The myth that you sleep worse as you get older isn't true, scientists argued in a study published Thursday in the Sleep Journal. While older people may have more sleep disturbances than younger people, those problems are linked to illnesses and health issues and have little to do with aging, researchers said.
We've all caught grandma or grandpa catching some z's after a big meal, or while watching TV, or apropos of nothing at all. Popular wisdom says that older people tend to have restless sleep and more fatigue during the day.
That may be true, but a huge survey published today in the journal Sleep finds that elderly people are more satisfied with their sleep habits than people in any other age group.
We've all caught grandma or grandpa catching some z's after a big meal, or while watching TV, or apropos of nothing at all. Popular wisdom says that older people tend to have restless sleep and more fatigue during the day.
That may be true, but a huge survey published today in the journal Sleep finds that elderly people are more satisfied with their sleep habits than people in any other age group.
As people get older, they tend to lower their standards of what it means to be healthy. So it could be that these seniors simply have a rosier opinion of their sleep patterns than other, more objective measures suggest. For example, in 2004 a large meta-analysis of people aged 5 to 102 years found that overall sleep time drops with age , by about 10 minutes per decade. So when you see grandma taking a nap, let her sleep. She might wake up feeling refreshed-or, at least, content.
Health conditions can interfere with sleep. As we age, we are more likely to develop a chronic illness. These illnesses result in changes in our body that interfere with normal sleep. By managing your health condition well, you can minimize this effect. Examples of how some illnesses interfere with sleep are: Arthritis can cause pain, which makes it difficult to fall asleep. Diabetes or an enlarged prostate may cause you to use the bathroom frequently during the night, which interrupts deep sleep.
Sunlight helps your body to produce melatonin, which regulates your sleep cycle. Try to get at least two hours of exposure to bright light each day. If it is difficult for you to get outside, consider using a full-spectrum light indoors. Using alcohol, nicotine or caffeine can also affect your sleep patterns.
As we get older we all gradually reduce our activities. Resumi
Health conditions can interfere with sleep. As we age, we are more likely to develop a chronic illness. These illnesses result in changes in our body that interfere with normal sleep. By managing your health condition well, you can minimize this effect. Examples of how some illnesses interfere with sleep are: Arthritis can cause pain, which makes it difficult to fall asleep. Diabetes or an enlarged prostate may cause you to use the bathroom frequently during the night, which interrupts deep sleep.
Sunlight helps your body to produce melatonin, which regulates your sleep cycle. Try to get at least two hours of exposure to bright light each day. If it is difficult for you to get outside, consider using a full-spectrum light indoors. Using alcohol, nicotine or caffeine can also affect your sleep patterns.
As we get older we all gradually reduce our activities. Resumi
Health conditions can interfere with sleep. As we age, we are more likely to develop a chronic illness. These illnesses result in changes in our body that interfere with normal sleep. By managing your health condition well, you can minimize this effect. Examples of how some illnesses interfere with sleep are: Arthritis can cause pain, which makes it difficult to fall asleep. Diabetes or an enlarged prostate may cause you to use the bathroom frequently during the night, which interrupts deep sleep.
Sunlight helps your body to produce melatonin, which regulates your sleep cycle. Try to get at least two hours of exposure to bright light each day. If it is difficult for you to get outside, consider using a full-spectrum light indoors. Using alcohol, nicotine or caffeine can also affect your sleep patterns.
As we get older we all gradually reduce our activities. Resuming an exercise program and eating healthy foods may be all that is required to jump start our body to start enjoying better sleep and feeling more alive. Always consult with your doctor before starting any exercise program or changing your diet.
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Sunlight helps your body to produce melatonin, which regulates your sleep cycle. Try to get at least two hours of exposure to bright light each day. If it is difficult for you to get outside, consider using a full-spectrum light indoors. Using alcohol, nicotine or caffeine can also affect your sleep patterns.
As we get older we all gradually reduce our activities. Resuming an exercise program and eating healthy foods may be all that is required to jump start our body to start enjoying better sleep and feeling more alive. Always consult with your doctor before starting any exercise program or changing your diet.
About the Author:
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