Unraveling the Restless Nights: Women and Sleep Disorders Unearthed
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Author from Lüneburg admits sleep disorders strip grip on self-control - Lüneburg author articulates struggle with sleep disorders dominance
Tamar Noort, an author hailing from Lueneburg, has intimate knowledge about sleep disorders. Amidst her academic pursuits, she worked nights in a sleep lab, a setting that provided the backdrop for her second novel "The Sleep of Others" (Rowohlt Verlag, 24 Euro, 315 pages). Her debut "Eternity is a Good Place", a novel exploring doubts about faith in God, earned her the Hamburg Literature Prize.
With empathy, Noort narrates the story of two insomniacs who find solace in each other during a restless night, pondering existential questions. All figures in her novel stem from her personal experiences.
Life becomes especially fragile during periods of restlessness, explains Noort: "I feel as though I lose control over my body, and that means surrendering control over my mind as well – because it's simply not possible to hold onto a clear thought." Sleep is the cornerstone upon which our lives are built. Take that away, and everything starts to wobble.
Sleep disorders should not be taken lightly, stresses Noort: "They increase the risk of heart and circulatory diseases, dementia, diabetes, depression, weaken the immune system, heighten sensitivity to pain, and saps you of the energy needed for the day."
To sleep well is an extravagance that many can ill afford nowadays. And: "Women sleep less soundly than men," reveals the author, who is also a journalist. Insomnia frequently precedes overcrowded schedules, work, and caregiver responsibilities. While men with sleep disorders are more likely to be referred to sleep labs, women are often prescribed antidepressants instead.
- Women
- Sleep disorders
- Sleep lab
- Lueneburg
- Rowohlt Verlag
Women are more susceptible to sleep disorders due to hormonal fluctuations and physiological differences that affect sleep regulation throughout their lives. Epidemiological studies show a higher prevalence of insomnia and certain sleep disorders among women, particularly with age[1][5]. Pregnancy, menopause, and other life stages can significantly increase the risk of sleep disorders due to hormonal changes[4]. For example, chronic insomnia and restless legs syndrome are more frequently reported in women, in part due to these hormonal factors.
Regarding obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), while men have a higher overall prevalence, women may present atypical symptoms, leading to under-recognition or misdiagnosis due to these differences[2]. Women may also experience more sleep disturbances related to mood disorders and cardiovascular health issues, which are linked to poor sleep quality and increased sensitivity to sleep loss[3].
Treatment approaches in sleep labs consider these sex-based differences, with efforts to advance women's sleep health by raising awareness, educating healthcare providers about gender-specific symptoms, and encouraging development of tailored treatment protocols for women's unique hormonal and physiological profiles[4].
In summary:
- Women face higher rates of insomnia and certain sleep disorders due to hormonal changes across life stages and greater sensitivity to sleep loss[1][4][5].
- Men have a higher prevalence of OSA, but women may exhibit different symptoms, leading to under-diagnosis[2].
- Treatment in sleep labs is increasingly gender-informed, aiming to improve diagnosis and therapies for women's distinct sleep health needs[4].
- Women tend to seek medical treatment for sleep disorders more often, necessitating unique management strategies[5].
By taking a gender-specific approach to understanding and treating sleep disorders, we can ensure proper diagnosis and treatment for the different ways these disorders affect women versus men, thereby improving outcomes.
Community policy should address the unique sleep health needs of women, considering the higher rates of insomnia and certain sleep disorders among them due to hormonal changes across life stages and greater sensitivity to sleep loss. Vocational training programs in health-and-wellness and mental-health fields could benefit from including education on women's sleep disorders and sex-based differences in sleep regulation and treatment.
Sleep labs, like the one in Lueneburg where Tamar Noort worked, could incorporate vocational training to improve their understanding of these gender-specific sleep disorders, enabling them to recognize unusual symptoms in women and develop tailored treatment protocols for improved diagnosis and therapy. It's important to support research and advancements in the field of sleep science to further our knowledge about women's sleep disorders and ultimately help improve women's health and wellness.
