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Growing
Old Shouldn't Mean Losing Sleep
If
you're an older adult who has trouble sleeping, don't assume it's
a normal feature of advancing age.
The sleeplessness that affects
about a third of the elderly isn't a natural part of aging and
can result in serious health problems, says a new report from
the International Longevity Center-USA and the AARP Foundation.
The report -- "Getting Your
ZZZZZZZs: How Sleep Affects Health and Aging" -- reviews
what researchers have learned about common sleep disorders, how
they affect a person's brain and body, and how people with these
sleep disorders can get a good night's sleep.
Sleeplessness in old age can be
caused by a number of factors, including physical changes associated
with aging, traumatic life experiences (like the death of a spouse),
decreased physical activity and limited exposure to sunlight.
"Sleeplessness sets up a vicious
cycle," the report notes. "Older people have problems
that disturb their sleep, which often affect their other body
systems, especially hormone production and metabolism -- causing
more problems that disturb sleep even more."
Loss of sleep can result in memory
problems, depression, greater risk of falls and even changes in
the nervous system that affect cardiovascular health.
Regular exercise and a healthy
lifestyle can help older adults get a good night's sleep. But,
the report notes that taking short naps of no more than 20 to
30 minutes during the day also may help a person sleep at night.
While medications may be useful
for short-term sleep problems, they don't seem effective in solving
long-term sleep disorders, the report says. Sleep disorders that
affect older adults include sleep apnea and insomnia.
Older adults who experience a long
period of sleeplessness should contact their doctor, the report
urges.
A copy of the report can be downloaded
from the
International Longevity Center Web site.
More information
Here's where you can learn more
about sleep
and aging.
Reference
Source 101
For more information on how to prevent other diseases, use
PreventDisease.com's "Quick
Prevention Resources".
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