Politics
Women Over 55 May Be Most Likely To Wake Up At 3AM
If you have no problem falling asleep but regularly find yourself waking up in the middle of the night without being able to go back to sleep, you might have sleep maintenance insomnia.
It could affect as much as 20% of the population.
But according to Harvard Health, the condition might not affect all demographics equally.
Women over 55 might be more likely to experience sleep maintenance insomnia
In fact, women in general may be more likely to experience sleep maintenance insomnia.
Speaking to Harvard Health, Dr Kathryn Corelli, a menopause specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said that once women reach middle age, “sleep disturbances at that time of life are really common”.
She said that one of the reasons is menopause. Per The National Institutes of Health, sleep disturbances occur at a rate of between 16%-42% before menopause, 39%-47% during perimenopause, and 35%-60% after menopause.
How can I improve my sleep if I wake up at 3am?
The NHS said that if you are experiencing menopause symptoms, you should see your GP if you haven’t already.
Following a regular sleep pattern, exercising during the day, developing a bedtime routine, and trying to avoid screens in the bedroom can all help.
And if you do wake up at 3am, “clock blocking,” or steering clear of any device that can tell you the time, could help.
Try getting out of bed after 20 minutes of lying awake and doing something low-effort but involving, like reading, to get back to sleep.
Some research suggests reading may also help you to stay asleep throughout the night, even if you do it before you nod off.
Speak to your doctor if sleep issues persist and/or affect your day-to-day life.