A new study has found that insomnia risk in women is higher during perimenopause – the phase before menopause. It is a known fact that women are more likely to experience sleep-deprivation than men.
It’s estimated that nearly 500 million women will go through perimenopause in the next decade.
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Researchers also note that women’s insomnia symptoms are likely to become much worse the closer they get to menopause. They found that insomnia symptoms were 1.3 times higher in the later stages of perimenopause than early stages.
Furthermore, the risk of developing chronic insomnia was 1.5 times greater for those in perimenopause than those in pre-perimenopause.
Dr. Colleen Ciano, study lead author, said, “We found that there was a lot of research regarding insomnia in general but very little that addressed the insomnia trajectory in one of the higher risk groups of women – those transitioning to menopause.”
The study consisted of 3,302 participants. Researchers found nearly one-third of them suffered from insomnia. The most common symptom the women experienced was frequent awakenings, but they also experienced difficulty falling asleep, waking after sleep onset and poor sleep quality.
Dr. Wulf Utian, director of The North American Menopause Society – where the information was presented – concluded, “Given the strong link between insomnia and such poor health outcomes as heart disease and obesity, this study offers valuable insight for physicians who are treating middle-aged patients and considering various preventative treatment options.”
Emily Lunardo studied medical sociology at York University with a strong focus on the social determinants of health and mental illness. She is a registered Zumba instructor, as well as a Canfit Pro trainer, who teaches fitness classes on a weekly basis. Emily practices healthy habits in her own life as well as helps others with their own personal health goals. Emily joined Bel Marra Health as a health writer in 2013.
