A lack of sleep causes many health problems. It can destroy efficiency at work, cause stress and anxiety, and influence your overall mood. However, did you know that there are certain sleep problems that impact women specifically? As your expert sleep doctor, Dr. Shukla wants to make sure that you are not an unknowing victim of hidden sleep problems. Did you know that women are more likely to develop sleeping disorders, especially as they age?
Why Sleep is Important for Women
Sleep is important for everyone, especially women. During menopause, a woman’s sleep is often threatened.
Dr. Shukla explains in the New York Post, “Women’s bodies undergo many changes before, during, and after menopause. There’s a dramatic shift of hormonal balance which often causes cycles of insomnia because of the depletion in estrogen and progesterone.”
Additionally, a 2011 study of women’s health found the following rates of insomnia to increase with age:
- Pre-menopausal women – 16-42%
- Perimenopausal women – 39-47%
- Postmenopausal women – 35-60%
The human body is an amazing machine. Sleep is meant to be a short hibernation state where your body repairs itself from the day before. Without the proper amount of sleep, you are creating a compounding effect of negative side effects that are harder and harder to fix. Sleep disorders tend to affect women more than men on average. Reach out to your sleep doctor in NYC today to take back control of your nights in bed.
How to Tell if You Have Sleep Problems
The symptoms of improper sleep are easily associated with something else (ex: weight gain can be associated with an improper diet, sleepiness can be associated with a boring workday, etc). Although most of the symptoms can stem from other areas, getting better sleep will always have a positive effect on your body and mind. Here are some common sleeping problems that plague many women.
- Insomnia is a common term that gets thrown around loosely. Essentially, it is a disorder that makes it very difficult to fall asleep, and stay asleep. Although many people may erroneously refer to a night of bad sleep as having insomnia, 25% of women in America do actually suffer from this chronic condition.
- Menstruation and pregnancy are two situations that men don’t have to deal with; therefore, this issue directly impacts women alone. Both menstruation and pregnancy can negatively affect a women’s sleep schedule due to factors like being unable to find a comfortable position.
- Sleep apnea is a serious condition that causes interruptions in breathing while sleeping and can create a less than ideal situation to get restful sleep.
- Narcolepsy is a condition where you may feel excessively sleepy during the day, and even fall asleep randomly without prompting.
- Restless Leg Syndrome may not directly affect your ability to sleep but can keep you up because of the uncomfortable feeling that is associated with it. This is another sleep problem that historically affects more women than men.
Ways to Sleep Better
Having a restful and long sleep pattern will help you throughout the day, so implementing these suggestions can do wonders for a healthy sleep schedule.
- Use light to improve your circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm is your body’s natural clock that lets your mind know when to be awake and when to be asleep. Exposing yourself to lots of bright, natural light during the day, and then darkness only at night will create a natural rhythm in your body to fall asleep faster. Also, reducing blue light exposure right before bed, such as television screens and phones, will make it easier for you to stay asleep longer.
- No long naps. Long naps will throw off your cycle. A nap is not inherently bad because it can help you with a quick recharge during the day. However, anything more than 30 minutes will have a negative affect.
- Limit caffeine throughout the day. Caffeine is also a huge deterrent for restful sleep, especially later in the day. Skip that afternoon cup of coffee pickup.
- Keep it consistent. Consistency is key to a healthy sleep pattern. Waking up at the same time each day, even on weekends, as well as going to bed at the same time, will create a much better environment for sleep.
- 70-degree rule. Body temperature is very important for a good night’s sleep. Try to keep your bedroom around 70 degrees, which is optimal for sleep.
Sleep Doctor for Insomnia Treatment
While women specifically can be plagued with hidden sleep problems, knowing the causes and recommended improvements is extremely crucial. If you have been extremely a poor sleeping routine and think it may be caused by something deeper, then it is time to schedule your appointment with your sleep doctor, Dr. Shukla.
