Has your sleep As women, we know that hormones influence our moods, metabolic function and appetites, they also play a huge role in the amount of sleep we get each night. Understanding the connections between these hormones and then how to balance them can improve our sleep and well-being.

Hormones are linked with sleep in a number of ways.

The human body secretes and circulates about 50 different hormones, most of these are produced the endocrine system. The endocrine system is made up of a series of glands located throughout the body that produce and secrete hormones. Each gland produces and releases it’s specific hormone which impacts us in a variety of ways. The endocrine system works with the central nervous system

How do unbalanced hormones relate to insomnia?

Specific hormones like progesterone, cortisol, insulin and melatonin are just a few hormones that, when out of their natural rhythms will result in sleep problems.

Progesterone: sometimes referred to as “nature’s valerian” is one of the most critical hormones linked to sleep quality because it calms the brain and decreases anxiety. It declines as we age and low progesterone can bring about anxiety, restlessness, and trouble sleeping, including a tendency to wake frequently during the night. Women stop producing progesterone after menopause and the loss of progesterone contributes to the risk of osteoporosis among post-menopausal women.

Cortisol: is the primary stress hormone, and plays an important role in the sleep-wake cycle because unhealthy cortisol levels interfere with sleep and contribute to sleep disorders. Then poor sleep, in turn, negatively impacts the cortisol levels. Creating a viscous cycle or raised cortisol levels and sleep problems. Besides driving the body’s fight or flight response, it is also responsible for regulating blood pressure, balancing blood sugar and regulating energy levels. There is no question that elevated cortisol levels contribute to sleep issues and other health problems.

Insulin: controls your blood glucose or mostly known as blood sugar levels. Often sleep deprivation will increase blood sugar levels and encourage unhealthy late-night eating habits which triggers a release of insulin from the snack, then causing blood sugar levels to fluctuate throughout the night. High or low levels of blood sugar usually make it more difficult to have a restful sleep. There are also several studies that show that too little sleep is associated with higher A1c levels.

Melatonin: the main role of melatonin is to induce sleep and regulate our natural sleep-wake cycle. The natural release of melatonin when the sun goes goes down makes us sleepy and tells our bodies, it is time to prepare for sleep. Melatonin and cortisol are in opposite relationship to each other. When melatonin is high, cortisol should be low and vise versa. When either one of these gets out of balance, our ability to sleep is greatly affected.

Control your hormones

Now that you have a better understanding of how hormones affect your sleep, you can do things such as reduce your stress, engage in relaxing evening routines before bed, reduce the amount of screen time, and create a regular sleep schedule to help balance your hormones and get a good nights sleep.

Important: Sleep coaching is not the same as seeking treatment for a diagnosis or medical condition. Please consult your medical professional if you feel you have a sleep disorder.

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