Sleep Disorders - Why Women Suffer Insomnia More Than Men

Although everyone at some point in their lives can experience a temporary period of insomnia there are specific groups of people who are more susceptible to it than others. The most common groups are people over 65, people suffering from depression and women. This article will discuss the reason why women are more prone to insomnia.

As women get older, the menopause can have a disturbing affect on their ability to sleep soundly. The common side effects of the menopause such as night sweats, joint pain, mood swings and hot flushes can disturb a good nights sleep. However, these symptoms tend to pass after the menopause cycle has run its course. Many women have found that after the menopause their sleep pattern improves greatly as they get older. This is in stark contrast to men who tend to experience more restless sleep and insomnia as they get older.

Studies have revealed that after a mother has given birth to her child, her body naturally develops a higher sensitivity to the movements and sounds of her baby. This internal warning system enables the mother to wake up instantly and tend to her baby. Although, this internal warning system is invaluable while the baby is an infant, many women hold on to this maternal instinct and continue to be highly sensitive to nighttime disturbances long after the kids have grown up and left home. A lot of research has been conducted into this interesting phenomenon and certain studies have found those women who never had children were less likely to suffer from sleep disorders or insomnia even, into their older years.

During many stages throughout their life women have to contend with a whole host of different hormonal changes. The most common and frequent is the premenstrual cycle, which affects women on a monthly basis. This is commonly accompanied by the condition premenstrual syndrome, or as its better known, PMS. At this time of the month when a woman is nearing her cycle the body is, in some cases, in a state of hormonal turmoil.

This produces many side affects that do not promote a good night sleep such as mood swings, acute sensitivity and lethargy. Also, during the menstrual cycle the pelvic and lower back can become very sensitive and tender. For a lot of women this can become very frustrating when trying to find a comfortable sleeping position at night.

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Sleep Disorders and Insomnia in Women - What Causes Them and Natural Insomnia Treatments

Did you realize that women are twice as likely as men to have sleep disorders? Women are known to have frequent sleep problems during their reproductive years.

There are numerous factors which can influence a woman's ability to have normal sleep patterns. These can include hormone levels, stress levels, lifestyle, sleep environment and menstrual and pregnancy related issues. It's quite common for women to experience premenstrual sleep disturbances during which they have difficulty falling asleep, may awake during the night, or have difficulty waking up. They may experience daytime sleepiness or suffer from insomnia, which is sleeplessness, and is one of the more common symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Many women acquire unhealthy sleep patterns due to the demanding roles they face as mothers, wives and career women. Women tend to choose to ignore fatigue and work long hours, both of which cut into their sleep time. On top if these, women also frequently have their sleep interrupted by their responsibilities as mom.

Women older than 40 years of age report more sleep disturbances than do women in their 20s or 30s. Lack of sleep in perimenopausal women can contribute to decreased job performance, decreased ability to concentrate, a decline in social interaction and a lack of general well-being.

Pregnancy can also be a major factor in sleep disturbance. The sheer demands of pregnancy on the body can make a woman feel sleepy during the day and yet inhibit sleep at night - especially in the first trimester. The pregnant woman may receive better sleep in the second trimester, only to face sleep issues again  in the third trimester due to the size of her abdomen and the aches and pains of pregnancy.

Lack of sleep, or poor quality of sleep during pregnancy are often attributed to frequent urination, heartburn, discomfort from bodily changes, fetal movement, low back pain, leg cramps, vivid nightmares, sleep apnea and snoring which can occur or worsen during pregnancy.

As women age other sleep disturbances tend plague them due to menopause. The causes of sleep problems during this time of a woman's life can often be blamed on hot flashes and night sweats which wake them up or make it difficult to fall asleep.

The most common sleep complaint that women report is insomnia. Women have many reasons for having insomnia (sleeplessness) including physical pain, anxiety or worry, medical conditions that disrupt their sleep, and breathing disorders.

Statistics also show that sleep apnea increases in women who are over the age of 50. As women age they are far more likely to have restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder or even narcolepsy.

There are some natural ways to combat insomnia such as herbal teas, herbal baths and aromatherapy. Here are a few you can try to help you get a good night's sleep:

Sleep Easy Bath

    * 2 drops Ylang-Ylang essential oil

    * 3 drops Lavender essential oil

Add to tub full of warm water and mix well.

This is a soothing, relaxing blend that helps ease away a day's stresses and strains.

Insomnia Aromatherapy Blend

Ingredients:

10 drops Roman Chamomile

5 drops Clary Sage

5 drops Bergamot

Directions:

Blend the oils well in a clean dark-colored glass bottle. Add 1-2 drops to a tissue and place inside your pillow to aid you in falling asleep.

If you prefer to make a Diffuser blend that you enjoy during the hour before bedtime, make a blend with a ratio of 2 drops Roman Chamomile to 1 drop Clary Sage to 1 drop Bergamot and add to your Diffuser.

Lavender can also help provide relaxation and drowsiness, but using more than 1-2 drops can have the opposite effect.

Sleepless Night Tea

    * 1 part Chamomile flowers

    * 1 part Catnip herb

    * 1 part Lemon Balm herb

    * 1 part Passion Flower

Use a heaping teaspoon and steep 10 minutes in boiling water. Sweeten with honey or molasses to taste.

Dee Braun, a single mom of 6, is a Certified Aromatherapist, Certified Dr. of Reflexology and a natural health practitioner. Click now to visit Remedies4.com at http://www.remedies4.com/ - a large directory full of free natural health ebooks covering common ailments, illnesses, health conditions and natural healing techniques.

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Sleep Disorders Symptoms Decoded

Sleep is very important for health and growth. Lack of sleep has been linked to mood swings, depression, problems in digestion, blood pressure issues etc. Similarly too much sleep has been associated with tiredness, emotional disorders, stress and sluggishness. However, sleep disorders follow a pattern and there are certain sleep disorder symptoms that can tell if you are suffering from either insomnia which is lack of sleep, disturbed sleep syndrome such as sleep apnea, REM sleep disorder, restless leg syndrome, etc., or narcolepsy which is excessive sleeping.

Identifying sleep disorder

Some of us may not be able to identify if our lack of sleep is an isolated incident that does not warrant any concern or a problem related to some chronic disorder. If you are suffering from symptoms such as the ones mentioned below chances are that there might be a deeper underlying problem that you need to address as these are all sleep disorder symptoms.

o Constant fatigue

o Lack of concentration

o Look and feel tired and exhausted

o Slow reactions

o Emotional instability

o Difficulty in anger management

o Need for stimulants such as tobacco or caffeine to keep you awake

o Feeling sleepy while doing stationary activities like reading, driving, or watching the television or a desire to take a nap every day

Common types of sleep disorders

Insomnia

One of the most common sleep disorder symptoms is lack of sleep or insomnia. Insomnia can be caused by stress, poor lifestyle habits such as erratic bedtime and sleep schedules or because of the use of stimulants such as caffeine and tobacco right before bedtime. However, whatever the reason behind your insomnia, it can be treated easily by improving sleeping patterns, learning to relax and trying to incorporate a healthier lifestyle in general such as avoiding stimulants, getting some physical activity, taking a warm bath before bed etc. If your problem still persists, visiting a doctor would be a good idea as he/she would be able to identify the cause of your insomnia better and give you the correct treatment.

Sleep apnea

Another symptom, amongst the several sleep disorder symptoms, is excessive snoring accompanied with paused breathing, waking up after choking or gasping to restart breathing. Feeling tired after a complete night's sleep could also be a signal that points towards sleep apnea. The chances of having sleep apnea are compounded if one is overweight or suffers from constant nasal congestion or nasal blockages. Having a deviated nasal septum or having larger than usual tonsils or adenoids can also lead to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea should not be ignored as this condition leads to reduced oxygen levels in the blood stream and can cause or aggravate a number of health problems. However, it can be cured by visiting a doctor or consulting a sleep specialist.

Restless leg syndrome

Some of the lesser known of sleep disorder symptoms is the irresistible desire to constantly move ones arms or legs while in bed. This could be because of discomfort caused by tingly, uncomfortable creeping sensations in the leg while lying down causing lack of sleep. Called the Restless Leg Syndrome, this sleep disorder can be associated with anemia, alcoholism, thyroid problems, Parkinson's disease, and kidney problems.

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Sleeping Disorder - Insomnia

Insomnia is a sleeping disorder characterized by the inability to fall asleep and/or the inability to remain asleep for a reasonable amount of time. Insomniacs have been known to complain about being unable to close their eyes or "rest their mind" for more than a few minutes at a time. Both organic and non-organic insomnia constitute a sleep disorder.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 60 million Americans suffer from insomnia each year. Insomnia tends to increase with age and affects about 40 percent of women and 30 percent of men.

At least three types of insomnia exist: transient, acute, and chronic.

1. Transient insomnia lasts from one night to a few weeks. Most people occasionally suffer from transient insomnia due to such causes as jet lag or short-term anxiety. If this form of insomnia continues to occur from time to time, the insomnia is classified as intermittent.

2. Acute insomnia is the inability to consistently sleep well for a period of between three weeks to six months.

3. Chronic insomnia is regarded as the most serious; persists almost nightly for at least a month.

A common misperception is that the amount of sleep a person requires decreases as he or she ages. The ability to sleep for long periods, rather than the need for sleep, appears to be lost as people get older. Some elderly insomniacs toss and turn in bed and occasionally fall off the bed at night, diminishing the amount of sleep they receive. An overactive mind or physical pain may also be causes. Finding the underlying cause of insomnia is usually necessary to cure it. Insomnia can be common after the loss of a loved one, even years or decades after the death, if they have not gone through the grieving process.

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Sleeping Disorder - Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleeping disorder that causes overwhelming sleepiness and fatigue. A patient diagnosed with narcolepsy experiences frequent urges to sleep during the day that can lead to periods of sleep that last for a few seconds to a few minutes. There are also rare cases where the patient falls asleep for a few hours. At night, a narcoleptic usually has difficulty sleeping and often experiences nightmares and frequent awakenings.

Narcolepsy is believed to affect approximately 200,000 Americans and around 3 million people worldwide. Symptoms usually begin to show during teenage years or early adulthood. Reports show that there is an equal chance for both males and females to suffer from this disorder.

Symptoms

Aside from extreme drowsiness and fatigue, narcolepsy is also indicated by four symptoms that vary in its degree of severity in each patient. It is often the case that some patients experience different combinations of these symptoms and it has been noted that one or more symptoms may not appear at all.

The four symptoms are cataplexy, a condition in which the patient experiences a sudden loss of voluntary muscle movement when dealing with strong emotions; vivid hallucinations that occur when falling asleep or waking up; paralysis during sleeping or waking up; and automatic behavior, in which a patient may continue to talk or move even while asleep but has no memory of such activities ever occurring when he wakes up.

Causes

The exact cause of narcolepsy still remains a mystery, however recent developments in medical science has led scientists to believe that there is a strong link between narcoleptic patients and specific genetic conditions. Studies conducted revealed that a certain genetic condition causes a person with narcolepsy to have very low levels of hypocretin or orexyn, a protein that controls a person's appetite and sleeping cycle.

Treatments

While there is no cure yet for narcolepsy, there are some actions that can be taken to reduce the discomforts experienced by the patient. Symptoms like cataplexy and excessive drowsiness can usually be controlled by taking stimulants or antidepressants. Behavioral treatments are also available to help patients cope with their abnormal sleeping patterns.

Because patients tend to feel isolated or embarrassed of their condition, it is advised to participate in network or support groups. The understanding and empathy offered by support groups can prove to be critical in helping the patient live normally and increase their overall well being.

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