The cause of insomnia (insomnia) in the elderly

When you were young, it only took you a few minutes from getting into bed until you fell asleep. However, over time people who are elderly (elderly) complain about insomnia problems. Even though when you enter old age, your energy level has decreased and you also have to get enough rest to keep your body in shape.

Then, what causes insomnia in the elderly? Can this be prevented and overcome? Continue to listen to the explanation below to find out the answer!

Is it normal for the elderly to have trouble sleeping?

The aging process is a natural thing for the elderly. Common signs of aging include fine lines on the face, gray hair, and decreased visual and hearing acuity.

It turns out that apart from these things, one of the symptoms of aging is a change in sleep patterns. You may be so sleepy earlier in the day that you wake up at dawn or early in the morning. However, you may also experience insomnia or insomnia.

According to experts, insomnia is one of the normal and common symptoms of aging. Elderly people, to be precise over 65 years, usually report difficulty sleeping soundly, suddenly waking up in the middle of the night, or being able to sleep only for a few hours a night.

As long as this problem is not too severe and does not interfere with your daily activities, you don't need to worry. However, if your insomnia is serious enough, contact your doctor immediately. Maybe there are causes of insomnia that need to be aware of, for example, certain chronic diseases.

The cause of insomnia in the elderly

According to a study in the journal Neuron, as you age, the duration of your deep sleep decreases. This aging process has even started since you were in your 20s. For example, in your 20s, you could sleep for seven hours. When you enter middle age, you often wake up in the middle of the night until several times and find it difficult to sleep again. Keep going until you reach old age. You may only be able to sleep well for a few hours.

In a study from the University of California, Berkeley, experts found that the cause of insomnia in the elderly is a decrease in brain function. In order to sleep soundly, humans will receive signals of fatigue and sleepiness sent by various chemicals in the brain. However, in the elderly, the performance of brain neurons begins to weaken so that signals of fatigue and sleepiness are not well received.

Tips for sleeping better for the elderly

So that you can sleep better, you should set a regular bedtime every day. That way, the body will gradually be trained to sleep at the right hour. In addition, avoid consuming caffeinated drinks such as coffee and soft drinks about six hours before bedtime.

So that you can fall asleep quickly, try to turn off handphone, television, and other electronics when you're in bed. Then, try to relax with a breathing technique like the one in this link. This breathing technique can also be used to sleep again if you wake up in the middle of the night.