Getting a good night’s sleep is not only satisfying and invigorating, but also the foundation for a healthy and productive day. Yet up to a third of older individuals report difficulty maintaining sleep on a recurring basis and more than half report occasional problems with their sleep. Identifying and correcting poor sleeping habits can help older adults to improve their well-being and quality of life.
It is generally believed that older people require the same amount of sleep as younger adults – seven to nine hours each night. But they then to become lighter sleepers and may wake three or four times throughout the course of the night. They may have to go the bathroom frequently or find their sleep disturbed by the discomfort of a chronic illness. Some of these disturbances may be correctable with lifestyle and nutrition changes, but others may be symptoms of more serious medical conditions.
A recent study suggests that poor sleep habits may not only make you tired and irritable in the morning, but may also weaken your immune system and cause depression. Researchers found that patients whose sleep had been disrupted had decreased levels of natural killer cells (NKCs). A decreased NKC count indicates a weakened immune system and a body more vulnerable to illness. Sleep deprivation may lead to irritability, decreased concentration, and a greater risk for accidents and falls.
It is learnt from research many of the medical conditions that interrupt the sleep of older people are treatable. Medical problems such as arthritis, heartburn, osteoporosis, and heart and lung disease may interrupt, delay or abbreviate sleep, as may some of the drugs used to treat these conditions. There are many medical disorders more common among older people. “Middle-aged and elderly people suffer from at least four sleep disorders in numbers far greater than younger people: sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movements disorder, and advanced sleep phase syndrome. In addition, depression, bereavement, and anxiety also impact the sleep of older adults.
In men, frequent trips to the bathroom to urinate may be a sign that the prostate gland is enlarged. Your doctor can screen you for prostate cancer. Other medical conditions mentioned about may also be treated effectively after consultation with the appropriate medical professionals.
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