Sleeplessness is second only to hot flashes as a reason my menopausal and perimenopausal patients ask about hormones. While writing this blog I can say that on every day that I have seen patients more than one has described the loss of sleep as the worst part of “the change” for them. Investigators often relate the decreasing amount of sleep during menopause and perimenopause as interruptions due to hot flashes, but there is probably more to it than just waking up to sweats.
Holographic sleep chips are an effective alternative to hormones and sleeping pills
Curiously, the scientific data here is not very revealing. Most large studies have not shown conclusive links between estrogen decline and sleeplessness, but gynecologists see a strong relationship in their patients. I often hear, “I would be OK if I could just sleep,” “I can take the hot flashes, but not the insomnia,” ” I will take hormones the rest of my life if they help me sleep…” In fact, more than once I have had a patient tell me she would rather take hormones and accept some risk than to never sleep well again.
Sleep is imperative to memory processing…and not just any sleep, specifically healthy sleep, including rapid eye movement (REM) and what is known as slow wave sleep (non-REM). Just being “drugged” into sleep does not result in the healthy brain processing that we now know is an important purpose of sleep. The pharmaceutical industry’s cash cow list of hypnotics does not necessarily induce healthy sleep. In fact, the most worrisome side effect from long-term use of sleep aides such as Ambien is short-term memory loss. by Rebecca Booth, MD Obstetrician and Gynecologist
Today there are many products on the market that help people with sleeplessness. The problem is that most are prescription drugs with debilitating side effects, such as short-term memory loss, impaired physical ability and long-term dependence. A healthy (REM) sleep is very important to a healthy lifestyle, but given the long-term risks of sleeping pills and medications, some studies have concluded that people experiencing sleeplessness and insomnia are better off without pharmaceuticals
Steven Wilson has joined with others reduce their dependence on medications for pain relief, sleep disorders and low energy.
Tagged with: insomnia • menopause • Sleep • sleeplessness
Filed under: Health & Wellness
Thank you for information, I also suffer fron insomnia, I asked my doctor and he recommended to take hormones.
Hmm interesting point about the healthy sleep. A few years ago I had to use sleeping pills to sleep, but when I think about it the rest I got was kinda bad – not like “regular” sleep, where I fall asleep because I’m tired, but more like I forced my body to shut the eyes and just sleep. I could even wake up tired in the morning, after sleeping 10 hours or more.
It all worked out though, by itself. Not sure what caused it, really..