Did you know that your hormones are responsible for many changes which take place in our bodies? Our hormones are enablers for our growth, reproduction, regulating our appetite and managing our sleep.
Hence, you may not really find it much surprising that different hormones may be affecting your sleep patterns in many ways.
Let us look at 6 key hormones and what kind of influence they could be having on your sleep patterns. We will also share what you may be able to do to manage this imbalance.
#1 – Oestrogen
This is a hormone which though can be found in both men and women, plays an important role in reproductive health and the menstrual cycle. It also allows your body to utilize serotonin, increases bone formation and maintains good skin.
Impact: When the oestrogen levels fluctuate during our life cycle, particularly during the menstrual cycle of a woman while she approaches menopause, they can bring along many symptoms like mood swings, irregular periods, and hot flushes. Oestrogen can also impact your magnesium levels in the body and cause muscle or joint pains as well as sleep imbalance. The other symptoms can also influence your sleep pattern especially night flushes, and mood swings.
#2 – Progesterone
When we mention oestrogen, we can’t leave aside progesterone which is another hormone that works hand in hand with oestrogen and is also a female sex hormone. It essentially means ‘promoting gestation’ and assists in sustaining the lining of the uterus during pregnancy. Women usually experience higher progesterone levels after ovulating, but later they may decline.
Impact: Progesterone hormone is essential for brain functioning and prevents anxiety. Hence, if you have good progesterone levels, it can help you have a good sleep at night and you will fall asleep faster as well! If you are however still having concerns with your sleep patterns, it is best to do a sleep apnea treatment at home.
#3 – Testosterone
This could come as a surprise to women that this male sex hormone testosterone, quite like oestrogen, isn’t only for men. It can also play an important role in female health as well. This supports reproductive health in men and women and helps to regulate muscle as well as bone mass in both.
Impact: Although men don’t really see a sharp fall in this hormone, it can however get reduced over years and it can also be connected to sleep disorders. In fact, the cycle of having lower testosterone levels and having its impact on sleep can have a reverse effect as well which may continue to even insomnia. In such cases, diet, lifestyle and certain exercises, as well as vitamin supplements, can be useful.
In such cases, and in case of other hormone deficiencies as well, it is best to consult your physician or sleep, medicine specialist.