Menopause And Insomnia: The Connection
While menopause is a part of life for women, few women know all of the side effects. We all tend to think of “hot flashes” when we hear menopause. But the symptoms can be much greater than that.
Menopause and insomnia would never have been considered as being related until a few years ago. Doctors started realizing that declining hormone levels impact your sleep/wake cycles. That combined with the “hot flashes” are only two reasons menopause and insomnia are being linked.
Hot flashes are caused by an increase in adrenaline. This can range from mild night sweats to drenched sheets. Now wet sheets alone are enough to wake someone up, but combine that with a jolt of adrenaline, and you have menopause and insomnia.
This is not all that we are finding out. Anxiety that sometimes comes with menopause and the adrenaline rush also keeps women awake. It is hard to sleep when the days events keep playing over and over again in your mind. Or your mind is racing with thoughts of upcoming tasks, or unfinished business.
Another emerging link of menopause and insomnia is that of declining estrogen levels. It is believed that declining estrogen means you will also have a mineral deficiency. This mineral deficiency can cause calcium to not be absorbed as well as before menopause. The calcium deficiency causes nervousness, irritability headaches, and you guessed it, insomnia.
Do not fear, there are things you can do to help control menopause and insomnia.
First try to find your own Best Sleep Aids. These can be as simple as keeping your bedroom cooler than you normally would, reducing your intake of caffeine before bed, don’t smoke, and try cutting out chocolate before bedtime.
Other things that you can try for menopause and insomnia are different herbs. Just make sure that they do not interfere with other medications that you may be taking. Herbs for insomnia have been used for more years than most people know about. But women using them for menopause and insomnia are not usually thought of. Black cohosh or flaxseed oil are just a few of the ones you might try.
With the mineral deficiency that you are experiencing due to the reduction of estrogen, you might need a vitamin to help get you through menopause and insomnia.
Whatever is the case for you keep up your spirit high. Menopause and insomnia do not need to be a part of getting older.
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