Insomnia in the Elderly: Cause, Approach, and Treatment

1. Insomnia in the Elderly: Cause, Approach, and Treatment Many older people don't get as much sleep as they need because they have trouble sleeping. It could be because of things like: ● Medications ● Issues of health ● Underlying sleep disorders If you have sleep insomnia, you may be more likely to have serious health problems like: ● Obesity ● Cardiovascular disease ● Diabetes Even though sleep patterns change as people get older, waking up tired and having a stormy night's sleep are not standard parts of getting older. People over 65 may: ● Have a hard time going to sleep ● Sleep fewer hours ● Often wake up in the middle of the night or early in the morning ● Get less quality sleep It can make you more likely to trip and fall and tire you during the day. So, if you have sleep disorders, you must take insomnia treatments from experts. Common Causes of Restlessness in the Elderly Most of the time, older people have trouble sleeping. ● Obstructive sleep apnea or short pauses in breathing while sleeping happens when the upper airway gets blocked repeatedly. It affects somewhere between 20% and 60% of people over 65. ● Restless leg syndrome (RLS), the overwhelming need to move your legs while you sleep, can start at any age, but middle- aged and older adults are more likely to have it and have it for more extended periods. ● REM behavior disorder (RBD), when you act out your dreams while sleeping, can happen when the chemical in your brain that makes your muscles go limp during REM sleep doesn't work right. A study found that up to 7.7% of the 456 people over 60 who did not have Parkinson's disease were likely to have RBD.edicine. Managing your sleeping habits can improve your sleep.

2. Treatments for Sleep Problems For sudden or long-term insomnia in older people, it's best to start with non-drug insomnia treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It is because older people may already be on more than one drug. Therapy Cognitive behavioral therapy can last for at least six weeks and includes: ● Sleep Education ● Stimulus control ● Getting less time in bed Medications If you have deeper problems that make it hard for you to sleep, your doctor may give you medicine. Medication shouldn't be used instead of good sleep habits, but it may help in the short term. Melatonin is a hormone that your brain makes when it gets dark. It helps you fall asleep faster and keeps your sleep-wake cycle on track. Melatonin can't be made if you're exposed to light at night. Conclusion Sleep disturbances can cause depression in older persons. Cognitive behavioral therapy may help with sleep quality, especially sleep insomnia. It means sleep instruction, stimulation control, and bedtime limits. Changes can take months. If cognitive behavioral therapies don't work for your insomnia, you can choose the doctor of Revere Health that prescribes sleep medicine. Managing your sleeping habits can improve your sleep. Main Phone (801) 429-8000 Billing Department (801) 375-8858 Media Inquiries bob.freeze@reverehealth.com Hours Monday - Friday, 9 am to 5 pm Address 1055 N 500 W Building B, Provo, Utah 84604 Patient Services patientconcerns@reverehealth.com Please do not send medical questions to this email. If you have a medical question, contact your doctor’s office directly. Use the link below to find the phone number for any of our providers or clinic locations.