Their exact cause has yet to be fully understood, but night sweats and hot flashes are believed to be the result of the hormonal changes affecting the hypothalamus, your body’s ‘thermostat’ that regulates body temperature. What causes night sweats and hot flashes in menopause? Researchers believe that the rapid spike followed by a crash of blood sugar levels causes frequent awakenings during sleep. Diet: a study of postmenopausal women’s carbohydrate intake and sleep showed that the risk of insomnia is higher for menopausal women with a high-GI (highly processed and ‘white’ carbohydrates) and sugary diet than those with diets low on sugar and high on whole grains, fruits and vegetables.The physical discomforts associated with menopause such as aging, mood swings, weight gain, vaginal dryness and night sweats along with the idea of growing older may be difficult or depressing for some women, which is likely to keep them tossing and turning at night. In addition, menopause comes at a time in a woman’s life where she is often very busy with managing her career, personal life, children and health. The increased feeling of anxiety or alertness often makes sleep difficult. Psychological distress: Menopause increases nighttime cortisol (stress hormone) levels that have been shown to spike just after a hot flash.Insomnia is more prevalent in women during menopause, and it’s thought to be caused by fluctuating hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone, which can affect serotonin levels in the brain and disrupt sleep patterns.Īlthough more research is needed in this area, other factors are also believed to cause insomnia in menopausal women: Insomnia is a serious sleep disorder defined by recurring difficulty falling or staying asleep. Why can’t I sleep at night? – Insomnia and menopause The onset and duration of perimenopause and menopause varies among women, but the first signs of hormonal change typically begin three to five years before actual menopause. This impact on sleep often lasts throughout the menopausal transition and after menopause. Sleep apnea – where breathing frequently stops while you sleep, occurs more frequently in menopausal women, sometimes accompanied by Restless legs syndrome (RLS).Quality of life – Potential physical discomforts affect the overall quality of life and can lead to psychological distress – which significantly impacts sleep as well.Hot flashes – the most notorious symptom of menopause and the biggest culprit of disrupted sleep.Sleep problems often begin during the time before menopause, the premenopause, where estrogen and progesterone levels start to fluctuate and menstrual periods become irregular.Īnd it’s this hormonal change that experts believe is to blame for sleep disruptions and insomnia during perimenopause – for different reasons: But they are quite common and affect 40-60% of menopausal women. Sleep disorders are not as frequently associated with perimenopause, the time around and during menopause, as other symptoms. Menopause and sleep problems: how does menopause impact sleep? Natural remedies for sleep problems during menopause.Snoring and sleep apnea in menopausal women.What causes night sweats and hot flashes in menopause?.Why can’t I sleep at night? Insomnia and menopause.So what is a menopausal woman to do? Before preparing for total misery until the hormonal storm has passed, we’ve got some natural ways for you to improve your sleep and quality of life through this significant time. As if hot flashes and mood swings weren’t enough, many women also experience sleep problems which further increase the risk of psychological distress. Menopause can be a challenging time for many women (and dare we say their loved ones?). Sleep Cycle alarm clock > About Sleep > Sleep Habits and Health Sleep problems during menopause: 3 natural remedies
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