The sleep challenges that women can experience during menopause may also bring health challenges: Studies are now pointing to a possible link between sleeplessness and an increased chance of heart disease and stroke.
Studies are showing that lack of sleep may be connected to a higher risk of plaque buildup in blood vessels and a thickening of artery walls.
Sleep problems are known to be common during menopause, and the correlation between lack of sleep and cardiovascular disease is most likely somewhere between small to moderate, not large.
The challenge to pinpoint this Menopausal lack of sleep with accelerating cardiovascular disease risk is that menopause already affects the rate of cardiovascular disease.
We already realize that where there is a lack of sleep there is an increased risk of high blood pressure, obesity, and increased inflammatory markers stress hormones go up.
The Women's Center is all about women's health and we believe that not sleeping can be very detrimental to health, so we pay attention to the sleeping habits of our patients.
Healthy sleep habits are vital for women. Going to bed and waking up at the same time daily, even on weekends can contribute to the much better health and how one feels as the day progresses. A relaxing bedtime habit away from bright lights, or the TV on as you sleep all night can be very beneficial.
Avoiding daytime naps can really be helpful in enjoying a full of uninterrupted sleep, and having a regular exercise program can really be a solution in sleeping normally each night.
There are many ways to increase the quality, and quantity of sleep you receive each night, so however you accomplish that goal, remember that it can affect your health positively, and possibly reduce the onset of cardiovascular disease.
