Health Tip: Why Some Seniors Can't Sleep
Fewer 'sleep hormones' produced as we age
2012-07-28
Older adults still need seven or eight hours of sleep each night to feel rested and refreshed in the morning. But getting that much sleep poses a challenge for many elderly people.
The American Academy of Family Physicians mentions these common causes of sleep problems among seniors:
■Age-associated changes in the sleep-wake cycle.
■Age-associated reduction in the body's production of "sleep hormones," such as melatonin.
■Smoking and increased consumption of alcohol or caffeine.
■Pain or illness.
■Taking certain medications.
■Disorders such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome.
Source: National Health Information Center
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