What is Sleep Disorder?

    On an average, a healthy adult requires around seven to eight hours of peaceful sleep each night. However, women in menopause do not obtain this standard amount of sleep due to sleep disorder. In this so-called condition, they experience lack of sleep resulting in low concentration, irritability, and weaker immune system increasing the risks of other diseases and leading to the decreased function during the day. Women wake up quite frequently during the night due to which they get tired and so cannot concentrate during the daytime. The sleep cycle is also responsible for a healthy image and immune system, which when distracted, negatively affects the immune system. In fact, a menopausal woman can even experience all these effects very severely, which can be frustrating as well; as the accompanying fluctuating hormone levels augment their sleep problems and stress.

    As per a survey, it was found that the rate of sleep apnea rises sharply in the postmenopausal stage affecting around 9% of such women. Further, 16% of postmenopausal women claim to experience difficulty in falling asleep, while 41% account for frequently waking up during the night. Luckily, all the symptoms of the sleep disorder can be controlled and even treated. So, continue reading to know all about the sleep disorder.
     
    • Types of Sleep Disorders in Menopausal WomenThere are many types of sleep disorders that have already attacked approximately 65 million people all over the world. However, for menopausal women, the most common sleep disorders are insomnia, sleep apnea, snoring, narcolepsy, and restless leg syndrome.
    • Insomnia: Trouble in falling asleep and/or waking up often at night
    • Sleep Apnea: Temporary pause of breath for at least 10 seconds throughout the night
    • Snoring: A loud, throaty breathing during sleep, sometimes happening with sleep apnea
    • Narcolepsy:Undue feeling of sleepiness in daytime leading to sleep attacks or an uncontrollable desire to sleep at unacceptable times
    • Restless Leg Syndrome: Unlikable sensation in the legs at rest with aching and itching leading to a desire to move them
    •  
    • Sleep Disorder CausesAs with the other symptoms of menopause, the main cause of sleep disorder is also the declined levels of the hormones within the body. The referred hormones here are estrogen and progesterone whose changed levels affect a woman’s mind and body in many ways of which one is sleep disorder. Besides this root cause, there are many other causes of sleep disorder namely, psychological factors and lifestyle triggers. The psychological disruptions include depression, anxiety, stressful situations, and financial problems, while the other risk factors are obesity, alcohol, caffeine, and night shifts.
    • Sleep Disorder SymptomsThe menopausal symptom of sleep disorder itself can cover a myriad of symptoms with the common warning signs. These are awakening many times at night, snoring, sleepwalk, and memory problems. These symptoms can range from mild to severe, which certainly calls for your vigilance first before doctor’s diagnosis.
    • Sleep Disorder TreatmentThree approaches are laid down to treat sleep disorder and symptoms namely, a change in lifestyle, alternative medicine, and drugs and surgery. Bringing some changes in lifestyle is the least risky approach that includes exercising, implementing some stress releasing techniques like yoga, and avoiding alcohol and caffeine. If the sleep disorder symptoms still continue, women might consider taking natural remedies such as massage and aromatherapy. It is only in the extreme or severe cases that a woman needs to go for drugs and surgery, as there is a lot of risk of side effects like cancer. So, this is the last resort that should be considered when the above two do not impact significantly.
    • When a Doctor is Needed?If you notice that the breathing has been ruined while sleeping at night due to sleep apnea or if the continuance of sleep disorder symptoms is putting you and others in any kind of danger, a healthcare professional must be consulted for analysis and cure. This is because you will definitely find your way to get rid of the problem and have a regular sleep at night once again.

More Topics


  • Sleep Disorder TreatmentLet’s accept the fact that not all women can sleep for 7 to 8 hours at night, which is the necessary condition for the finest health. Rather than taking it lightly, it is important to realize that this is something to worry about because of its probable dangerous effects. As the sleep disorders continue to prevail during menopause, women might not be able to sleep or might get awakened several times during the night.
  • Sleep Disorder SymptomsDo you wake frequently at night or experience difficulty in falling asleep? Do not worry; this is nothing but a sign of sleep disorder. Sleep disorder itself is one of the common symptoms of menopause, but yet encompasses a myriad of symptoms that are detected by doctors for diagnosis. In reality, the symptoms of sleep disorders are difficult to tackle. Oftentimes, they hit you at night leaving a deep impact on your body, mind, and life while you are awake.
  • Sleep Disorder CausesHow do you feel the next day morning if you do not sleep enough? Frustrating? Drowsy? Or Uninterested in doing any task? Well, it is usually a combination of these feelings. Imagine if a mother suffers from all of these effects due to improper sleep, then what will happen. Definitely, this will bring a strain on her relationships with family and at work.

List of Menopause Symptoms

Irregular Heartbeat

Irregular HeartbeatIrregular heartbeat is one of the normal and common symptoms occurring in menopausal women. Despite this fact, the bursts of irregular heartbeat attacking suddenly are very ...

Osteoporosis Symptoms

Osteoporosis symptomsPerhaps, it is the menopausal symptom of osteoporosis that is regarded as the most critical sign during menopause, as it has the potential to result in extreme health issues...