Stress-Induced Insomnia Linked to Hormonal Imbalance

Over 60 million American men and women suffer from insomnia and sleeplessness each year and recent studies have indicated that the cause may be largely attributed to an underlying hormonal imbalance.  

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is a condition typified by the inability to fall or stay asleep, regardless of how exhausted one may be. Insomnia is often accompanied by other symptoms related to lack of sleep such as foggy thinking, irritability, depression, anxiety and difficulty concentrating. Men and women suffering from insomnia often seek out treatments such as prescription tranquilizers and sleep aides to help them achieve a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately much of the relief is short-lived. It’s important to understand that these medications are only short-term solution to what will ultimately become a more serious condition if left unresolved.

The Connection:

The link between stress and insomnia is really quite simple. The human body contains a “stress hormone” known as cortisol. Cortisol is secreted by the adrenal glands, which are located above the kidneys and then released into our bloodstream as a fight or flight response to stress. It’s the body’s way of keeping us alert during times of peril. Cortisol doesn’t only affect sleep patterns; it also has a negative impact on the metabolism. Cortisol has been linked to adrenal fatigue and weight gain, especially in the abdominal region, at times leading to obesity and medical morbidities such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

Elevated stress levels cause cortisol to wreak havoc on our bodies. Sleep medications are able to mitigate some of the effects of cortisol imbalance such as insomnia, but they don’t relieve stress to reduce the production of cortisol. Stress-reduction techniques such as yoga and meditation paired with balanced nutrition and regular exercise can help to normalize stress levels and in turn properly regulate the production of cortisol. The overproduction of cortisol is classified as a hormonal imbalance and if you think you may be experiencing insomnia, weight gain, fatigue or any other symptoms associated with perimenopause, menopause or andropause (the male menopause), it would be in your best interest to seek out a hormone specialist and consider some simple, minimally invasive blood and saliva tests to determine if a hormonal imbalance is to blame. 

[Via http://bioidenticalhormoneexperts.com]