Menopause and Insomnia
Dreams are like stars, you may never touch them, but if you follow them they will lead you to your destiny. -- unknown
If you are a female between 45 and 60 years of age and you’ve noticed your sleep patterns changing, menopause insomnia will almost certainly be the reason. Did you know that almost half of the women who go through menopause have insomnia? For some women, it starts during perimenopause (the years before menopause) starts then it continues during menopause. Women who go through insomnia say that they wake up in the middle of the night and they can no longer go back to sleep. You have to watch out for insomnia and menopause especially when you are in the latter part of your life.
What Causes Insomnia During Menopause
Until a few years ago menopause and insomnia would never have been thought to have a connection, but physicians began to notice that when a woman's estrogen and progesterone hormone levels drop your sleep/wake cycle changes. Hot flashes along with decreasing hormones are just two things that connect menopause and insomnia. The sudden drop in hormone levels cause:
1. Sleep Apnea
2. Hot Flashes or Hot Flushes
3. Night Time Sweating
4. Depression and Anxiety
Symptoms of Insomnia During Menopause
Symptoms of menopausal insomnia include difficulty falling asleep, frequent waking and waking up too early and being unable to get back to sleep. Hot flashes may cause frequent waking that many women experience.
Recommendations
There are a number of things that women can try in the hope of getting a better night's sleep:
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