Yesterday I wrote about the need for teens to get more sleep. Do seniors need less? If you’re like me, you’ve heard that seniors don’t need as much sleep as the average person. I mean, I remember my own grandmother going to bed around 11 pm and waking for the day around 4 am. Well, believe it or not, adults actually need the same amount of sleep from their 20s on through old age according to WebMD. Folks 60 and over just need a different kind of sleep and rarely get the sleep they need because of a host of reasons from medication side effects to anxiety and diseases that can make it difficult to sleep.
Another reason seniors face troubles sleeping is the timing of rest. According to WebMD, “as adults age, advanced sleep phase syndrome sets in, causing the body’s internal clock to adjust to earlier bed and wakeup times. But some seniors continue to stay up late, as they did in their younger years. Sleep deprivation is often the result.”
So…no matter your age, it’s important to understand what is causing your sleeplessness especially when they could be masking medical problems. And, if you’re a senior having trouble sleeping, try these tips for getting more sleep.
1. Wake up, exercise and eat meals at set times.
2. Sunshine helps regulate the sleep/wake cycle; spend as much time as possible in sunlight.
3. Be sure to see your doctor. If medication is interrupting sleep, your doctor could help find an alternative prescription.
No comments:
Post a Comment