Insomnia and Menopause
Menopause Can Cause Sleep Difficulties But There are Ways to Alleviate the Problem

Insomnia and menopause often go together for women going through this stage in life.  Sleep difficulties and menopause are a primary complaint, along with hot flashes, mood swings and fatigue.  Research has shown that not only the hot sweats, but also changes in hormones or serotonin cause insomnia symptoms and other sleep difficulties.  Of course, not getting enough sleep at night, coupled with the changes in brain chemistry can cause depression in many women during menopause.

The depression can be intensified by the lack of sleep at night because of difficulties that women in menopause already suffer.  Hormone replacement therapies that a physician prescribes should assist with the symptoms of insomnia, mood swings, hot flashes and night sweats.  Many menopausal women also qualify for university and pharmaceutical studies that are constantly ongoing to provide better research and development in medications.

A favorite non-prescription remedy for insomnia during menopause is ingesting a melatonin supplement.  Melatonin is naturally secreted by the pineal gland in the brain.  It has long been believed that melatonin levels decrease as the body ages, but there has yet to be definitive proof of that as fact.  Research has shown that melatonin plays a part in our sleep cycle, and that keeping a high level of this hormone in the body can reduce many of the difficulties of sleep deprivation.  Melatonin supplements, normally sold in 3mg capsules, may not assist with menopause related symptoms such as hot flashes, nigh sweats or depression, it can specifically help the body get to sleep and stay asleep.

Additionally, there are many natural and holistic approaches to dealing with the difficulties of insomnia during menopause.  Chamomile tea and warm milk are long-time remedies to help all people get to sleep easier at night.  Valerian and kava-kava are also believed to be effective herbal extracts that can help with alleviating the symptoms that come with anxiety and depression.  Finally, turn down the air conditioner and put on a pair of socks to deal with night sweats.  Although a woman’s body may feel hot, keeping the feet warm can help regulate the entire body’s temperature.

See Also: The Legal Issues Regarding Obstructive Sleep Apnea Are Unfortunately Complex

About The Author:
Kerri Iamele is a successful author and regular contributor to sleep-disorders-help.com.