For menopausal women who have difficulty sleeping, it might be because of chemicals in the environment, according to a new study.
The study based on data from the Midlife Women's Health Study suggests that exposure to various chemicals, such as phthalates, found in hundreds of products used daily, is associated with sleep disruptions in midlife women.
The study results have been published in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).
Up to 60 percent of women in the menopause transition experience sleep difficulties.
Women who have trouble falling asleep are at greater risk of developing persistent depression that can lead to worse health outcomes, may require more medical care, and increase absenteeism.