Sleep
A Third Age Health & Wellness feature
by our Health Editor

Contrary to popular belief, people in their Third Age need just as much Sleep as do younger people. On average, 8 hours a night.

Unlike younger people however, we in our Third Age are presented with more obstacles to sleeping well as we get older.

We spend less time in the deepest stages of sleep. Our body clocks (circadian rhythms) shift so that we become tired earlier in the evening and wake up earlier in the morning. Women are likely to suffer from sleep difficulties as a result of the menopause, men from bladder problems. So what does it all mean and what can we do about it?

Insomnia
As we age, we take longer to fall asleep and are woken more easily than when we are younger. Some 50% of older people are believed to suffer from Insomnia or have difficulty in sleeping.

Sleep Apnoea
Sleep Apnoea is a disorder in which a partial collapse of the upper airway causes sufferers to stop breathing for brief periods (10 – 30 seconds) during their sleep. Typified by loud snoring and gasping for breath while sleeping, Sleep Apnoea sufferers wake a little every time this happens and so enjoy a less restful sleep.

Menopause
Menopause-induced hot flushes are one of the major causes of sleep interruption in older women. These ‘night sweats’ cause the body to overheat and the sufferer to wake up. In the worst cases these can be so severe that the sufferer has to change their night clothes and bedding causing an even greater interruption to their sleep.

Bladder Problems
Men in particular are more likely to suffer from Bladder Problems as they get older. The frequent need to go to the bathroom to pass water during the night interrupts an individual’s natural sleeping pattern.

Restless Legs Syndrome
Restless Legs Syndrome or RLS is a condition than can occur at any age, but worsens as we get older. Sufferers feel an uncomfortable sensation in their legs when sitting or lying down, and only by waking up and moving their legs can the uncomfortable sensation be relieved. This condition can also make it more difficult for sufferers to get to sleep in the first place.

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
Some 40% of older people are said to suffer from Period Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD), a condition in which sufferers kick their legs uncontrollably at regular intervals during sleep.

So what can we in our Third Age do about our Sleep Problems?
The excellent book Insomnia and Other Adult Sleep Problems (The Facts) by Gregory Stores, explains: “Many adults suffer from disturbed sleep. There are many possible causes for sleep problems, some psychological, others physical, and these can lead to unneccessary problems with health and well-being.”

Comprehensive but easily understood, this book will help you to identify and explain problems leading to appropriate advice or treatment as necessary. It provides explanation of the possible causes, significance, and treatment of insomnia, excessive sleepiness and disturbed behaviour at night. Throughout the book, advice is provided to help adults to sleep effectively with extra coverage included for those at particular risk of sleep problems. Case studies are included to illustrate how adults with various sleep disorders have been correctly diagnosed and treated, and ‘Myths vs. Facts’ boxes help sort the valuable information from the misleading.

Insomnia and Other Adult Sleep Problems: The Facts will be an invaluable resource for anyone with a sleep problem.

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