Causes of Age-Related Sleeplessness
Sleep deprivation in older adults may result from one or more factors, including:
- Circadian rhythms — our natural sleep-wake cycles that last roughly 24 hours — determine the times we fall asleep and wake up. As we age, our sleeping patterns can change. Older adults tend to get sleepier earlier in the evening, which means they usually wake earlier in the morning: a circadian rhythm sleep disorder known as advanced sleep phase disorder (ASP), according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. For some, this change is inconsequential: They still get seven or eight hours of sleep, just at an earlier time than they used to. But for others, their internal clocks go haywire and they struggle to fall or stay asleep. For older people especially, this can become a vicious circle: The longer the sleep problems persist, the harder it is to readjust to normal patterns.
- Many older adults develop chronic health conditions that impair the quality of their sleep. Prominent among these are diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), heart disease, and depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Arthritis and other chronic pain can also wreak havoc on sleep, and hot flashes and hormonal fluctuations during menopause can interfere, as well. Sleep apnea, a condition marked by repeatedly interrupted breathing at night, often prevents individuals from getting sufficient rest. Medications can disturb sleep, too — for example, diuretics for treating high blood pressure and heart disease may require numerous trips to the bathroom.
- Anxiety and depression arising from situations such as an empty nest, retirement, the loss of a close friend, and financial or health challenges can seriously curtail sleep. Even worrying about not getting enough sleep can result in poor or less sleep. Clearly going to bed with a lot on your mind isn’t conducive to a good night’s rest.
- People who have recently moved to a nursing home or an assisted-living facility often miss the comforts they enjoyed when they were on their own. As a result, their quality of sleep may decline.
How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Although some aspects of aging are out of your control, there are steps you can take to improve your quality of sleep, which in turn can improve your mental and physical health. The National Institute on Aging suggests taking these steps to get better rest:
- Stick to a schedule.Monitoring and controlling your circadian rhythm is key to proper sleep. Go to sleep and wake at the same time every day — even weekends. If you take a nap, do it at least three hours before your bedtime in order to avoid being kept up late.
- Make a routine.Make it a habit to do whatever relaxes you, such as reading, writing, or soaking in the tub, before bed. Try to avoid screens in the hour prior to sleep, as the blue light has shown to affect your brain’s levels of melatonin, the hormone closely tied to sleep.
- Enhance your bedroom.The bedroom should ideally be for two things only: sleeping and sex. So keep your television out of the bedroom. The room should also be dark, cool, and quiet.
- Embrace exercise.Being active can greatly improve your sleep quality. Just be sure not to exercise within three hours of bedtime as it can keep you awake.
- Be smart about what you eat and drink.Eating large meals close to bedtime or drinking caffeine and alcohol will make it much harder for you to fall or stay asleep. A small snack before bed can be helpful. Also try not to drink as many beverages as it gets later into the evening, as it increases the likelihood that you will have to get up and go to the restroom in the middle of the night.
Sleep has a profound effect on our physical and emotional well-being, which is why it’s imperative to take sleep problems seriously. A talk with your doctor can help you determine why you’re having trouble sleeping and take steps to solve the problem.
