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About Sleep Disorders
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Sleep disorders are particularly tricky to deal with. They attack at night and can have a profound effect on a woman's waking life. The risk of sleep disorders increases with age, and can be triggered by menopause due to changes in hormone levels as well as the nighttime disturbance caused by other menopausal symptoms such as night sweats.
Fortunately, it is possible to treat sleep disorders and achieve a restful night once again. Read on to discover more about what sleep disorders are, what their main characteristics entail, and how they affect daily life. |
The numbers
Approximately 16% of postmenopausal women report having trouble falling asleep, and 41% report waking up frequently during the night. |
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What are Sleep Disorders?
On average, a healthy adult needs approximately seven or eight hours of undisturbed sleep per night.
Yet many women do not receive the proper amount. Those with sleep disorders experience the persistent problem of going without the recommended amount of uninterrupted sleep, leading to a weakened immune system, increased anxiety, and a worsening of pre-existing medical conditions.
This may also have a strain on business or personal relationships, and cause emotional disturbances. Women wake up more often during the night and as a result are tired and can´t concentrate during the day. The sleep cycle is highly important to maintaining a healthy demeanor and immune system, and sleep disorders throw this into disarray. |
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Symptoms of Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders can encompass a variety of symptoms and conditions; however, there are certain warning signs that are fairly common. If experiencing any of the following, the existence of one or more sleep disorders is likely:
Read on to learn more about the most common types of sleep disorders that menopausal women are likely to face.
Types of Sleep Disorders
There is a wide variety of sleep disorders, with a recent Gallup poll estimating 65 million sufferers of the 70-80 types of sleep disorders that exist. As people age, there is a tendency to get less sleep in general, as well as less time spent in the deepest, most beneficial periods of the sleep cycle.
Disorder |
Definition |
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Insomnia |
Inability to fall asleep and/or waking up on a frequent basis throughout the night. |
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Sleep Apnea |
The temporary cessation of breathing throughout the night, lasting 10 seconds or longer. |
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Snoring |
Oftentimes associated with sleep apnea, a loud, hoarse breathing that occurs during sleep. |
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Narcolepsy |
Excessive daytime sleepiness that results in "sleep attacks," or an irresistible urge to sleep at inappropriate times. |
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| Restless Leg Syndrome |
Unpleasant sensation occurring in the legs at rest, producing an urge to move them, often characterized as aching, fidgety, or itchy.
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For menopausal women, the most commonly reported sleep disorders are insomnia, sleep apnea, snoring, narcolepsy, and restless leg syndrome.
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The results of symptoms caused by these sleep disorders are often closely correlated to other symptoms of menopause. For example, night sweats, the nighttime version of hot flashes, can disrupt sleep patterns by causing a woman to wake up several times during the night. Sleep disorders can also lead to further depression and anxiety, which may make sleep difficult. This can cause a vicious circle of lack of sleep, fatigue, and other unpleasant symptoms of menopause.
Read below to learn more about how sleep disorders affect daily life, and compound other symptoms a woman undergoing menopause may be experiencing.
Effects of Sleep Disorders
While it is possible to suffer from sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and be completely unaware of this during the evening, these interruptions in a woman´s sleeping patterns will surely have a noticeable effect on her daily life.
• Reduced capacity for learning, speech, and
memory.
• Inability to concentrate on daily tasks.
• Higher chance of accidents, particularly in a car or
operating machinery.
• Tendency towards weight gain.
• Weakened immune system.
• Damage to business and/or personal relationships.
• Increased irritability.
• Depression/fatigue. |
Striking data
The rate of insomnia rises among women at a rate of 40% during the transitional period of menopause to post-menopause. |
As sleep disorders continue, a woman´s level of sleep deprivation grows and the problems can go beyond the reaches of general daytime fatigue, becoming a potentially dangerous situation. Continue reading to know when it is time to seek professional help
When To See a Doctor
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If a woman discovers that her breathing is impaired during the night due to sleep apnea, or if the persistence of sleep disorders is causing her to imperil herself and others, it is time to see a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. Fortunately there are ways to get to the root of the problem and experience a fitful night´s rest once again.
With a full comprehension of what sleep disorders are, click on the following link to read and learn what causes sleep disorders. |
Sleep-related breathing disorders are associated with stroke, high blood pressure, psychiatric problems, and heart disease. |
What are the best ways to cope with sleep disorders?
Three approaches can be considered for treating sleep disorders: (1) lifestyle changes, (2) alternative remedies, and (3) drugs and surgery. Most experts recommend that women begin with the least aggressive approach and move to the next level of treatment only if symptoms persist. Click on treatments for sleep disorders to discover the best route to relief.
Return to home page and learn more about the 34 Menopause Symptoms.
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