Getting better sleep is probably the most underrated strategy we can adopt for better health. Research scientists are spending many waking hours learning more about the critical importance of sleep to our mental and physical health.
Many factors, hormonal and otherwise, influence sleep quality, but if you’re a woman who suffers from insomnia, you might be encouraged to know there are a number of natural health strategies to improve sleep quality.
According to the Merck Manual, insomnia is defined as “difficulty falling or staying asleep, early awakening, or a sensation of unrefreshing sleep.” It’s a common problem, and even more so for women.
According to Stats Canada, "nighttime insomnia" rates (difficulty going to sleep or staying asleep most of the time or all of the time) among men and women over 18 years of age:
A number of factors that more frequently affect women may lead to alterations in sleep patterns and reduced melatonin production, leading to insomnia.
These include
Other frequent causes of sleep disturbances in either sex include
Sleep changes associated with aging include sleep fragmentation, lighter sleep, increased waking, alterations in circadian rhythms, and reduced nocturnal melatonin secretion, among other things.
Postmenopausal women experience “desynchronized” circadian rhythms affecting the normal drop in core temperature at night, possibly causing night sweats, and the early rise of cortisol, causing earlier awakening in the morning.
In addition to insomnia, many women endure chronic sleep deprivation, such as during postpartum when adjusting to an infant’s erratic sleep/wake schedule, as well as later in life, with sleep getting sliced as women juggle work and home-life responsibilities.
Hormones appear to have a direct effect on sleep patterns. Due to hormonal fluctuations during a woman’s life cycle—from puberty to menopause—women’s sleep quality can be dramatically altered.
Estrogen and progesterone receptors are found in the sleep/wake regulatory centres in the brain, so rapid changes in hormones such as those that occur during pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause may influence sleep quality.
The main female sex hormone, estrogen levels rise and fall during each menstrual period, being lowest just before each period, causing sleep disruptions for some women.
During perimenopause, estrogen levels naturally begin to decrease, often causing hot flashes and more sleep disruptions.
And after menopause, when estrogen is at its lowest, sleep problems are common and may include obstructive sleep apnea.
The other main female hormone, progesterone, known as the “relaxing hormone,” has a mildly sedative effect. Its levels are usually lowest during the week before a woman’s menstrual period, rising toward the end; highest during the first trimester of pregnancy; and lowered again during peri- and post-menopause.
Progesterone is a ventilatory stimulant that also stimulates the muscles maintaining the upper airways, so it’s thought to have protective effects against sleep apnea. Indeed, airway resistance during sleep is lower during the luteal (final) phase of the menstrual cycle, which is characterized by high progesterone levels.
Reduced sleep is associated with glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, reduced acute insulin response to glucose, and increased hunger signals, “thus predisposing individuals to type 2 diabetes,” according to a 2017 review.
In a large cohort of more than 22,000 women with an average age of 72 years, sleep debt (defined as a self-reported difference of at least two hours between weekday and weekend sleep duration) was associated with significantly increased risk of obesity and hypertension.
The inevitable health implications of insomnia and chronic sleep deprivation are vast. Growing data has documented associations between sleep deprivation and risk of cancer, especially breast cancer; heart disease and stroke; obesity; diabetes; and depression.
Some natural products benefit healthy sleep by promoting relaxation, signalling sleep, and helping to reduce excessive activity of the central nervous system:
For women with menopausal sleep disturbance and/or hot flashes, herbs that regulate estrogen and progesterone may be helpful:
Women with severe menopausal symptoms may wish to consult a licensed health care practitioner about low-dose bioidentical hormone therapy.
For restless leg syndrome
Women with restless leg syndrome may benefit from an assessment of iron status (bloodwork) and magnesium.
According to Dr. Philip Rouchotas, ND, whose practice focuses on mental health, insomnia that is associated with stress, anxiety, or depression is best addressed by better management of the mental health condition; however, some of the natural products discussed above, such as melatonin, may be helpful.
This should be addressed through diet and lifestyle changes to promote weight loss, and use of a CPAP machine, as prescribed.
Since sleep disturbances can arise from so many underlying factors, it is essential for women to discuss their concerns with a health care practitioner to determine the best treatment strategies.