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Age Related Sleeplessness |
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Monday, 21 August 2006 |
Dear Dr. Levister: At age 72, I have trouble falling asleep
at night. Should I take sleeping pills?
Can switching my mattress help?
R.V.
Dear R.V. Sleeping pills are rarely the answer. Simple
self-help steps and, if necessary, treatment by a sleep specialist can often
remedy insomnia. In a National Institute on Aging study of more than 12,000
people aged 65 and older, over half of the men and women reported frequent
trouble with sleeping. This finding confirms what you've already observed: with
aging, it becomes harder to get to sleep and to stay asleep.
 Dr. Ernest Levister, Jr. F.A.C.P. F.A.C.P.M.
You need to accept that there may be a reduction in sleep
quality, quantity and depth as they age. But if you are experiencing excessive
daytime sleepiness - not just fatigue, but feeling so drowsy that you fall
asleep inappropriately during the day - you should seek medical help.
Normal sleep consists of two main states REM (rapid eye
movement) sleep, which is associated with dreaming and the four stages of non
REM sleep. The deepest stage is referred to as delta sleep. Compared to young
adults, middle-aged and elderly people spend less time in delta sleep. In fact,
some elderly people cease to experience it at all.
If you've stayed in a luxury hotel lately you've probably
seen all the hype over Swedish "comfort sleep systems" like Tempur-Pedic, Dux
Beds and Sleep Number Beds. New scientific research suggests the memory foam
mattresses and pillows increase air flow around the body and help to support
the body's natural curves and angles maximizing sleep comfort and
responsiveness. These systems can be costly and may not solve your sleep
problem.
Before visiting your doctor, keep a "sleep diary" for a week
or two. Include information regarding what time you go to bed and rise, how
long does it take you to fall asleep, how often you wake up during the night
and how long you think you sleep at night or do you take nabs during the day,
are drowsy or fall asleep during the day. Your doctor may order a sleep study,
in which you sleep overnight in a lab while your sleep pattern and vital signs
are monitored.
Avoid coffee, tea, alcohol or chocolate late in the evening.
Don't read or watch TV in bed. Go to bed and get up at the same time each day.
Some patients report sex, light exercise, deep breathing and aromatherapy
helps. For short term insomnia related to stress or anxiety from an unusual
event in your life (i.e. death, illness, divorce) your physician may prescribe
a sleep aid.
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