Page 48 - Seniorstoday July 2024 Issue
P. 48
Mind Matters
The Challenges Of Insomnia
As We Age
As we age, our bodies go through a lot of changes. Some of these changes
significantly affect our quality of sleep and sleep patterns, writes
Dr Monika Dass
Everyone experiences an occasional As we age, our bodies go through a
restless night, but having trouble falling or lot of changes. Some of these changes
staying asleep regularly can severely affect significantly affect our quality of sleep and
your health and well-being. As we age, this sleep patterns. Some of the most common
can become a greater problem. Insomnia challenges with sleep as we age include:
is one of the most common sleep disorders Waking up early in the morning
in seniors. Up to 48% of older adults Getting tired earlier in the evening
experience symptoms of insomnia. Waking up multiple times in the middle
of the night
What is Insomnia?
A person with insomnia has difficulty Having insomnia
falling asleep and staying asleep. Not As we get older, our bodies cannot process
getting enough sleep at night can cause the sleep-wake systems well enough.
daytime sleepiness and interfere with your This is due to changes in hormones.
daily activities. For instance, aging adults produce less
of a hormone called melatonin. This is
What Changes to Expect with Sleep as significant because melatonin regulates
You Age? our sleep. When we have less of this
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