Sleep Disorders Treatments

Unfortunately not every woman is able to get the 7 to 8 hours a night of sleep that is recommended for optimal health. Due to the prevalence of sleep disorders during menopause, many find themselves awakened during the night or unable to sleep in the first place. This can lead to fatigue and increased anxiety during the daytime hours. As the primary cause of sleep disorders during menopause can be traced to imbalances in hormonal levels, such as that of estrogen, the best way to treat these disorders and regain a good night of rest is by addressing these hormonal issues.

Sleep Disorders	Though it used to be in vogue to prescribe hormone replacement therapy to treat this fundamental imbalance, persistent links to breast and ovarian cancer, along with heart disease and blood clots, have caused most healthcare professionals to rethink this drastic option. Many agree that the most effective approach is to combine a few changes in lifestyle with alternative treatment options. Three approaches for treating Sleep Disorders Three levels of approaches can be considered for treating sleep disorders. These are categorized as: (1) Lifestyle Changes, (2) Alternative Medicine and (3) Drugs and Surgery. It is recommended to begin with the least risky option, lifestyle changes, before progressing up to the next stage of treatment. Drugs and surgery should be used only in extreme cases.
Sleep Disorders Overview About Sleep Disorders What are sleep disorders? Symptoms Types Effects When to see a doctor Causes of Sleep Disorders Hormonal Psychological causes Other risk factors Treatments for Sleep Disorders

1: Lifestyle Changes to Promote Sleep:

This primary level of treatment involves the least amount of risk, though conversely it requires the highest amount of self discipline. Many times some simple changes in lifestyle can reap huge benefits in fighting sleep disorders, and achieve a higher overall level of health.

Sleep disorders can be a result of other common menopausal symptoms such as night sweats or anxiety. This may lead to fatigue during the daytime, and difficulty with normal daily tasks. In this case the importance of a good night´s sleep cannot be stressed enough. Simple changes such as exercising, practicing stress relief techniques, cutting out caffeine and alcohol, and using the bedroom only for sleep, can all be helpful.

Making these lifestyle changes is easier said than done, especially if one is accustomed to a certain routine. In addition, while these changes may help establish some more regularity in sleep patterns, they don´t go to the hormonal source of disorders such as insomnia, and so further treatment may be necessary. Alternative medicine has proven to be excellent for treating sleep disorders in a safe and natural way.

Tips for a Good Night of Sleep • Go to bed only when sleepy. • Sleep only in the bedroom. • Get up at the same time each   morning. • Discontinue caffeine and nicotine. • Exercise daily. • Avoid alcohol. • Limit fluid intake in the evening. • Practice relaxation techniques

2: Alternative Options:

Alternative approaches involve little to no risk and can be an extremely effective way to treat sleep disorders. This level of approach can involve several different therapies. Herbal supplements are the most prominent. In addition to herbs, women may try acupuncture, hypnosis, aromatherapy or massage to improve their sleeping patterns. However, most women find that herbal supplements are the easiest alternative treatment to follow, as the others require a greater time and monetary commitment. In addition, herbal supplements are the only viable option to treat the hormonal imbalance directly at its source.

By contrast, non-estrogenic herbs, as the name suggests, don't contain any estrogen. These herbs stimulate a woman´s hormone production by nourishing the pituitary and endocrine glands, causing them to more efficiently produce natural hormones. Non-estrogenic herbs (e.g. Macafem) can be considered the safest and most effective way to treat sleep disorders naturally as the body creates its own hormones and doesn´t require any outside assistance.

A combination of approaches is usually the most effective route to take. Lifestyle changes combined with alternative medicine will most likely be the best way to alleviate the symptoms of this hormonal imbalance. However, for some women the symptoms will be so severe that a more drastic treatment is necessary. In taking the leap into pharmaceutical options, side effects are inevitable, yet sometimes they can be worth it if the benefits will outweigh the risks.

3: Pharmaceutical Options:

Interventions at the third level involve the highest risk and often the highest costs. The most common drug therapy for treating sleep disorders in the US is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This may be a quick and strong way to combat sleep disorders; but, unfortunately, it entails serious side effects and increases the risk of different types of cancer among women, as the following study has proven.

In 1991 the National Institute of Health (NIH) launched the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), the largest clinical trial ever undertaken in the United States. The WHI was designed to provide answers concerning possible benefits and risks associated with use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This study was canceled in July 2002, after it was proven that synthetic hormones increase risks of ovarian and breast cancer as well as heart disease, blood clots and strokes. The findings were published in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, and to this date have not been disputed.

Various prescription sleep aids are also available on the market, such as Ambien, diphenhydramine (Sominex), doxylamine (Unisom), and others. While these may be effective in the short term to get to sleep, in the long run they can cause a dependence and don´t promote the healthy REM sleep that is so necessary for healthy mind and body function.

If symptoms are at the level of severity that a woman is still considering this final option, it is wise to speak to a healthcare professional for guidance.

These three levels of approaches are not mutually exclusive. A woman may use different approaches at different times or any combination of them, depending on the duration and severity of symptoms. Today more and more women find that dealing with menopause symptoms is best accomplished via a combination of healthy lifestyle and alternative treatments.

Return to home page and learn more about the 34 Menopause Symptoms.