Solutions For Sleep Disorders

Sleep Disorders in Adults

Sleep is critical for your daily life and your physical and mental health. Sleep disorders are quite common in older adults. As they get older, their sleep patterns and habits change. The following sleep disorders are often observed in older adults:

-Having trouble falling asleep

-Sleepless

-Waking up often at night or early in the morning

– Less quality sleep

This can lead to health problems such as an increased risk of falls and daytime fatigue. Many older people report problems with maintaining a good night’s sleep rather than falling asleep.

What causes sleep disorders in older adults?

Primary sleep disorders: A primary sleep disorder means no other medical or psychiatric cause. Primary sleep disorders may include the following: insomnia or trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or restless sleep, sleep apnea, or brief interruptions of breathing during sleep, the overwhelming need to move the legs during sleep, restless leg syndrome, or periodic limb movement disorder, involuntary movement of the limbs during sleep, circadian rhythm sleep disorders, impaired sleep-wake cycle, REM Behavior Disorder, or a live demonstration of Dreams during sleep…

Medical conditions: A study has reported that those who have difficulty sleeping are more likely to have certain disorders and be less physically active. These disorders include chronic pain such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, arthritis pain, cardiovascular disease, neurological conditions, gastrointestinal conditions, lung or respiratory conditions, poor bladder control.

Some substances. Caffeine, alcohol, and smoking can also cause sleep problems.

How are sleep disorders diagnosed?

To make a diagnosis, your doctor will ask about your symptoms and do a physical examination. This is a search for the underlying conditions. Your doctor may also ask you to fill out a sleep diary for one to two weeks to learn more about your sleep patterns. If your doctor suspects a primary sleep disorder, he will send you for a polysomnogram or a sleep study. The asleep study is usually done at night in a sleep laboratory. You should be able to sleep the way you normally do at home. A technician will place sensors to monitor your body movement, breathing, snoring or other sounds, heart rate, brain activity during sleep. The technician will monitor you from a video camera in the room. During your sleep, the devices will constantly record your information in a graph, and your doctor will use it to diagnose whether you have a sleep disorder or not.

You can develop good sleep habits by doing the following:

-Going to bed at the same time every day and waking up at the same time

– Using the bed only for sleep and sex, not for other activities such as work

-Doing quiet activities such as reading before going to bed

– Avoiding bright lights before going to bed

– Keep a soothing and cozy bedroom environment

-Avoiding sweets during the day

– if you have difficulty falling asleep in 20 minutes, you can try to get up and do something before going to bed. Forcing sleep can make it difficult to fall asleep.

A study on managing sleep disorders in older adults also recommends:

-Limitation of fluid before bedtime

-Avoiding caffeine and alcohol

Eating three to four hours before bedtime.

-Exercise regularly, but not immediately before bedtime

-Take a warm bath to relax

In older adults, ongoing sleep disorders can lead to greater concerns, such as depression and the risk of falling. Behavioral therapies may be more useful if sleep quality is the main issue. This is to develop good sleep habits through sleep training, stimulus control, and restrictions on time spent in bed. Changes can last up to six weeks or more.