Age Factors in Sleep Disorders
April 6th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
Most of us take sleep for granted. We see it as a natural part of life that just happens. However, once you are nearing retirement age, the natural ability to fall asleep and stay asleep slowly loses its grip on you. Many older adults have problems sleeping and think the problem is just a part of the process of growing older. They need to understand that there are some steps they can take to increase their chances of getting a good night’s sleep.
First of all, as we grow older, the body produces less of the chemicals that help your body recognize when it’s time to sleep and wake up. The main ingredient in this chemical makeup is melatonin. When our body stops making enough of this key chemical, your inner clock, or circadian rhythm, is thrown off. You might find that you never really fall into a deep, restful sleep because you are waking up several times a night, or have trouble even falling asleep. Older people often wake up too early as well. This can be quite frustrating considering that you need the same amount of sleep that you did before. You sometimes might have to take naps to compensate for your tiredness during the day. Read the rest of this entry »
