Some of this information was copy/pasted from an article
by Jennifer Dixon, WebMD Magazine. Some of it was written by Dr. White from an
article in the Wall Street Journal. The links are below:
When it comes to myths about sleep, this one refuses to nod off -- and stay asleep.
Contrary to popular opinion, older people don't need less sleep than the average person. In fact,
adults require about the same amount of sleep from their 20s into old age, although
the number of hours per night varies from person to person. According to a study on sleep deprivation at
the University of Pennsylvania, older adults require 7-10 hours of sleep every
night. But many older adults get much
less sleep than they need, for a variety of reasons.
Take Harry Gaertner, a 68-year-old retiree from
Richardson, Texas. He remembers first being extremely tired and having
difficulty sleeping six years ago. "I had to have 10 hours of sleep and an
hour nap every day," he recalls. Gaertner's wife also noticed he was snoring heavily. A trip to the doctor
resulted in a sleep apnea diagnosis and a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure)
machine. But Gaertner says, "the machine didn't work, so that meant
something else was wrong."
A trip to the ER revealed what that something else was:
Gaertner needed a pacemaker to correct his heart
rhythm. He now has a guaranteed pulse of 60 beats per minute, which helps
him sleep and breathe easier. But Gaertner's heart issues were only partially
to blame for his restless nights. He still suffered from sleep apnea, so he resumed use of the CPAP machine and now dozes more comfortably
than he has in years.
According to a recent study conducted by the University
of Pennsylvania, 100 participants were subjected to sleep loss. Findings showed that people who are sleep
deprived:
· Ate
500 more calories daily
· Had
slow reaction times
· Had
poor attention
· Were
in a bad mood
· Had
negative facial expressions
· Had
low energy
· Had
brain fog and forgetting
· They
were uncoordinated and often fell.
Many older sleepers have sleep deprivation that is just as
debilitating, if not as complex, as Gaertner's. "Insomnia is more common for seniors, partly
because of health issues, partly because of the anxiety
and the concerns of aging, and sometimes because of medication,"
says Jack Gardner, MD, a neurologist certified in sleep medicine at the Sleep
Center at Baylor Medical Center in Waxahachie, Texas. Gardner adds that the likelihood
of sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome also increases with
age. Frequent urination and the pain from arthritis
are more common, too, and rob sleep from seniors.
Another reason for senior snooze troubles lies in a big
difference between younger and older sleepers: the timing of rest. As adults
age, advanced sleep phase syndrome sets in, causing the body's internal clock
to adjust to earlier bed and wakeup times. But some seniors continue to stay up
late, as they did in their younger years. Sleep deprivation is often the
result.
Why do older adults not get enough sleep? They are getting up at night to use the
toilet, effects of medications often wake them, they may have restless leg
syndrome, they nap, and many have painful chronic conditions such as
arthritis.
Bottom line: It's important to find the root cause of
sleepless nights, especially if, as in Gaertner's case, sleep issues are
masking deeper medical problems. "See your doctor if you're not getting
restful sleep at night and are unable to wake up refreshed," Gardner says.
"Healthy sleep is something one should expect at all ages."
