Women's Health Week Topic - Sleep

It's the final day of Jean Hailes Women's Health Week 2017. Today, they talk about an important aspect of women's health that often gets overlooked: sleep. Did you know that research shows that women need more sleep than men? But how do we get a good night's sleep if we have trouble sleeping? And how does sleep benefit your health?

We know from our annual Women’s Health Survey that sleep and fatigue are big issues for many women in Australia. Nearly half of the women who completed our survey reported having trouble sleeping on several days, which wasn’t surprising; research tells us that sleep disturbances are common in women across the lifespan, and about 90% of people will have some kind of sleep disturbance at some point in their life.

When you think about our busy modern lives, it’s no wonder so many of us have issues with sleep and fatigue – our quality of sleep is under threat by longer working hours, more screen time and pressing day-to-day worries that can keep us up at night.

As you may have also learned from our content yesterday on physical activity, low iron levels (particularly in women with heavy periods) and not moving enough during the day can also leave us feeling tired.

So why are you tired? And importantly, what can you do about it? Here are some facts, stats and research-based tips to guide you through, from A to Zzz.

Fast facts on sleep

• A recent study by Loughborough University’s Sleep Research Centre found that, on average, women need about 20 minutes more sleep than men a night, due mainly to changes in levels of the hormones oestrogen and testosterone
  

• Women also face different challenges to men when it comes to sleep – those shifting hormones (again!), caring for babies and children and being more prone to mental health issues can all play a part in why women are more likely than men to have insomnia
  

• Poor sleep and lowered energy levels are commonly reported by women whenever oestrogen levels are low, such as before and during a period, during breastfeeding and around menopause
  

• Menopause is a time many women experience insomnia and sleep disorders. Insomnia, snoring and obstructive sleep disorder become more frequent but may be under-recognised
  

• Studies have shown an increase of sleep apnoea in women around perimenopause – regardless of their age or weight
  

• In women of reproductive age, a lack of sleep can lead to an increase in total fat and total carbohydrate intake as well as reduced micronutrient intake
  

• Sleep issues don’t just cause next-day grumps; they can have far-reaching consequences. The Loughborough University study also found poor sleep in women was associated with a higher risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

So as you can see, getting a good night’s sleep isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity for our long-term wellbeing. And if you’re one of the many women not getting enough pillow time, this week is the time to start doing something about it!

What can you do to get a better night’s rest?

Don’t chop and change.

It’s important to have a good routine of going to bed and getting up around the same time – even on weekends. It helps to settle your sleep patterns.

There is no magic number when it comes to sleep duration, but most women should aim for 7-9 hours a night. Try keeping a sleep diary or tracking your sleep hours with an app.

The bite of the blue.

Most screens project blue light, and smaller screens especially so. Researchers at Harvard University found that blue light is particularly bad for blocking the sleep hormone melatonin, affecting sleeping patterns. So turn off those screens at least two hours before bedtime.

Easy fixes to cut down your screen time. Keep your phone out of your bedroom and choose good old-fashioned books over e-readers.

The catch-22 of caffeine.

Australians who consume more caffeine sleep less, and those that sleep less, consume more caffeine. Help stop the cycle by being aware of your caffeine intake. Why not try a relaxing herbal tea near bedtime?

atigue-fighters: exercise vs coffee. A small study found that 10 minutes of brisk exercise was more energising for young women than caffeine. So next time you’re craving that mid-afternoon coffee, go for a quick power-walk instead.

You can’t catch up on sleep.

So don’t try by putting yourself to bed early. Your clever brain is wired to seek quality over quantity, so will catch you up by making you sleep deeper rather than longer.

What changes are you going to make today?

• If you have an abandoned alarm clock sitting in a drawer, why not bring it out of retirement and give your phone alarm a miss tonight? See how you sleep – you might find you don't miss the phone in your room at all. If your kids also sleep with their phones, why not ask them to try a screen-free night too? If you’re short on alarm clocks, you may need to promise to wake them, though!
  

• ​Are you prone to snacking instead of eating proper meals? Eating irregularly, especially eating high-fat snacks, is associated with shorter and poorer sleep. So tonight, try to make sure you have a nutritious sit-down dinner, at least two hours before bedtime. Eating late at night, especially a heavy meal, can adversely affect your sleep.
  

• Are you worried about a sleep disturbance you or your partner might have? Do either of you notice the other stopping breathing occasionally during the night? Make an appointment with your GP today to have it investigated. Many sleep tests can be done at home now.

If you have problems with sleep or ongoing tiredness, choose a few of these tips and start reaping the rewards. The time is now!

So that brings us to the end of Women’s Health Week, but guess what? Your journey to a healthier you is only just beginning.

Remember to jump back to all the previous days’ content on Heart health, Mindfulness, Bone health and Physical activity to remind yourself of the healthy tips and pledges you made along the way.

For more information and articles you can visit https://jeanhailes.org.au/

Jean Hailes for Women's Health is a national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving the knowledge of women's health throughout the various stages of their lives, and to provide a trusted world-class health service for women.