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Sleep Disorder
Sleep Disorders during Menopause
Sleep disorders or a lack of sleep can lead to poor concentration during daytime, irritability, and a weaker immune system. Fluctuating hormone levels are normally the root cause of sleep disorders during menopause, which add up to the normal stresses of adult life.
About Sleep Disorders
Healthy adults need about 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night. Most women experiencing sleep disorders don’t get 7-8 hours’ sleep per night and therefore they are prone to having a weakened immune system, increased anxiety, and a worsening of pre-existing medical conditions. These conditions can have a strain on business or personal relationships, and cause emotional disturbances.
Types of Sleep Disorders
As people age, they seem to get along with less sleep in general. However, the most commonly reported sleep problems are insomnia, sleep apnea, snoring, narcolepsy, and restless leg syndrome.
Menopause Symptoms Related to Sleep Disorders
Other more common menopause symptoms are normally the cause of sleep disorders, like:
- Night sweats, (the nighttime version of hot flashes), which can cause a
- Woman to awake several times during the night.
- Depression and
- Anxiety, which may make sleep difficult.
These symptoms can cause a vicious circle of lack of sleep, fatigue, and other unpleasant menopausal symptoms.
Effects of Sleep Disorders
Whether a woman have sleep problems because of common menopausal symptoms or something such as sleep apnea and be completely unaware of it, it will surely have a noticeable effect on her daily life.
Common effects of sleep disorders:
- Poor learning, speech, and memory abilities
- Struggling to concentrate on daily tasks
- Increased chance of car accidents
- Food cravings which leads to weight gain
- Impaired immune function – prone to catching colds, etc.
- Damage to business and/or personal relationships
- Increased irritability
- Depression/fatigue
Causes of Sleep Disorders
Hormonal fluctuations are the major cause of sleep disorders during menopause. Declining levels of estrogen and progesterone can affect a woman in many different ways, like sleep disorder.
How estrogen affects sleep:
- Reduced levels of estrogen slow down the intake and secondary production of magnesium, a mineral that helps muscles to relax.
- Low estrogen also lead to hot flashes and night sweats which interrupt sleep cycle.
- Low estrogen levels are linked to sleep apnea, disturbing breathing during the night.
How progesterone affects sleep:
- Progesterone has a sleep-inducing effect. When levels decline, the ability to fall asleep soundly does as well.
- Linked to insomnia, and inability to fall asleep promptly.
Fluctuating hormones are generally the cause of sleep disorders during menopause, but a woman´s psychology state can also have an influence on her sleep.
Psychological Disruptions:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Stressful work situations
- Relationship problems
- Financial issues
Other Risk Factors for Sleep Disorders
Menopausal symptoms can differ from woman to woman. Some women are more prone to sleep disorders than others. Below is a list of risk factors that can make a woman more susceptible to sleep disorders:
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Age
- Use of caffeine/nicotine
- Use of drugs/alcohol
- Inactivity/lack of exercise
- Working rotating/night shifts
Treatment for Sleep disorders during Menopause:
- Lifestyle Changes &
- The Manna Menopause Support Supplement, with 100% natural phyto-estrogens.