Older adults now comment that they sleep like a baby; by which they mean they’re waking up every two or three hours without any reason. As a person grows older, their sleeping problems grow with them. Gone are the days when you would feel wiped out as soon as your head would hit the pillow. Even a healthy 70 year old would have to wake up four times a night, which, in any age, can exhaust a person.
What are the causes?
Usually, when a person gets older, their habits become troublesome to them. Going to sleep late, drinking alcohol, or taking medication causes most of the sleeping disorders found in older adults. Apart from that, there are many ways in which sleeping disorders affect people such as:
- Primary sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, REM-behavior disorder etc
- Psychiatric conditions such as anxiety or depression
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Chronic diseases such as a congestive heart failure
- Not being very active
- Stimulants such as caffeine
- Chronic pain, which can be caused by arthritis
- Somnambulism (Sleep walking)
Can a sleeping problem be diagnosed?
Sleeping disorders can be diagnosed by tests one can easily get done in a hospital. If the doctor can diagnose the sleeping problems due to a physical ailment, they can prescribe a medication for it. If the doctor suspects a primary sleeping disorder, a sleep study test or a polysomnogram can confirm it.
How can a sleep disorder be treated?
Sleep disorders can be treated through medication which a doctor can prescribe for you in accordance with your diagnosis. Sleeping pills are mostly used for a short-term basis and can help ease the symptoms. A doctor can also prescribe medication for any chronic pain or illness. These pills should not be taken with alcohol otherwise the reaction can become adverse.
Having good sleeping habits is another way to solving a sleeping disorder. These include:
- Avoiding naps
- Avoid eating a big meal directly before bedtime.
- Go to bed and wake up at exactly the same time.
- Exercise regularly
- Avoid stimulants such as caffeine, nicotine or alcohol
- Avoid bright lights near the bed
- Wear comfortable clothes to avoid irritation or fidgeting
- Use the bed only for sleep or sexual activity
Complication during treatment
Mostly, older adults only use their medication and discard it after a while, thinking the issue is resolved. That can cause the sleep disorder to recur. Similarly, most people abuse drugs or alcohol and create problems for themselves. It is better to follow the doctor’s orders, and after a few weeks, by judging your sleeping pattern, going back to the clinic to have a further diagnosis.
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