Sleep

Getting a Good Night's Sleep

An article by Vicki Tedeschi, as seen in the Chicago Tribune, surveys sleep experts, notably the ILC-USA's Senior Associate Harrison Bloom, about the role sleep plays in healthy aging.

Bloom is quoted throughout the article, stressing that — for older adults especially — getting a good night's sleep is no small matter. Bloom tells Tedeschi that older adults with sleep problems are more likely to:

• be depressed
• suffer attention and memory problems
• experience daytime sleepiness
• be at a greater risk of falls

Bloom says that, contrary to popular belief, older adults need at least as much sleep as younger people. Also cited in the article is the ILC-USA's "Sleep & Healthy Aging" report, which finds that as we get older, there is a reduction in the amount of time spent in slow-wave or REM sleep — the most restorative stage of a good night's rest.

Medical Problems & Medications: Hidden Culprits

Other issues that may prove troublesome for older adults include an increase in medical problems which may interfere with sleep quality, or which may necessitate medications which can also disrupt healthy sleeping patterns.

Dr. Clifford Massie of the Chicago Sleep Group points out that what we do during the day is very important. For example, new retirees should try and find activities to keep them occupied during the day, so they are less inclined to naps, which can ruin a good night's sleep.

Both physicians recommend seeing a doctor if falling asleep is a consistent problem. There are several tactics, as well as treatments, available to help.

Related Links: Getting a Full Night's Sleep, The Role of Sleep in Healthy Aging, Sleep & Healthy Aging Project

Keywords: sleep

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