It’s often said that men are from Mars and women are from Venus, so it should come as no surprise that the two genders aren’t the same when it comes to sleep. The following are some important ways in which men and women sleep differently:
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Amount of Sleep
Women generally get more sleep than men, averaging 19 minutes more per night in one study. About 30 percent of women told the National Sleep Foundation that they get eight hours or more of sleep on weekdays, while only 22 percent of men said they get that much.
Falling Asleep Quickly
In addition, women usually fall asleep more quickly, taking 9.3 minutes on average to drift off, compared to 23.2 minutes for men.
Falling Asleep and Waking Up Early
Women’s circadian clocks – which help regulate sleep – are set to an earlier hour than men’s. As a result, women are more likely to fall asleep earlier as well as wake up earlier. They are more likely to be active earlier in the day as a result.
Insomnia
Although women are more likely to get more sleep than men, they’re also two to three times more likely to have insomnia. Experts think this may be linked to pregnancy and menopause, which can interfere with sleep. They also point out that women are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety, which can cause insomnia.
Sleep Apnea
Men are two times more likely to experience sleep apnea. This condition causes restricted breathing that can occur many times an hour. It can lead to daytime fatigue and additional health issues such as an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart problems, and type 2 diabetes.
More Deep Sleep
Women have more time during slow-wave sleep, the deepest type of sleep. This helps with memory formation, so it’s believed to be the reason that women cope better with sleep deprivation than men do. One study asked men and women to try performing tasks after not getting enough sleep. Both genders performed less effectively, but the decrease in men’s scores was greater.
Men and women sleep differently, but they both sleep better on a comfortable mattress. Land of Sleep has a large variety of models to suit every preference and provides same day delivery. Contact us today, or stop by one of our two locations to take the first step toward a better night’s sleep!
