Doctor's Notes on Sleep Disorders in Women
Women are twice as likely as men to have difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep. Changes in hormonal levels, stress, illness, lifestyle, pregnancy, and the sleep environment may impact a woman’s sleep. Insomnia is the most common sleep problem in women. This includes trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or early awakening, and inability to resume sleep. Other common sleep disorders in women include sleep-disordered breathing, restless legs syndrome (RLS), periodic limb movement disorder, and narcolepsy.
The most common symptoms of sleep disorders in women include difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, disrupted sleep, early awakening, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Other symptoms of sleep disorders in women include hot flashes/night sweats, snoring, obstructive sleep apnea (breathing cessation during sleep), calf discomfort and restlessness in the legs that is relieved by movement, and fatigue. Symptoms of the sleep disorder narcolepsy include excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks.
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Fibromyalgia
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Grief and Bereavement
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Insomnia
Insomnia affects most people at some point in their lifetime. Insomnia is actually a symptom of a condition, disease, or situation. Non-medical treatment of insomnia includes: sleep hygiene, relaxation therapy, stimulus control, and sleep restriction. There are many medications that can be prescribed to a person with insomnia. -
Insomnia Medications (Names and Side Effects)
Insomnia is a common problem for many people. Insomnia can be primary or secondary. Secondary causes of insomnia include medications, diseases, environmental factors, and pregnancy. Non-drug, home remedies, and OTC and prescription drugs that treat insomnia include: Sleeping pills Melatonin Sleep hygiene education Biofeedback Relaxation therapy Common side effects of sleeping pills include: Impaired coordination, balance, or mental alertness Depression Suicidal thoughts -
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that causes the sufferer to fall asleep or experience extreme exhaustion during the day or at inappropriate times. The treatment involves a variety of different classes of medication, depending on the patient. -
Nightmares
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Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
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Primary Insomnia
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Seasonal Affective Disorder
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Sleep Basics (How To Get a Good Night's Sleep)
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Sleepwalk (Somnambulism)
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Snoring
Snoring is the sound that occurs during sleep when soft tissues where the throat meets the back of the nasal passage partially block the airway and subsequently vibrates and causes noise. Snoring in itself isn't a big medical problem, but can be an indicator of a more serious problem like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
REFERENCE:
Kasper, D.L., et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 19th Ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015.