Women Worrying About Cancer Are More Likely To Experience Sleep Disturbances

This collaborative study, from the Brooklyn Health Disparities Center at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York, focused on 1,038 community-based residents, between 50 and 70 years of age; none of whom had a history of a physician-diagnosed cancer. Sleep complaint was defined as a report of either difficulty initiating sleep, maintaining sleep, or early morning awakening.

According to the results, 65 percent of the women reported that they worried about developing breast cancer, and 49 percent reported a sleep complaint. Twenty-seven percent indicated that cancer worry affected their mood, while 25 percent indicated that it affected their daily activity. The odds of reporting sleep complaints for women who worry about cancer were nearly 50 percent greater than odds for women who reported no cancer worry, independent of several confounders.

"This is a unique and important finding because sleep-related complaints have never been studied in women who worry about cancer, without a diagnosis, and it provides practitioners with knowledge with regards to identifying and targeting women who report sleep-related complaints with cognitive behavioral therapy," said Dr. Dharawat, who is a second year medical resident, working with Dr. Girardin Jean-Louis on an NIH funded 'Women's Health Project'.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps eliminate negative images and thoughts that compromise one's ability to sleep well. It helps develop habits that promote a healthy pattern of sleep. CBT is most often used for people who suffer from insomnia.

Sleep plays a vital role in promoting women's health and well being. Getting the required amount of sleep is likely to enhance women's overall quality of life. Yet, they face many potential barriers -- such as life events, depression, illness, and medication use -- that often disrupt their sleep patterns. Overcoming these challenges can help women enjoy the daily benefits of feeling alert and well rested.