We often assume that certain things are inevitable, such as aging and the diseases that come with it. However, some researchers believe that diseases are actually responsible for aging, and aging itself is a myth. In other words, if we prevent disease, we can slow down the aging process. An important aspect of this theory involves sleep, particularly for women experiencing menopause.
Menopause is often seen as the most significant marker of aging for women. It is the stage of life that signifies the end of the reproductive cycle and the beginning of what society considers old age. With menopause, the flood gates open to heart disease, osteoporosis, weight gain, loss of vitality and energy, and many other conditions that we accept as the natural progression of aging.
Two groundbreaking studies have found that lack of sleep and the symptoms of menopause make women age faster rather than menopause being a natural stage in the aging process. The studies found that menopause speeds up cellular aging by an average of 6%. When put into perspective, if a woman enters early menopause at age 42, eight years later, her body would be a whole year older biologically than another 50-year-old woman who entered menopause naturally at age 50.
The importance of sleep cannot be underestimated. Insufficient sleep may affect our ability to function and might also influence the rate at which our biological clock ticks. Postmenopausal women with five insomnia symptoms were found to be nearly two years biologically older than women of the same chronological age with no insomnia symptoms.
Improved sleep may be the answer to slowing down the aging process, but proper sleep can sometimes be difficult to achieve, particularly for menopausal women. Hormonal therapies may impact sleep; however, whether or not to undertake such treatments can be a complex decision. What’s certain is that lack of sleep can make you more susceptible to disease and aging.
Exercise is believed to have considerable benefits for menopausal women. Regular exercise has been associated with better sleep, better mood, better quality of life, fewer menopause symptoms, improved body chemistry, lower cholesterol, better sugar control, less weight gain, and stronger bones. By incorporating exercise into your daily routine, you may slow down the aging effects of menopause by granting your body the restorative sleep needed for good health.
