{"id":28262,"date":"2020-03-17T07:00:56","date_gmt":"2020-03-17T11:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/restonic.com\/sin-categorizar\/growing-older-not-saying-goodnight-restful-sleep-97082"},"modified":"2022-04-26T11:41:07","modified_gmt":"2022-04-26T15:41:07","slug":"growing-older-not-saying-goodnight-restful-sleep-97082","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/restonic.com\/es\/blog-es\/growing-older-not-saying-goodnight-restful-sleep-97082","title":{"rendered":"Myth Busted! Growing Older Does Not Mean Saying Goodnight to Restful Sleep"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"GrowingAging might bring changes to your sleep quality & quantity \u2013 are you prepared?<\/h2>\n

Growing older is a gift, but it can be hard to look at it that way when you consider the widespread belief that a good night\u2019s sleep is nearly impossible the older we get. While the quality and quantity of sleep may shift as we age, the reality is older people sleep just fine \u2013 and often better than their younger counterparts.<\/p>\n

Just take a look at the results from a Swiss sleep study<\/a>: they\u2019re reassuring. Researchers from the University of Lausanne looked at participants ages 40 to 80 and found that though the elderly participants<\/a> slept less, they reported better quality sleep. And they also felt more awake during daylight hours. What\u2019s more, the data also found that older subjects complained significantly less about sleepiness lower than younger subjects. Take that, millennials!<\/p>\n

The less sunny results say that sleep latency \u2013 that\u2019s the time it takes to fall asleep \u2013 increases with age. One study<\/a> with adults over the age of 65 saw 36% of women and 13% of men take more than 30 minutes to nod off on a regular basis. Both sexes experience more nighttime restlessness as they age, including those midnight trips to the bathroom. Still, the bottom line is older adults function better during the day and feel more rested.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not sleeping, it might be your fluctuating circadian rhythms<\/h2>\n

\"ageIf you always wanted to be a morning person<\/a>, but couldn\u2019t quite manage it, you\u2019ll be pleased to hear that there\u2019s hope for morning liveliness in your golden years \u2013 even if you\u2019ve been a long-time night owl.<\/p>\n

It has a fancy name \u2013 \u201cadvanced sleep phase syndrome.\u201d That just means you\u2019ll feel sleepy earlier and be ready to hit the hay earlier in the evening and subsequently get up earlier, too. It\u2019s why grandma can watch the news at 6 p.m. and not at 11 p.m.<\/p>\n

But why the altered sleep schedule as we get older?<\/p>\n

\u201cOur\u00a0chronorhythms\u00a0shift as we age,\u201d explains Dr. Michael Breus, a Los Angeles-based clinical psychologist, a.k.a. The Sleep Doctor<\/a>. \u201cMeaning that our body\u2019s circadian rhythm moves to an earlier time. Old habits of going to bed at a particular time may be well ingrained in our evening but if our body wants to wake up earlier (due to a shift in core body temperature<\/a> which changes melatonin production), we will get less sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

Complicating matters is the fact that melatonin levels dwindle with age, further disrupting the sleep-wake cycle. So rather than fight against your body pushing you to wake up earlier, go with the flow. Breus suggests going to bed earlier and tracking your sleep with a smart watch or fitness tracker<\/a> to understand the change in total sleep time and quality.<\/p>\n

Paying attention to those two areas is especially important for older adults. Not sleeping well can cause a depressed mood<\/a> and lead to attention and memory problems, more nighttime falls, excessive daytime sleepiness and an increased reliance of over-the-counter and prescription sleep aids.<\/p>\n

Potential challenges of sleep in later years of life<\/h2>\n

Research says that our need for sleep remains fairly constant during adulthood. Yet many older people struggle. One common reason is snoring.<\/a> An estimated 90 million Americans experience disruption due to snoring. Thirty-seven million are habitual snorers. Unfortunately, it\u2019s a condition that worsens with age \u2013 underscoring the need for treatment.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t fall into the trap of believing that poor sleep is a normal part of aging. It\u2019s not. If you\u2019re experiencing problems, talk to your doctor \u2013 or a specialty sleep doctor<\/a>. Not sleeping well may be an important clue that might indicate an underlying condition, from renal failure and respiratory diseases to asthma and immune disorders.<\/p>\n

Another good reason to book an appointment? Do a thorough review of any medicine you\u2019re taking. Some of it may be interfering with your sleep. Breus says that discussing a reduction in non-essential medicine can be help since some over-the-counter medicines can affect sleep depth. \u201cThis should done only upon on a doctor\u2019s advice,\u201d he cautions.<\/p>\n

Rest well & wake up ready to go!<\/h2>\n

Better sleep gives rise to better mornings, bringing your goals into focus and dreams within reach. Hungry for more sleep info? Dig into these posts:<\/p>\n