Nearly half of women are sleep deprived, yet most suffer in silence, a study has found. Many do not seek medical advice because they believe it is merely a side effect of growing older. Experts warn that not getting enough sleep can be a sign of a serious underlying medical condition, although pregnancy or the menopause can often be a factor. Sleep is known to be a particular problem for women as they approach the menopause. Changes in hormone levels can lead to hot flushes, night sweats and mood changes – each of which makes sleeping harder. Lack of sleep is also known to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes for middle-aged women. However, only one woman in four who has trouble sleeping tells their doctor, the study found. Professor John Stradling, a sleep expert at Oxford University, said, “Often women think that feeling exhausted is just part of modern life when in fact it could be something more serious. Remaining untreated leaves women at risk of reduced quality of life and serious health conditions.” The YouGov survey of 4,100 British adults found that 46 percent of women have trouble sleeping, compared with 36 per cent of men. They are also more likely to wake during the night, with 36 percent of women reporting this problem compared with 23 percent of men. Six in 10 women said they become irritable during the day because of lack of sleep, while less than half of men do. A disturbed night is often caused by the disorder sleep apnoea, which causes snoring and dangerous pauses in breathing. Pregnancy and the menopause increase a woman’s risk of suffering from the disorder. If left untreated it could lead to more serious health problems such as stroke or heart attack. Some 1.5 million adults in Britain are thought to suffer with sleep apnoea, yet many do not talk to a doctor about the problem. As well as snoring and insomnia, symptoms include restless legs, fatigue, depression, headaches and muscle pain. Professor Stradling said, “Many women are not aware that they may have sleep apnoea, meaning that they are missing out on the medical advice or treatment that they need. It is important that they speak to their GP about any sleep problems that they have – the sooner their sleep issues are addressed by a sleep expert, the better!” Bill Johnston, chairman of the Sleep Apnoea Trust Association, which commissioned the survey, said it was easy to blame poor sleep on a change in the seasons, especially in winter. “For many it is, but for others, sleep issues could be a sign of sleep apnoea,” he said.