When it comes to the intersection of sleep, hormones, and chronic fatigue in women, it can feel like “the chicken or the egg.” Are these health complications related? Do they feed off each other? If one condition is treated will that correct other problems? I treat the whole patient and strive to identify underlying causes of health concerns, not just bandage the problem. Together, we explore your circumstances and find solutions to make you feel rested, strong, and ready to face life.
Measuring Quality of Sleep
When exhaustion seems to rule, poor sleep quality could be the culprit. Ruling out basic cause-and-effect elements is an important first step:
- Do you get six to eight hours of sleep a night?
- Do you use electronics before bed?
- Are you drinking too much caffeine during waking hours?
- Is sleep regularly interrupted by the people and pets you care for?
Your answers to these questions influence medical recommendations to improve quality of sleep. Sometimes, simple lifestyle changes make an incredible difference, like sleeping alone, keeping pets out of the bedroom, using a sound machine or earplugs, and avoiding certain foods and beverages.
Conditions That Contribute to Chronic Fatigue
When you are doing everything possible to set yourself up for a good night of rest but still struggle to get through the day, chances are something is happening that you are unaware of:
- Sleep apnea. This is bigger than a snoring problem, it’s a breathing problem. Episodes of sleep apnea can occur for seconds or minutes, making them life-threatening. A sleep study is needed to diagnose the problem and initiate treatment.
- Chronic fatigue. Sleep patterns and hormonal shifts turn fatigue into a complex matter. Lifestyle factors like diet, stress, and exercise can contribute to chronic fatigue, while aging and natural hormonal fluctuations complicate the issue.
- Incontinence. Visiting the bathroom through the night could be a result of drinking too much before bed, but could also be attributed to hormonal fluctuations, fibroids, pelvic floor issues, or chronic conditions. Interrupting sleep for the bathroom means less quality rest overall.
The Unpredictability of Hormonal Fluctuations
Hormone changes from decade to decade can throw a wrench into any woman’s sleep.
- Menstruation. When sleep is poor just before or during your period, energy levels will plummet, but it is often a result of low progesterone levels during the luteal phase that cause sleepiness and fatigue.
- Perimenopause/menopause. Hormones seem to shift overnight as a woman’s body enters the biggest hormonal changes since puberty – perimenopause and menopause. Night sweats, hot flashes, anxiety, and nighttime wakefulness contribute to exhaustion, brain fog, weight gain, low energy, and more symptoms that make you feel heavy and tired.
Get Sleep Help from Dr. Maria Swetech
There is no one answer to sleep problems, chronic fatigue, and hormone issues. The body’s systems are intricately interconnected and everything you do or put into your body impacts overall wellness. You could be dealing with one of the conditions discussed here, or find yourself with thyroid complications, lifestyle lulls, or other imbalances. Make an appointment with me, Dr. Maria Swetech, to discuss your health and ways to achieve greater energy and wellness at every stage of life.
