A good night’s sleep is critical for rejuvenating your brain and neurological system to total efficiency. When your sleep is disrupted, it can make you irritated and throw your entire day off. If you have trouble sleeping, it might lead to more severe issues with your physical and mental health.
One of the main factors that can affect your sleep is hormones. These chemicals are powerful and serve a variety of tasks in your body. If you are experiencing trouble sleeping, Dr. Christopher Riegel at Plano the Riegel Center offers sleep management services to help you sleep better.
Here are some of your body hormones that might be affecting your sleep;
Estrogen and Progesterone
Although progesterone and estrogen are most recognized for their functions in women’s reproductive health, they are produced by men and women.
The principal “female” sex hormone, estrogen, regulates a woman’s menstrual cycle. Estrogen is generated throughout a woman’s life, including throughout reproductive age, pregnancy, and menopause.
Progesterone aids in maintaining pregnancy and is at its maximum at this period. Progesterone and estrogen levels change throughout a woman’s life, altering sleep quality. This most commonly occurs during pregnancy, menstrual cycle, and menopause.
Many women have trouble sleeping during these periods, especially if they have menstrual cramps, bodily discomfort during pregnancy, or hot flashes during menopause. As a result of hormonal changes, women are more prone than males to have insomnia.
Melatonin
Melatonin, sometimes known as the “sleep hormone,” is crucial for encouraging restful sleep and maintaining your body’s natural sleep cycle. Melatonin is generated in the pineal gland, which is connected to your sleep-wake cycle.
Melatonin synthesis can be significantly impacted by sleep disturbance or low-quality sleep. Because a good night’s sleep is crucial for your health and wellbeing, managing melatonin levels with regular rest is critical.
Sadly, many Americans don’t get enough sleep every night, and many use melatonin supplements to help them sleep. Melatonin is thus one of the most widely used health supplements nowadays.
Cortisol
Cortisol, sometimes known as the “stress hormone,” is regulated by sleep. It is not, however, cortisol’s primary function. Cortisol works together with melatonin to help you maintain your sleeping pattern.
As melatonin synthesis decreases, your cortisol level momentarily rises, helping you wake up and feel relaxed. When you get closer to bedtime, Cortisol production decreases while melatonin synthesis increases, assisting your body in preparing for sleep.
Technological gadgets and stress can reduce your body’s melatonin synthesis, resulting in high cortisol levels that can disrupt your sleep.
A good night’s sleep is essential for your health and general wellbeing. Lack of enough sleep can affect your hormone production in your body and how they work together. This can result in hormone imbalance and conditions, such as sexual dysfunction, thyroid illness, and sleep issues.
If you are experiencing difficulties sleeping, there is help at The Riegel Center. They offer hormone replacement and sleep management services to help you sleep better. Call to book your appointment.
