Path to better health
Older adults often see changes in their sleep-wake cycle. This can be caused by many different factors, including:
- The chemicals and hormones in your body. For example, as we age, our body produces less melatonin. This is the natural hormone that regulates the sleep cycle.
- Lifestyle habits. These include smoking and drinking alcohol or caffeine.
- Certain medications, including antidepressants, beta blockers, and cardiovascular drugs.
- Dealing with pain.
- Diabetes and prostate problems can contribute to sleep disorders and cause fatigue from waking up multiple times to urinate.
- Congestive heart failure or kidney disease. You may have trouble lying down and getting comfortable enough to fall asleep.
If you sleep in a recliner or wake up many times during the night, it’s important to talk to your doctor. He or she can make sure underlying health problems are not causing your sleep problems.
sleep apnea
A common sleep disorder is sleep apnea. It causes a person’s breathing to stop and start abnormally while sleeping. People who suffer from sleep apnea often snore loudly. You stop breathing for 10 to 30 seconds at a time. When you start breathing again, you gasp or snort, which can wake you up. This can happen hundreds of times in a single night. Every time you wake up, your sleep pattern is altered. It can be harmful if you stop breathing for too long. It can also cause high blood pressure and increase the risk of having a heart attack.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS)
RLS is a condition in which you feel pain or discomfort in your legs. It happens when you are sitting or lying down. You may feel that your legs are not still. RLS can make it difficult for you to sleep.
Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD)
PLMD is a condition where you kick your legs while you sleep. Most of the time you don’t know you’re kicking. If you have a partner in bed, they may tell you about it. PLMD can prevent good sleep and cause fatigue during the day. Some people may have RLS and PLMD.
