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Lynne Lamberg

JAMA. 2007;297:1865-1866.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Washington, DC—Women and their physicians often attribute sleep problems in midlife to the hormonal changes of menopause. Sleep disorders, other illnesses, and life stresses, however, may play a larger role.

The prevalence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a sleep-related breathing disorder long regarded as a disease of males, rise dramatically in women after menopause, boosting risks of heart disease and stroke. Symptoms of age-related illnesses, such as restless legs syndrome (RLS), diabetes, and arthritis, also may undermine a woman's sleep, hinder daytime performance, and lower quality of life.

(Photo credit: Oscar Burriel/www.sciencesource.com)

Many women not only hold paid jobs in midlife, but also care for aging parents, an ill spouse, or other relatives. Their "second shift" often involves nighttime on-call duty. Some women's sleep is disrupted by a bed partner's snoring or awakenings.

"While women report sleep complaints more often than men do . . . [Full Text of this Article]

SLEEP DISSATISFACTION

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

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Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol. 2007;293:R1671-R1683.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT