The importance of good sleep to your productivity and overall health can not be overemphasized. A night of poor sleep or lack of sleep can make you feel slow, exhausted, and irritated the next day. Therefore, it is crucial to do everything possible to get a good night’s sleep. A lot of people complain of sleep problems like insomnia in San Diego, and many of these sleep problems can be associated with different hormones.
A large percentage of the changes that happen to your body are a result of your hormones. Aside from managing your sleep, hormones are also responsible for your growth, reproduction, and appetite regulation.
If you’re still wondering how your hormones and your sleep pattern are related, then keep reading, as this article discusses the link between sleep and different hormones.
Progesterone
Progesterone is a female sex hormone that sustains the uterus lining during pregnancy. It also helps the brain to function healthily. Progesterone is also known as a natural anti-anxiety hormone that helps you fall asleep faster for a long time.
When the progesterone level reduces, you may notice muscle pain, mood swings, hot flashes, joint pain, and irregular periods, which may lead to a lack of sleep. Most women experience progesterone reduction during menstruation or menopause.
Oestrogen
Although estrogen is found in both men and women, it is higher in women. The hormone is responsible for bone formation, sexual development, and skin support. You may notice an increase in your estrogen level as you approach menopause. Your estrogen level may also fluctuate during menstrual periods.
An irregular or fluctuating estrogen level will not only lead to mood swings and muscle pain, which can have a toll on your sleep pattern but also affects the body’s ability to use magnesium, which is a crucial mineral that helps to sleep better.
Insulin
Insulin plays an essential role in the regulation of the blood sugar level. The hormone is produced in the pancreas and helps to metabolize glucose or sugar obtained from food. Therefore, when there is too much sugar or glucose in the bloodstream, the insulin level becomes high as it helps to save glucose in the liver.
As the glucose level becomes consistently high, the body gets used to a high insulin level and becomes insensitive to it. This may eventually lead to diabetes. The higher the sugar level, the more difficult it becomes to sleep.
Testosterone
Unlike estrogen, testosterone is higher in men than women. While it plays a crucial role in both male and female health, testosterone helps to regulate bone and muscle mass and also supports the reproductive system in men.
As a man, you may experience a gradual decrease in your progesterone level as time goes by. When the progesterone level eventually becomes low, you may begin to experience sleep problems such as insomnia.
Cortisol and Melatonin
Cortisol and melatonin are two hormones that work hand in hand to regulate sleep patterns. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands and is often referred to as the stress hormone. It prepares the body for physical activities by increasing blood pressure and sugar levels. It also helps to reduce inflammation and regulates your metabolism.
While you may experience an increase in the cortisol level during the day, which helps you feel refreshed and ready for daily tasks, the cortisol level reduces at night and is replaced by a high level of melatonin which helps you get quality sleep. Hence, as the cortisol level increases, the melatonin level decreases, and vice versa.
However, this cycle can be disrupted due to stress and anxiety. When this happens, your cortisol level becomes high at night, making it difficult for you to sleep at night. In the same vein, sugary snacks and natural light from computers and smartphones can also suppress melatonin production, tricking the brain into believing it’s daytime and leading to insomnia.
How Do I Know If I Have a Hormonal Imbalance?
Hormonal imbalances are experienced when there’s excess or insufficiency of a certain hormone. You may notice different signs and symptoms depending on the hormones in question. However, below are some of the general signs and symptoms that accompany hormonal imbalance:
- Decreased sex drive
- Weight gain
- Increased sensitivity to heat or cold
- Infertility
- Blurred vision
- Pink or purple stretch marks
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Increased hunger
- Depression
Sleeping is one of the best ways to get rest and refresh the brain. Therefore, it is essential to maintain healthy sleeping habits by focusing on your eating pattern and general lifestyle.
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