Menopause and sleep
Middle aged women who get poor quality sleep have elevated levels of inflammatory markers, suggesting their risk for heart disease and other illnesses may be increased, U.S. researchers say. We know that low levels of Oestrogen and Progesterone lead to higher levels of adrenal output of cortisol. Cortisol normally reaches peak levels at dawn then declines throughout the day. Cortisol is one of many hormones that help regulate immune system activity, including the activity of a group of immune cells called natural-killer cells that help your body battle cancer.
Exposure to light during the night can also reduce melatonin levels, which is why it is important to sleep in total darkness to decrease your risk of cancer.
- Chronic early-awakening insomnia (3 times greater death risk)
- Chronic sleep-maintenance insomnia — people who have difficulty falling back to sleep (3 times greater death risk)
- Chronic sleep-onset insomnia (2.4 times greater death risk)
- Chronic sleep-maintenance insomnia — people who awaken repeatedly during the night (2.3 times greater death risk)
