We all respond to menopause in different ways. Some hardly notice any difference, while the rest of us suffer through this rather unpleasant stage of our lives. Making the whole thing harder is menopause insomnia which can wake us up suddenly with hot flushes and generally have a negative impact on the quality of our sleep.



Menopause can also be a time when breathing problems, such as sleep apnea or snoring, can increase. This however, may simply be caused by aging. Other symptoms of menopause that can affect our sleep are depression, which causes early waking and anxiety which makes it hard for us to fall asleep in the first place.

How can we relieve menopause insomnia?

Treatment for menopause and insomnia usually focuses on treating the menopause symptoms first, hoping the insomnia will then take care of itself. The traditional remedy is of course hormone replacement therapy which is the hormone estrogen prescribed in the form of tablets, patches or creams. Although there is no proof that estrogen increases breast cancer risk, as previously believed, there is now some evidence that traditional menopause treatment can cause a stroke in older women.

Those who suffer from menopause insomnia and who may also be depressed are usually prescribed anti depressants. Neurontin, an anti epileptic medication, is often prescribed when hot flashes cause interrupted sleep. Of course there is a risk of side effects with these drugs.

Natural remedies for menopause

Natural menopause treatment can take away the worry of side effects, but does it really work and is it cost effective?

There are some simple ways to prevent hot flashes which don't cost any money. Whether you are using natural menopause relief or if you prefer to use HRT, these simple steps can ensure you maximize relief of menopause insomnia.

To improve your quality of sleep, keep your bedroom cool. Being too hot can causes restlessness.

Wear loose clothing. Specially designed menopause sleepwear is now available but is not essential, the same results can be obtained by comfortable loose cotton sleepwear.

Wind down before bed. Do relaxing activities in the hour just before bedtime. Avoid getting involved in disagreements or arguments which may raise your stress levels.

Avoid spicy foods. There are certain food which can cause excessive sweating, such as curries. Alcohol is renowned for worsening hot flashes and for interrupting our sleep. Try cutting back on these foods for a while and see if your sleep improves.

There are natural menopause alternatives which are proven safe. Black cohosh cools those hot flashes, dong quai helps to balance our hormones and pasque flower works to quieten the nervous system. These help to effectively treat menopause insomnia. They work best when combined together in their ideal proportions.