The Sleep Doctor: The 4 Hormones Wrecking Your Sleep & What to Do About It
6/25/202648 min
If you're in perimenopause or menopause, sleep has probably become something you think about all the time. Falling asleep, staying asleep, waking up at 3am, feeling exhausted, waking up anxious even when you did fall asleep. Perimenopause sleep disruption and menopause insomnia are real, they are hormonal, and they are not your fault. The nights can feel endless.
That's why Tamsen Fadal invited Dr. Andrea Matsumura on The Tamsen Show. A board-certified sleep medicine physician, menopause expert, and creator of the D.R.E.A.M. Sleep Method, Dr. Matsumura breaks down exactly what is happening in the body when sleep falls apart in midlife and gives you the tools to get better sleep in perimenopause starting tonight. We cover:
- Why waking up at 3am is a cortisol event, not an anxiety problem, and what to do when it happens
- The sleep apnea statistic that will stop you cold: up to 90% of women in midlife who have it don't know, because they don't look like the textbook patient
- What melatonin actually is, why taking it at bedtime is usually the wrong move, and what happens to production by age 50
- How alcohol is disrupting your REM sleep, and why one glass hits completely differently now
- The D.R.E.A.M. Method: the five-part framework Dr. Matsumura built because treating one thing at a time only ever gets women halfway there
- The ferritin level behind restless legs that most providers aren't checking
- Why getting out of bed at 3am is the right call, even though it feels like the worst one
- How every additional 15 minutes of sleep compounds into something significant over time
This episode will help you get your sleep back on track because it’s the foundation of everything. When your sleep goes, it starts to unravel the rest of your life.
If you liked this conversation, check this out: How to Finally Get to Sleep in Menopause
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Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Tamsen Show.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsTamsen Fadal· Host0:00
[upbeat music] If you're in perimenopause or menopause, I would say it's safe to assume your sleep has probably become something you think about all the time. Falling asleep, staying asleep, waking up feeling exhausted, constantly waking up to pee, waking up anxious, if you fell asleep, and the nights can feel endless, and I, I totally get it. I have been there. The other night, I actually woke up at, like, 3:00 in the morning and stared at the ceiling for a while. The worst part, though, is that sleep is the foundation of everything, so when your sleep goes, it starts to really unravel the rest of your life. And that's why I have invited Dr. Andrea Matsumura on The Tamson Show. She is a board-certified sleep medicine physician, menopause expert, and creator of the Dream Sleep Method. And today, she's gonna teach us exactly what is happening in our bodies and, uh, maybe give you the tools, so maybe starting tonight you can get a better night's sleep. If you haven't yet, please hit follow, leave us a review. It is one of the best ways to help the show grow, and I really love reading each and every one of your comments. So let's go ahead and get started. This show is sponsored by Midi Health. Menopause doesn't happen overnight. It happens over years of nights. Hormones start shifting long before your period ends, and most doctors aren't trained to spot it. That's why Midi Health exists, and it's why I tell every woman I know about them. Midi is the only virtual care clinic built specifically for women navigating midlife hormonal changes,