Welwyn Garden City's Lisa Snowdon on the impact of the menopause
New research shows one in three women suffer poor sleep because of the menopause
Welwyn Garden City's Lisa Snowdon is speaking out about the impact of the menopause on women's sleep.
Half of women lose an average of four hours sleep a night due to the menopause
Research conducted by homewares retailer Dunelm reveals that one in three women suffer poor quality sleep and almost half lose an average of five hours a night because of the menopause.
The survey also found that two in five women admit a lack of sleep negatively impacts their mood and leads to an inability to concentrate and recall details.
In recent years, Ms Snowdon has campaigned for more support for those going through perimenopause - the period shortly before the menopause occurs, as well as the menopause itself.
"It's just hideous"
Speaking from her own experience, she said: "you're lying in bed at night and you're tossing and turning and you're having these hideous night sweats. You're like a furnace, you're on fire. Then you're throwing the covers off and you start shivering because the bed's wet.
"The next day, you get up and you've had literally no sleep, a couple of hours here and there, and that has a knock on effect for the rest of the day. It's just hideous."
And while she admits that things are getting better: "thankfully we are talking about it more. Women are recognising that this is perimenopause or this is menopause, and this isn't them going crazy.
"Women get to their forties and they're at the top of their game in their workplace. Then all of a sudden they say, I just can't do it anymore. So thankfully there are more policies in place in the workplace and there's lots more people talking about it openly."
Half of women wish there were more places to talk
But she says there's still a long way to go and almost half the women surveyed said they wished there were more places to talk and discuss their symptoms.
When asked what more could be done to help women going through the menopause, Ms Snowdon stressed there should be a menopause specialist in every GP surgery across the country as well as: "education in schools.
"The younger generation need to know about it, the men need to know about it, the whole of society need to know about it. Yes, it happens directly to 50% of the population but indirectly it effects everybody."