There are so many things that can sabotage the quality of your sleep that its tough to keep track: the food and drinks you consume, the time of day you exercise, the amount of time you spend working in your bedroom, your TV and computer habits before bed, the temperature of your room, allergens and dust, and so on. Throw in some stress, anxiety and your desire to "do it all" and getting a good night's sleep can be quite the challenge for a woman.
These factors aren't necessarily why some women wake up constantly throughout the night and then spend their days exhausted, however. The culprit could be sleep apnea, a disorder in which you stop breathing multiple times throughout the night, which causes your body to panic and wake you up.
Common Symptoms of Sleep Apnea in Women
- Restless Leg Syndrome
- Insomnia
- Morning headaches and sickness
- Depression
- Weight gain
- High blood pressure
Sleep apnea is much more common in overweight women whose airways get blocked because of excess fat, but it can occur in healthy-sized women, too. Because the relationship between poor sleep and poor weight management is a vicious one, it can be extremely difficult to lose weight when you are sleep deprived. Sleep apnea doesn't just hurt you chances of losing weight. There can be serious chronic health consequences, including hypertension, diabetes, heart failure and more.
Sleep apnea has even been linked to dementia in women.
If you think you have a sleep-related disorder, consult your physician. You will need a referral from you physician to make an appointment at one of the FirstHealth Sleep Centers.
