Surveys show that disturbed nights during menopause cost women FIVE WEEKS of sleep every year
- A survey of 2,000 women found that women lose five and a half weeks of sleep a year
- Menopause caused a variety of problems, including night sweats and insomnia
- Two-thirds say they are more tired than they normally are during the day
According to one study, women lose five and a half weeks of sleep a year due to menopause.
A survey of 2,000 women found that nearly two-thirds of those going through menopause experience trouble sleeping.
These women wake up an average of 2.7 times a night and suffer from a variety of problems, including night sweats, insomnia, and heart palpitations.
This equates to a loss of two hours and 36 minutes per night, which works out to be 5.5 weeks a year.
The length of time symptoms last varies from woman to woman, but averages around four years — adding up to more than five months of sleep deprivation during menopause.
Experts warn that changes in hormone levels can cause sleep disorders, while – in a vicious cycle – sleep disorders can also alter hormone levels.
The survey found that 82 percent of menopausal women experience body temperature issues, with 61 percent experiencing night sweats, 41 percent experiencing insomnia and 23 percent suffering from palpitations.
Menopausal women wake up an average of 2.7 times a night and suffer from a variety of problems, including night sweats, insomnia and palpitations
As a result, two-thirds of women report feeling more tired during the day than they normally would.
Hannah Shore, a sleep expert at bedding company Silentnight who conducted the survey, said: “Our research shows the true extent of the problem in relation to sleep and menopause, with women losing more than a month of sleep at a time and every year.
“This adds up to a huge loss of sleep over the average course of a woman’s menopause, which can last up to 10 years for some women and can trigger a host of other problems, from insomnia to problems in people’s personal lives.”
“In order to get a good night’s sleep during menopause, our body temperature has to drop by about a degree or two.”
She added that anyone struggling with sleep problems during menopause should first see their GP for advice and further treatment.
A separate survey by cosmetics company Avon found that 86 percent of women feel intimidated by perimenopause — the time when the body makes the natural transition to menopause.
Most feel uninformed about the condition, while only 14 percent feel comfortable speaking about their experiences.
Earlier this year, the Chron’s Fix the HRT Crisis campaign secured a major win after pharmacists were given the green light to prescribe alternatives to out-of-stock treatments.
Other demands in the manifesto include the immediate introduction of annual payment for HRT drugs.