In the course of evolution, the conditions and parameters of sleep changed significantly. For safety as well as “warmth”-reasons sleeping in groups was normal up to modern age. The whole clan and later family slept together in one room. Only in the industrial age, the need for privacy was met. This is how our nowadays common separated bedrooms developed.
This development is a clear advantage for women: studies show that women have a lighter sleep than men. Out of this reason it would be best for them to sleep completely alone. It’s easy to explain why the sleep of a woman is lighter: from time immemorial it was the mom who had to look after the children during nighttime, too. To be able to easier notice any anxiety, women slept less deep. This hasn’t changed in modern times.
Hormonal changes
The life of a woman is characterized by hormonal changes. Here an example: the different phases of the monthly cycle. Some women wake up more often during the premenstrual phase, dream more often and more intense. Others have an enhanced sleep need; if they don’t cover this need they often suffer under exhaustion and daytime sleepiness.
Of course, pregnancy is a time of huge changes in the sleep need and sleeping pattern of women. In the beginning, the sleep need is increased, possible due to the hormone progesterone. Because of the larger abdominal girth, towards the end of pregnancy sleeping often becomes difficult. Studies prove, that phases of deep sleep decline now and waking up increases. To not support this, it is important to better drink during the day but not in the evening. Otherwise, necessary visits to the toilet will further disturb sleep.
The changes of the aging process are also affecting the quality of sleep. Over time, the phases of deep sleep generally becomes shorter and waking up during the night is more common.
In addition to that, women have to cope with the changes in the production of the sex hormones. These have a direct effect on sleep; additionally they influence important hormones associated with sleep. During menopause, numerous women experience hot flushes during nighttime, too, which leads to the fact that women awake startled. Physical and psychological stress which arises during this time, a sleep that gets constantly lighter – all together factors that influence sleep negatively. The often interrupted and bad sleep leads to a lack of sleep – and this in turn weakens the immune system, makes irritable, may lead to depressions and so on.
Especially in relation to hot flushes optimization of the direct sleep surrounding can offer easy and effective help. Make sure, that the temperature in the bedroom is not too high, 61° to 64° F are perfect. Of course, the materials that come into direct contact with the body have a significant influence on sweating resp. the sweat itself. Out of this reason it is very important to use natural materials like cotton for your nightwear and your bed linen and pillows and blankets filled with sheep wool. The characteristic of sheep wool to absorb humidity one third of its own weight and quickly release it into the surrounding air is especially helpful. Naturally, it makes sense to check the consumption of caffeine-containing beverages, alcohol and nicotine as well as to avoid a dinner too late and too heavy. When suffering under very disturbing hot flushes it is advisable to look for natural treatments under expert advice.
Especially because of their often existing multiple stresses like family, household and job sufficient and effective sleep is especially important for women.
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