The Effects of Aging Can Make For Sleepless Nights – Here’s What to Do
The Effects of Aging Can Make For Sleepless Nights – Here’s What to Do
You may find as you age that your ability to live longer is rewarded with insomnia. It does not seem fair that you worked so very hard to stay healthy and fit, and in return you are much more likely to suffer sleepless nights as you grow older. But when you look at it from a purely physical point of view, the aging / insomnia relationship makes a lot of sense.
Beginning at about 50 years of age, your body begins to grow weaker faster. Both inside and out, your body is simply not as healthy as when you were younger. Many senior citizens have reported becoming sleepy earlier in the evening than ever before. This means that they also wake up early. And though there is nothing wrong with that natural cycle, unfortunately poor quality of sleep and insomnia are often also along for the ride.
Women experience hormonal changes in menopause, and both men and women can suffer from the debilitating disease that is Alzheimer’s. Insomnia is a frequent accompanying symptom of both those age-associated afflictions.
Sleep Changes As You Age – Here Is Why
As you age, it is important to understand how sleep changes throughout your life. Since your body produces lower levels of growth hormone, your natural disposition to enjoy restful slow wave and deep sleep cycles is inhibited. You produce much less melatonin than when you were younger, meaning rapid sleep cycles and waking up often during the night. But this insomniac behavior can be treated naturally and effectively.
First off, identify whether there is some outlying cause for your insomnia. Are you in a situation which provides a lot of stress during the day? Do you often feel depressed? Do your personal relationships create anxiety and worry? These could all be simple causes of anxiety which can be psychologically treated.
Age-Related Insomnia – 6 Tips To Get Better Sleep
And you may want to check your diet. Poor diet can definitely lead to symptoms like acid reflux and GERD, which make it very difficult to sleep properly. But if you do not suffer from any of those common causes of insomnia, try the following tips to get a better night’s rest.
• Set a sleep schedule and stick to it. Go to bed and wake up at prescribed times.
• Do not drink alcohol or eat for at least 3 hours before you go to sleep.
• Check your medications. If sleeplessness is a symptom, ask your doctor if you can take that particular medicine earlier in the day.
• Falling asleep with the TV on is a no-no. It may take you some time to break yourself of this habit, but your mind subconsciously pays attention to the sound of the television after you have fallen to sleep, causing poor sleep patterns.
• Listen to your body. If you find yourself feeling drowsy on a consistent basis earlier than you have gone to sleep before, adjust your bedtime accordingly.
• Create bedtime rituals. A relaxing bath or soothing music, stress and relaxation management techniques like mindfulness meditation, and any repeated, calming action can help you get to sleep quicker.
