FAQ: What is a sleep disorder?
A: Sleep disorders result from disturbances in the body’s circadian rhythms during menopause. Some individuals experience periods of wakefulness during the night, in which they are unable to return to sleep. Others talk or move during sleep, decreasing muscle rest. Still others are unable to quiet their mind in order to entice sleep. Taking longer than 30 minutes to fall asleep, fitful sleep, waking throughout the night, and the inability to maintain sleep constitutes a sleep disorder. An individual requires restful sleep that includes REM or deep sleep. Broken or fitful sleep leads to lack of concentration, in addition to a variety of stresses.
FAQ: What are typical sleep disorder symptoms?
A: With approximately 80 varieties of sleep disorders, symptoms range from inability to fall and remain asleep, daytime drowsiness, snoring during sleep, tingling sensations in the arms and legs, as well as waking tired and weak. Daytime symptoms include weariness, muscle weakness, inability to concentrate, poor attention span, forgetfulness, lack of patience and drowsiness throughout the day. Other individuals develop muscle aches and pains, headaches, weight gain or loss, and digestive difficulties. Some women find maintaining a sleep journal, in which they record sleep times, disturbances and daytime affects, useful in determining the extent to which they may suffer from sleep disorders.
FAQ: Are sleep disorders common in menopause?
A: Approximately 65 percent of menopausal women describe symptoms of sleep disturbance. Studies note that having difficulty falling and remaining asleep, in addition to other sleep dysfunctions, are typical, and frequent reports from women suffering from hormonal imbalances during menopause. Many women experience an inability to fall asleep, wake frequently throughout the night, and report snoring, breathing difficulties, sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome. Women describing tingling sensations in the legs find that consistent leg movement throughout the night eases this uncomfortable symptom. With an urge or need to sleep while driving, or working, narcolepsy resulting from insomnia is a common symptom.
FAQ: Are some women prone to sleep disorders?
A: Sleep difficulties are common during menopause with some women experiencing greater difficulty managing their symptoms. Lifestyle can negatively influence the ability to sleep soundly. High blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle, rotating work shifts, excess use of drugs, alcohol, nicotine and caffeine and increased body fat seriously influence a women’s’ ability to maintain healthy sleep patterns.
FAQ: What is the cause of sleep disturbances during menopause?
A: Hormones signaling the end of fertility, wane. These hormones, responsible for a variety of body functions, disrupt the chemical balance that induces and maintains sleep. Hormones manage emotions, as well. Anxiety, increased stress, and symptoms of depression can destroy restful sleep. Anxiety decreases the body’s ability to fall asleep and depressive symptoms influence daily functioning. Diminishing estrogen induces hot flashes and night sweats as well as snoring and other breathing problems during sleep. Progesterone is another hormone waning during menopause. It is responsible for inducing sleep, increasing women’s risk of insomnia.
FAQ: What can women do to reduce the symptoms of menopausal sleep disorders?
A: With lifestyle changes, alternative therapies or a combination of both approaches women can decrease the influence of diminishing hormones that lead to sleep disturbances. Women can enhance the quality of their sleep time exercising regularly, avoiding excess caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol, as well as losing 5 to 10 lbs. if they carry excess weight. Keeping electronic entertainment out of the sleeping area and sleeping in a dark, cool area will induce sleep. Regular and consistent sleeping and waking routines also encourage healthy sleeping patterns. Stress relief techniques and aromatherapy are also helpful tools for enticing sleep. If these techniques are not successful or do not resolve sleep disturbances, natural herbal supplements and alternative therapies can address sleep disorders at the source.
FAQ: Is there a cure for sleep disorders?
A: The sleep journal can be very helpful in determining the cause of individual sleep disorders. Since most sleep disturbances for women between 35 and 55 years of age are related to hormone imbalances, herbal supplements designed to nourish the pituitary and endocrine glands can restore normal circadian rhythms. Alternative therapies such as massage, acupuncture, hypnosis, Shiatsu, and biofeedback in conjunction with herbal supplements usually restores healthy sleep patterns.
For a small percentage of women, however, these options are not sufficient to restore sleep. In these instances, women should consult their medical health professional to review their options. Medications such as sleep aids may induce sleep but do not regulate sleep patterns, encourage deep sleep or solve long-term sleep disorders with dependence. Be sure to review risks and benefits of medications or surgery. A medical professional may require diagnostic testing in an attempt to provide women with hormone therapy or surgery for severely debilitating symptoms of hormone imbalances leading to sleep deprivation.
Know how to manange the menopausal sleeplessness symptom - Menopause Sleeplessness Treatment.
