TOTAL SNOOZE FEST

Staying cool is key to getting a good night’s sleep. Too bad your hormones never got the memo. The fluctuations that come with perimenopause (which women tend to enter in their 40s, but can start earlier) often bring on damp, clammy night sweats. Breathable pjs can make all the difference.

- ISHANI NATH

COME ON, GET SLEEPY

Insomnia is already quite common in women. Add a pandemic, and you’ve got a perfect storm for sleepless nights. Here are 10 proven ways to get more shut-eye.

“WOMEN GET THE short end of the stick.”

Talk about an evergreen comment. Today, it’s coming from behavioural sleep medicine specialist Jonathan Charest, who’s talking to me about sleep issues.

According to Statistics Canada, 55 percent of Canadian women report that they frequently struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep, compared to 43 percent of men. The reasons are myriad, Charest says. Natural hormone fluctuations caused by the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause can result in insomnia. Sleep issues may have also gotten worse for women during the pandemic, he adds, in part because of the desire to keep up productivity while also often facing a disproportionate burden of domestic duties and child care. This extra pressure, mixed with the current levels of stress and anxiety, make the pandemic the perfect storm for inadequate sleep.

And frequent sleepless or restless nights can have serious consequences. Studies link insufficient shut-eye to an increase in the risk of depression, obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk. Statistics Canada reports about one-third of Canadians regularly sleep less than the recommended seven to nine hours per night.

No wonder, then, that sleep, and our pursuit of it, has grown into a $78-billion global industry. There’s no shortage of suggested solutions out there, ranging from pillow sprays to high-tech gadgets to orgasming before bed.