July 12, 2019

5 Major Causes Of Insomnia In Elderly People

Insomnia hits each one of us at a certain point of time. While many suffer from it at a young age, there are many elders who complain of insomnia on a regular basis. As per research, more than 50% of the elders experience symptoms of insomnia a couple of times in a week. There are a number of causes of insomnia in elderly people and you need to dive in to understand the same.




Bad sleep habits
Good night’s sleep will rely on consistency. Elderly people are as prone as anyone to follow an irregular sleep schedule which is fueled by routine evening activities. Consuming alcohol before bedtime can also lead to a lot of tossing and turning in bed. Falling asleep near a smartphone or television can also keep you up. Make sure your bedroom is an oasis of comfort and peace. It should give you a comfortable sleep by eliminating any sources of chaos or distraction.




Medical conditions
Elderly individuals suffer from a number of health conditions which make it difficult for them to enter into the deep state of sleep. They tend to wake up multiple times in the middle of the night with an urge to urinate or they could feel chronic pain at night which keeps them awake. Many other health conditions like heartburn, asthma, osteoporosis, diabetes, arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease can inhibit sleep. It is important to speak to a doctor about this and find possible treatment options.

Menopause
Older women who are going through menopause tend to wake up in the middle of the night due to hot flashes and night sweats. These symptoms continue even in the post-menopause stage, you can learn more about it here. You need to improve your daytime diet and engage in a light exercise which will help keep the symptoms at bay.




Medications
There are many drugs which can make it difficult for you to fall asleep. It is a side effect of numerous pain relievers. Many medications can result in drowsiness and there are many others which have an opposite effect. It is important to understand the effect that this medication will have on you. Ask for alternatives to the doctor so that you can achieve the same effect without any extra energy.




Lack of exercise
A busy day makes it easy to fall asleep and the opposite is also true. Individuals with a sedentary lifestyle will find it difficult to sleep because they have not burnt enough energy in the day to become sleepy at night. It is important to engage in physical exercise to promote healthy sleep habits. It is equally important to exercise the mind by engaging in social activities with loved ones. These interactions will keep the mental activity up and will prepare the body for a good night’s sleep.

It is very important to identify the cause behind insomnia and then look for a solution for the same.



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1 comment:

  1. Nice post and to get rid from insomnia problem taking herbal supplements for insomnia is useful for me.

    ReplyDelete

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