is sort of double males. However the dangerous information is the chance of insomnia will increase in menopause, with 61% of post-menopausal ladies reporting insomnia symptoms2.
Sleep apnea
Analysis means that obstructive sleep apnea can happen in about 2% of women3. Then when you transition into menopause, your danger can enhance 4% each year!4
The disrupted respiration brought on by sleep apnea can result in a variety of signs together with extreme daytime sleepiness and impaired focus or reminiscence. You probably have considerations about your sleep, it is likely to be time to seek the advice of with a doctor who could recommend you’re taking a sleep take a look at.
The Signs of Sleep Apnea
You possibly can put together in your physician’s session by asking your self these questions to assist decide whether or not you might have a sleep downside:
- Do you’re feeling sleepy through the day, no matter how a lot sleep you had the night time earlier than?
- Do you go to sleep at inappropriate occasions?
- Are you irritable or unmotivated?
- Have you ever been identified with hypertension?
- Have you ever been identified with melancholy or continual fatigue syndrome?
- Are you postmenopausal?
- Do you could have issue concentrating?
- Do you could have issue remembering issues?
- Do you could have much less curiosity in intercourse?
One of many clearest indicators is likely to be your accomplice complaining that you simply’re loud night breathing or that your respiration is irregular when you’re sleeping. If that is the case, you might profit from seeing a healthcare skilled.
Not everybody who snores has sleep apnea and never everybody who has sleep apnea snores. Nonetheless, it’s value trying out in case you snore and/or have the above signs.
In case your sleep is being impacted by menopause, the excellent news is, remedy could also be out there to minimise the signs.
Remedies out there
Hormone substitute remedy is likely one of the most typical remedies for menopause and is confirmed to be efficient in relieving signs similar to scorching flashes and insomnia2. As with every remedy determination, it’s vital to talk along with your physician about what’s best for you.
Your physician can advise of the remedy choices, together with medicines out there and life-style modifications that might assist enhance your sleep.
Following these three basic sleep hygiene practices can also assist enhance your sleep. These embrace:
1. Comply with a daily sleep schedule and calming bedtime routine
2. Preserve a nutritious diet and train commonly
3. Hold your bed room temperature at a degree optimum for sleep
For a lot of ladies, the menopause journey presents discomfort and unintended effects of low hormones. And its influence on sleep might be one of many irritating signs.
Nonetheless, there’s assist out there and the earlier you get your sleep sorted, the faster you can take pleasure in a deeper, extra refreshing night time’s relaxation.
Discussion about this post