You require approximately 7-9 hours of sleep a night to recharge your batteries. However, a study found that women sleep an additional 11 minutes longer than men on average.
Why Do Women Need More Sleep Than Men?
Women may require more sleep than males for a variety of reasons. Women are 40% more prone than males to suffer from sleeplessness. Anxiety and sadness are two illnesses that are highly connected with sleeplessness in women. Insomniacs have trouble sleeping or staying asleep on a regular basis, which results in excessive daytime sleepiness.
You are reading: Why Do Women Need More Sleep Than Men? Complete Guide
Hormones have a role in the fact that women require more sleep than males. Hormones control our sleep-wake cycles. Many of our bodily functions are controlled by these hormones, including when we’re fatigued, alert, hungry, and more. Each month, women’s hormones fluctuate, causing their circadian rhythms to shift and increasing their demand for sleep. For instance:
1. On Average They Have Busier Schedules
You should keep in mind that the majority of women work during the day, whether it’s part-time or full-time, and also take care of the family. Also, it’s understandable that women require more sleep as a result of having to prepare dinner after work. Day in and day out, juggling multiple tasks can be taxing. In most countries, women are held to a higher standard than men. They have a noticeable impact as well as a negative impact.
2. Women Go Through More Hormonal Changes
Women are affected by puberty, seasonal changes in hormones, and more. Pregnancy and menopause are also included in this category. Another reason why women’s brains require more sleep is because of physical discomfort and agony. As a result, women are more likely to suffer from mental health issues like anxiety or sadness.
3. Many of Them Don’t Get Enough Rest
As a result of a more hectic schedule, many women aren’t getting enough sleep. There are many responsibilities that come with raising young children, and you’ll need to adapt to their sleeping patterns. You rush to tidy the house or cook when kids finally fall asleep. There is a need for men to do more around the house. Even more so, given a recent study found that sleep deprivation might lead to an increase in irritation.
4. Lack of Sleep Has Links To Weight Gain
Compared to women, men have an easier time reducing weight, especially if they don’t get enough sleep. Insomnia is more common in obese women, indicating that being overweight and sleep deprivation go hand in hand. In addition, sleep deprivation increases the release of the stress hormone cortisol. Having a higher level of cortisol causes an increase in hunger and obesity.
5. They Are Wired Differently
Women’s brains are wired differently than men’s. Analytical and intuitive abilities are facilitated by the way their neurons are wired. Because of their proclivity for multitasking, they don’t wind down as much when it’s time to retire for the night. As a result, falling asleep may be more difficult for them.
Do Women Actually Sleep More Than Men?
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Just over 11 minutes separates men and women when it comes to the amount of time they spend in bed each night.
Even while women may sleep less well than males, this may be related to the fact that they spend their days in different ways. The amount of time women and men devote to paid and unpaid work, work and social duties, and family caring has been documented by researchers. Taking care of others at home, such as children, is more common for women than for males, and this causes them to wake up during the night.
Regardless of marital status, both men and women with children get a little more shut-eye than their childless counterparts. This shows that their longer overall sleep time may be deceiving because some of this sleep occurs during the day. However, napping adds to a person’s total amount of sleep time, but it also reduces the quality of their sleep at nightfall.
When you have a good night’s sleep, you’ll be more productive during the day. During the course of a typical night’s sleep, you go from light sleep to deep sleep to REM sleep, and back again multiple times. With each succeeding stage of sleep, you spend more time in REM sleep, a period for dreaming and cognitive processing, than in deep sleep, a time for your body to physically repair itself.. As a result, you miss out on vital REM sleep when you disrupt your sleep cycle.
Research shows that women fall asleep more quickly than males. As a result, individuals may have a greater need for rest, or they may simply be more weary on a regular basis According to research, women sleep for an average of an additional 30 minutes longer than males. Menopause, on the other hand, causes women to sleep less deeply and take longer to fall asleep.
Sleep and women’s health
Sleep deprivation, or a lack of sleep, can have a severe impact on anyone’s health. But according to a Duke University study conducted in 2008, women who said they slept poorly had higher levels of psychological discomfort than males, raising their risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, depression, and other mental health conditions.
However, we don’t know why women suffer more health repercussions from poor sleep than males, and we assume that hormones are to blame,” adds Dr. Raju.
Women and sleep issues
Although men are more likely to suffer from sleep problems, Dr. Raju points out that women are more likely to suffer from certain disorders based on the stage of life in which they find themselves.
Women are more likely to suffer from insomnia, which is difficulty sleeping or staying asleep. During their menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or even during lactation, women are more likely to experience restless leg syndrome symptoms.
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Because of hormonal and physiological changes that occur in older women, they are at a greater risk of sleep problems.
Sleep apnea is more common in women over the age of 50. Sleep apnea affects one in four women over the age of 65.
Dr. Raju explains that estrogen and progesterone levels in a woman’s body decline significantly after menopause. This is the fundamental cause of the increase in the prevalence of certain diseases.
Do You Need More Sleep?
Sleep deprivation affects women and men of all ages regardless of whether gender is more sleep-deprived. Only 64.5% of men and 65.2% of women, according to the CDC, get the recommended amount of sleep each night. Among high school students, especially young women, the percentages are significantly worse. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 71.3 percent of female students usually go without adequate sleep, compared to 66.4 percent of male students.
Whether or not you wake up feeling rested and rejuvenated is the greatest method to gauge whether or not you’re getting enough sleep. You can improve your sleep environment and improve your ability to fall asleep if you do the following: obtain regular exercise, set regular bed and wake-up times, restrict your coffee and alcohol intake. Ensure that your mind and body are at ease before you go to bed by creating a nighttime ritual. Consult with your doctor to find out if there are any other steps you can take to help you sleep better.
Tips for a good night’s sleep
According to Dr. Raju, a good night’s sleep is built on a foundation of excellent habits. Women’s sleep might be hampered by their hormones, so here are some suggestions to help:
- Establish a regular schedule for waking up and going to bed. Be consistent with your sleeping and waking times.
- Prior to retiring to bed, engage in a restorative routine. Stresses of the day can interfere with a woman’s ability to get a good night’s sleep. Practicing mental exercises or deep breathing before going to sleep will help you relax.
- Avoid caffeine and other stimulants in the later hours of the day. After 3 p.m., limit your intake of caffeine and nicotine. They could be able to keep you awake at night.
- If you’re having difficulties winding down at night, speak with your doctor. According to Dr. Raju, “I advise my patients that if they have any concerns about their sleep quality or quantity, get help.” “Women always put others first. However, the implications to one’s health of not getting enough sleep might be dire.
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Conclusion
Women’s health suffers as a result of the pressures of modern living and society’s expectations. They’re dealing with too much stress on a daily basis all across the planet. This has a detrimental effect on their ability to rest soundly at night. People who don’t get a good night’s sleep are more likely to have a poor quality of life. Getting a good night’s rest is vital for everyone. As a general rule, women are more likely than males to have a full plate of responsibilities at any given time. Their health will improve if they enhance the quality of their sleep. It will also improve your quality of life.
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