Menopause Fatigue And Insomnia The No 1 Sleep Disorder
Menopause Fatigue And Insomnia The No 1 Sleep Disorder
Menopause Fatigue
Do you constantly feel exhausted, drained and have zero energy and motivation?
You are not alone, many women experience symptoms like these while they’re going through menopause.
You could be going through Menopause Fatigue, a very common menopause symptom.
In a 2018 study, 85.3% of the 300 women taking part in the study, reported mental or physical tiredness, in post-menopause comparted to only 19.7% of women that had not yet entered perimenopause.
Causes of Menopause fatigue
- Fluctuating hormone levels, which cause the brain to wake up at all hours of the night
- Lower levels of progesterone can cause you to be short-tempered and less likely to relax
- Hot flashes and night sweats are also likely to cause interrupted sleep, leading to fatigue
- Insomnia another menopause symptom, may also lead to extreme fatigue during the day
Estrogen and progesterone also help to protect women against sleep apnea.
When you go through menopause, you no longer produce progesterone which means you are no longer as naturally protected from this sleep disorder, putting you at greater risk.
If you have sleep apnea, oxygen deprivation may cause you to awaken several times during the night.
Sources:
medicalnewstoday.com – menopause fatigue
webmd.com – what to know about menopause fatigue
Other common sleep issues
Beside Menopause fatigue, some of the common sleep disorders affecting women, include: insomnia, sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome.
All these conditions can prevent you from getting a regular good night’s sleep.
- Insomnia is a condition marked by not being able to fall asleep, trouble remaining asleep, or both
- Sleep apnea is a sleep disruption that occurs when your airway gets blocked repeatedly while you sleep
- Restless leg syndrome (RLS)is a sensation that causes you to move your legs constantly, even when asleep
You might be getting an adequate amount of sleep but still suffer from sleep disorders.
It could be that you are missing out on the deep stage of the sleep cycle, which is necessary for you to wake up feeling well-rested and refreshed.
Insomnia The No 1 Sleep Disorder
Insomnia is the most commonly diagnosed sleep disorder and generally refers to any difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep.
Left untreated, insomnia may lead to:
- Irritability
- Memory problems
- Depression
- Anxiety
Long term effects of insomnia can lead to:
- Increased risk of accidents
- Heart disease
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Immune system problems
- Hyperthyroidism
- Congestive heart failure
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Dementia
- Pain-related conditions
Transient insomnia can persist for just a few days, usually following a stressful event or excessive use of stimulants such as caffeine or nicotine.
Episodic (short-term) insomnia can last up to 3 weeks, interspersed with periods of more or less normal sleep.
Chronic (persistent) insomnia occurs at least two days a week for at least a month.
Causes of insomnia
- Stress
- Heartburn or acid reflux
- Bed-wetting
- Poor sleep environment
- Aches and pains
- Inconsistent sleep schedule
- Excessive exercise close to bedtime
- Medications, alcohol, tobacco, caffeine
Stress and anxiety are the number one cause of insomnia.
Short-term insomnia can lead to a long-term problem if not managed properly and stress issues are not resolved.
Conditioned insomnia
Insomniacs can also suffer from conditioned insomnia.
Worrying about not being able to fall asleep can lead to its own stress and anxiety and end up in a kind of vicious circle.
For those experiencing conditioned insomnia, they often describe becoming anxious as bedtime approaches.
They can sleep anywhere as long as it’s not in their bed.
Adrenal fatigue can cause insomnia
This is mostly due to cortisol levels being unbalanced, affecting sleep patterns and happens when the adrenals are in over-drive, putting out excessive cortisol throughout the day in order to deal with the constant stress.
If cortisol is still present at night, it can affect the ability to fall asleep, leading to insomnia.
A high adrenaline level can also disturb sleep patterns as the body is on full alert.
People suffering from adrenal fatigue commonly have high cortisol as well as high adrenaline levels.
Treatment of insomnia
Common treatments for insomnia include:
- Self-help such as improved sleep habits and changes in daily routine
- Avoiding caffeine and exercise close to bedtime.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat underlying mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression.
- Treatment for underlying conditions that can be contributing to your sleep problem.
- Medication as a short-term solution may help to ease insomnia symptoms.
