Men & Sleep

30 May 2022 Categories: Better Health Author: Katrina Stubbs
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How does catching Zzzs change when you have one X and Y chromosome?

In a recent article, we discussed what impacts sleep quality for women. Today we are diving into the differences in men’s sleep quality, what affects it, and how we can help!

According to several studies, there are three notable differences between men and women when it comes to sleep:

  1. Men get less sleep than women, causing them to experience lower sleep quality.
  2. Men typically tend to spend less time in a deep sleep and are likely to experience a lighter sleep accompanied by frequent interruptions throughout their sleep cycle.
  3. Men have a 50% less chance of suffering from insomnia than women.

Perhaps the most alarming difference is despite the scientific findings that men experience lower levels of sleep efficiency and length, they report having a higher sleep quality than their counterparts, women. Which we know statistically is not true!

One of the highest risk factors for men having inferior sleep quality is Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Unfortunately, men often find themselves twice as likely to suffer from this potentially life-threatening condition.

Men who suffer from untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea run an increased risk of dealing with sexual or erectile dysfunction, leading to a breakdown in relationships, anxiety, and even depression. Getting much-needed sleep will ensure that testosterone levels are in a healthy range, which will improve daily quality of life.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders in men; however, it is not the only one. Other disorders that are more likely to affect men’s sleep include narcolepsy, delayed sleep phase disorder, and poor sleep hygiene.

Practicing good sleep hygiene is the starting point to getting yourself on the right track to better overall sleep quality. Good sleep hygiene includes finding work, life, and home balance. Stress impacts how and when we sleep, and it’s important to find a way to reduce stress in order to implement healthy sleep routines. Managing a consistent sleep schedule is essential for those who work night shifts or several days in a row to ensure the body and brain get enough rest.

Men are less likely to admit that they have any trouble sleeping, let alone acknowledge that they may need assistance determining what they need to do to correct the issue. A major difference between the sexes is that women are far more likely to seek assistance from healthcare professionals to address the issues at hand. We encourage you to take steps to manage your sleep needs as this can make a significant impact on your daily quality of life. After all, who doesn’t want to feel good?


If you require any assistance or have any questions about how you can improve your quality of sleep, please reach out to one of Snore MD’s highly trained dream team members.

Katrina Stubbs Sleep Clinician
Katrina Stubbs
Author

Katrina Stubbs is a Regional Manager and Sleep Clinician at Snore MD and brings over 15 years of experience in the medical field. She prides herself in providing exceptional patient care and education, not only to her patients but to the entire team at Snore MD.

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