We all require rest. The recommended quantity for a healthy adult is roughly seven hours. Sleep deprivation has been found to have long-term negative consequences for our mental health, heart health, cognitive functioning, and even our risk of osteoporosis. Furthermore, excessive sleep (more than 8 hours) has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, while the reason and effect are unknown; prolonged sleep could be a sign of underlying disease.
Non-REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is the best type of sleep since it comprises of three distinct stages (1, 2 and 3) that travel upwards and downwards as your sleep cycle develops. Stage 3 is thought to be the greatest. This is a profound sleep in which we are cut off from the outer world and are completely oblivious to any sounds or other stimulation. This happens most often in the first half of the night, when our brain activity, respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure are all at their lowest. It’s also the time of year when we’re most prone to dream.
As you progress through menopause, your sleep can both affect and be influenced by your health and other health concerns.
Common Sleeping Problems Due to Menopause
Common sleeping problems as a result of menopause include:
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Difficulty staying asleep
- Waking up too early
- Poor quality of sleep
- Fatigue and poor overall functioning
During perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause, sleep problems are prevalent. The percentage of women who have sleep disturbances during menopause varies between 28 and 63 percent. Differences in the ways that studies have measured sleep disturbance may account for the wide range; self-reporting tends to show underestimation of total sleep time and number of arousals, with overestimation of time taken to get to sleep, compared to laboratory sleep studies. Overall, studies demonstrate that sleep issues are more common during the menopausal transition, and that they are closely linked to the prevalence of flushes and sweats.
How Menopause can cause sleep problems
Menopausal symptoms range from hot flushes and sweats (vasomotor symptoms) to anxiety and low mood, with anxiety contributing to difficulties falling asleep and depression leading to non-restorative sleep and early morning waking. Menopausal sleep disruption, on the other hand, has been suggested as a possible cause of anxiety and depression. Estrogen deficiency can also induce sleep disturbances by causing joint aches and pains, as well as bladder difficulties such as passing pee at night. Because progesterone acts on brain circuits to induce sleep, menopausal progesterone reduction may have a role in sleep disturbance. Melatonin, another important sleep hormone, declines with age. Melatonin secretion is regulated in part by estrogen and progesterone, and levels drop during perimenopause, aggravating the problem.
Can Hormone Replacement Therapy Help With My Sleep Problems
The symptoms of menopause and perimenopause can entirely derail your life if you have a hormonal imbalance. You may be prepared to try everything to get relief, but you don’t have to take potentially harmful pills with a long list of adverse effects. Consider having a specialist adjust your hormone needs if you’re thinking about starting menopausal treatment. Renu You can help you manage your menopause symptoms in a safe and efficient manner.
Contact US Womens Medical Center to learn more about how hormone replacement treatment can help with sleeplessness and other menopause symptoms.
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