Introduction
There is a significant gap in the quality of sleep you get when you are young and when you are in your middle years. People over the age of 65 who report having at least one sleep disorder account for over half of the total population.
On the other hand, in most cases, elderly adults are more likely to have their sleep interrupted than younger ones. Find out if there is a correlation between your age and how well you sleep by reading this article.
Does Age Affect Sleep?
A recent study has shown that there is a correlation between age and sleep. The study found that the older a person is, the less likely they are to get a good night’s sleep.
There are a number of factors that can contribute to this, including age-related changes in the body, such as a decrease in the production of the hormone melatonin.
Finally, it is important to create a sleep environment that is dark, quiet, and cool, as this can help the body to fall asleep and stay asleep.
How Does Age Affect Sleep?
Age can affect sleep in a number of ways. As we get older, we may find it more difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep through the night. We may also find that we need less sleep than we did when we were younger.
According to research estimates, over 25% of persons over the age of 65 take naps, whereas only about 8% of adults under the age of 65 do so. (Source: Pubmed)
Although there are some professionals who believe that taking a little nap during the day could be beneficial, most agree that napping for a longer period of time or later in the day can make it more difficult to fall asleep at nightfall and can cause overnight sleep problems.
As we get older, sleep problems can become more common. We may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. We may wake up feeling tired. Or we may have daytime sleepiness.
Ages And Sleep: The Link Between?
There’s no denying that as we age, our sleep patterns change. But what’s the link between aging and sleep?
As we age, our bodies produce less of the hormones that regulate sleep, which can lead to changes in our sleep patterns. For example, older adults tend to have a harder time falling asleep and staying asleep for long periods of time. They may also wake up more often during the night.
There are a number of other factors that can contribute to sleep changes as we age, including medications, health conditions, and lifestyle choices.
But the bottom line is that aging is a natural process that can affect our sleep. If you’re experiencing changes in your sleep, talk to your doctor to see if there’s anything you can do to help.
Main Reasons Why Age Effect Sleep
Control The Sleep Time
Age can play a role in how much sleep a person needs. For example, newborn baby needs to sleep a lot because their bodies are growing and they need to rest.
As people get older, they usually need less sleep. But, everyone is different and some people may need more or less sleep than others, no matter their age.
For example, newborns sleep about 16 to 18 hours a day, while school-aged children need at least 10 hours of sleep. Adults usually need seven to eight hours of sleep a day. However, some older adults may need only five to six hours of sleep a day.
Affect The Quality Of Sleep
There are many factors that can affect the quality of sleep a person gets, and age is one of them. As we get older, our sleep patterns change and we may have more trouble falling asleep and staying asleep.
Age can affect the quality of sleep a person gets. As we get older, we may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. We may also wake up more often during the night.
Influence Falls Asleep
There are many factors that can influence how easily a person falls asleep, and age is one of them. As we get older, our bodies become less efficient at producing the hormones that help us to fall asleep, which can make it more difficult to drift off at night.
Additionally, age-related changes to our sleep patterns, such as waking up more frequently during the night, can also make it harder to get a good night’s rest.
If you’re finding it difficult to fall asleep, there are a few things you can do to help yourself drift off, such as reading a book or taking a warm bath before bed.
Determine Stay Asleep
Age may not always be the best determining factor of how long a person can stay asleep. There are many other things that can play a role in how long someone can sleep, including their sleep habits, health, and any medications they may be taking.
Impact On Rested
Age can have an impact on how rested a person feels after sleep. As a person gets older, they may need less sleep, but the quality of their sleep may not be as good. This can make it harder for them to feel rested after sleep.
As we age, we may not sleep as deeply as we did when we were younger and may not feel as rested when we wake up.
Factor Experiences Sleep Problems
Sleep problems are more common in adults than in children. However, children can still have sleep problems. Age can be a factor in how often a person experiences sleep problems. For example, older adults are more likely to have sleep problems than younger adults.
Factor Experience Jet Lag
Age can be a factor in how likely a person is to experience jet lag. This is because as we get older, our bodies have a harder time adjusting to new time zones.
So, if you’re an older person and you’re traveling to a new time zone, you may want to plan for some extra time to rest and recover from jet lag.
Age can be a factor in how likely a person is to experience jet lag for a few reasons.
- First, as we age, our bodies become less able to regulate our internal clocks. This means that it can take longer for our bodies to adjust to time changes.
- Second, older adults tend to sleep less deeply than younger adults, which can make it harder to adjust to new sleep patterns.
- Finally, age-related changes in our circadian rhythms (the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle) can make it more difficult to adjust to time changes.
What Are Common Sleep Disorders In Older Adults?
There are a number of different sleep disorders that can affect older adults. Here are five of the most common ones:
- Insomnia: This is a condition characterized by difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Older adults may find that they wake up frequently during the night or that they cannot get back to sleep once they wake up.
- Sleep Apnea: This is a condition in which a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. It can cause loud snoring and fatigue during the day.
- Restless Leg Syndrome: This is a condition in which a person has an irresistible urge to move their legs. It can cause discomfort and make it difficult to fall asleep.
- Narcolepsy: This is a condition characterized by sudden and irresistible bouts of sleep. It can be very disruptive and make it difficult to function during the day.
- Parasomnias: This is a general term for a number of different sleep disorders that can cause abnormal behaviors during sleep. Examples include sleepwalking, sleep talking, and night terrors.
5 Ways To Improve Our Sleep As We Age
1. Get A Good Mattress
A mattress is something you sleep on top of. It’s important to have a good one so you can be comfortable and get a good night’s sleep. It should be comfortable and support your body properly.
2. RegularSleep Schedule
One of the best things you can do for your health is to follow a regular sleep schedule. This means going to bed and waking up at the same time each day. This can help improve your sleep quality and overall health.
3. Keep A Cool Bedroom
To get a good night’s sleep, you need to keep your bedroom cool and comfortable. The ideal temperature for sleep is between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit. If your bedroom is too hot or too cold, it can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.
4. Limit Exposure To Light
It’s important to limit your exposure to light in the evening because it can make it harder to fall asleep. When it’s dark outside, your body produces a hormone called melatonin that makes you feel sleepy.
But when you’re exposed to light, it can interfere with this process and make it harder to fall asleep. So try to avoid bright screens and lights in the evening and give yourself a chance to wind down before bed. This will help you to sleep better at night.
6. Get Regular Exercise
It’s no secret that regular exercise is good for age sleep. But did you know that it can also improve your mental health as well as change sleep better? Exercise has been shown to help people with anxiety and depression by reducing stress and improving mood.
Conclusion
We’ve all met those people who claim they can function quite well on only five or six hours of sleep every night, but the likelihood is that they’re exaggerating (or just forcing themselves along, fueled by coffee).
If you want to learn more about how to improve the quality of your sleep as you become older, please read the article that follows; we hope it will be beneficial to you.
