Sleep Disorders

Menopause Insomnia

The Causes Of Menopause Insomnia

Insomnia is a state or condition where an individual cannot sleep or has a hard time sleeping. Most of the causes of insomnia are psychological disorders or medications that have been taken previously or caffeine laden beverages or food that the individual has consumed before hand. In this case of menopause insomnia, the insomnia is caused by fluctuations or irregularities of the hormones present in the woman’s body.

Menopause is the phase in a woman’s life where she ceases to have her monthly menstruation due to advancing age. The ovaries of the woman stops producing estrogen at around 40 – 50 years of age and this is the onset of menopause. Estrogen is necessary for the reproductive system to function normally. The lack of estrogen gradually stops the reproductive system from functioning.

Studying Menopause Insomnia

Insomnia during menopause or menopause insomnia manifests itself as the disability to sleep continuously through the night. Some women often sleep initially but then wake up some time later only to have a hard time falling back to sleep. More often, these episodes are immediately followed by night sweat or a feeling of warmness or hotness. Some times the menopause insomnia might manifest itself as sleep anxiety disorder or a vivid nightmare that disturbs the dreamer’s sleep. At times, the woman just wakes up for no reason at all.

One possibility that researchers have put forward regarding menopause insomnia is the disability of the body to maintain a regular body temperature during menopause. This is due to hormone irregularities. The hot flash is what could be preventing the woman from sleeping although it may not seem so to her at that time. Hot flashes can occur anytime of the day and is an uncomfortable feeling or heat or warmth.

Hormone fluctuations during menopause can also cause anxiety attacks and depression that in turn can affect your ability to sleep well. These anxieties can bother women to an extent that they obsess about them and think about them preventing them from having a good night’s sleep. Menopause insomnia can therefore be blamed on the hormonal changes that your body is going through.

There are several alternative solutions to menopause insomnia like herbal teas and aromatherapy. These promote better sleeping habits and help in making sleep better. Alternative remedies sometimes work for others but for some, they do not. Menopause insomnia can also be treated using medication although it is better to stick to more natural treatments for your health and safety.