HEALTH

Sleep: The Hidden Struggle for Women's Mental Health

USAWed Jan 29 2025
Did you know that most women feel their sleep affects their mental health? A survey found that 70% of women think their sleep is not good enough, and it makes them feel bad mentally. This is a big deal because sleep is crucial for our well-being. Without enough sleep, we can get depressed or anxious. But why are women having such a hard time with sleep? Dr. Carleara Weiss, a sleep expert, says it's because society values being busy and not sleeping enough. She also explains that women need more sleep due to hormones, and only 42% of doctors give women sleep health resources. This means many women are not getting the help they need. Women have lots of responsibilities, like taking care of kids or working, which can make it hard to sleep well. Dr. Weiss says the best thing to do is to improve sleep habits and get better sleep. This includes eating well, avoiding screens before bed, and keeping a regular sleep schedule. Sometimes, a doctor might need to check if there's a sleep disorder.

questions

    What additional studies are needed to fully understand the hormonal impact on women's sleep?
    If we could all sleep like babies, would we have less mental health issues?
    How can we ensure that sleep health resources are equitably distributed across genders?

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