Insomnia is the most widely reported sleep disorder in women followed by fluctuating sleep patterns, stress, daytime sleepiness and the inability to wake up on time. Psychological stress can be one of the triggers as well. This is especially seen in working mothers who tend to ignore fatigue and other such symptoms that can lead to sleep related trouble in the long run. Insomnia in women can include the inability to fall asleep, get deep sleep or rising too soon. Many also find it difficult to go back to sleep once awake.
Menopausal women tend to suffer from sleep-disordered breathing. This results in loud snoring and interrupted deep sleep. Most women are unable to go back to sleep and are often tired in the daytime. This is a time when sleep apnea sets in for women beyond 50 years of age.
Women can also suffer from restless leg syndrome (RLS) or the periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD). Both can be very disturbing to sound sleep. The real causes for these conditions are not really known. RLS tends to set in just before a person goes to sleep and is a constant strain on the calves. This strain can be relieved by movement, something that happens rather involuntarily at times. PLMD results in periodic movements of the leg that tend to awaken someone. It is also a cause of insomnia. It has an opposite effect at times where it causes excessive sleep. Both of these conditions are commonly seen in senior citizens.
You should consult your sleep doctor if you suspect you have insomnia sleep disorder.
