You might think that a good night’s sleep is nothing but a dream once you reach a certain age. A lot of women experience sleep problems during perimenopause- a period of time before menopause when hormone levels and menstrual periods become irregular. Our moms and grandmothers called it the change of life, which dreaded the age of hot flashes and bad mood swings and the unofficial start of middle age. More women expect those unwelcome symptoms during menopause. It is the time that marks the end of the menstrual cycle. It’s diagnosed after you’ve gone 12 months without a menstrual period. Menopause can happen in your 40s or 50s, but most of the time in your 60s. This stage is said to be a natural biological process. Here are some symptoms you can consider if you’re turning to menopausal stage:
Symptoms
- Hot flashes
- Chills
- Irregular periods
- Vaginal dryness
- Night sweats
- Sleep problems
- Mood changes
- Thinning hair and dry skin
- Loss of breast fullness
- Weight gain
- Slowed metabolism
These symptoms, including changes in menstruation, are different for every woman. Most likely, you’ll experience some irregularity in your periods before they end. But along with these symptoms, many women don’t anticipate coming: disturbed sleep.
Sleep Apnea is a condition in which breathing is temporarily paused and interrupted during sleep. It can present itself as snoring or gasping of breath and is generally triggered by the throat muscles relaxing too much during bedtime sleep. This results in the closing of the airway, which leads to the gasping sensation. According to some studies, more than 18 million adults have sleep apnea, and while it is more common among men, the odds of experiencing sleep apnea in women are during and after their menopausal stage. There’s also a high chance of risk if you have family members with sleep apnea, if you are overweight, or if you smoke or drink.
Why does menopause make sleep apnea worse?
At their menopausal stage, the levels of hormones estrogen and progesterone decrease in women’s bodies. These hormones will act as stimulants and play a role in keeping airways open and free by maintaining muscle tone in the throat. As they decrease, the chances of obstructed breathing elevate. Moreover, hormonal changes can lead to weight gain and a redistribution of body fat, sending more fat to the throat area, which can cause disrupted breathing.
How to get a better night sleep
Regular exercise
- Having a regular exercise can help menopausal women fall and stay asleep.
Medication and Therapies
- Hormone replacement therapies can improve sleep quality, though few objective differences in sleep have been observed with their use and the detrimental effects of hormone therapy can outweigh any benefit.
Fix your body clock
- If you find that your body clock doesn’t fit your daily schedule, change it by being consistent with the time you got to bed.
Sleep is one of life’s most beautiful necessities. It is the only time we get to completely shut the world and have some peace for ourselves. If you still feel unrested despite sleeping for 8 hours, you may want to consult your sleep specialist. United Sleep Apnea is here to help you because we care about your health. Dial (888) 212-8379 now. You may also visit our website http://unitedsleepapnea.com/contact to book an appointment. menopausal stage Sleep Apnea