confronting aging, a world in transition
Menu

weekly blog--one for the ages

Sleep No More

6/2/2016

0 Comments

 

As I get older, the long-night of sleep I most cherished has given way to occasional bouts of insomnia and middle-of-the-night awakenings. I’m not alone in this phenomenon, and there are many proposed reasons why this happens, running the gamut from psychological distress to medications to the changing physiology of the body.
 
One study suggests there is a specific cluster of neurons associated with regulating sleep patterns, called the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus, which may slowly die off as you get older. Another researcher suggests that historically, our distant ancestors had two bouts of sleep per night with a wakeful period in between.
 
So, if interruptions in sleep are to be expected, what's the best strategy for getting enough of it after you shoo away the birds that start chirping outside your bedroom window at 4:30 in the morning?

You will find many remedies, but probably the most important is to get a good handle on the number of hours of sleep you need, set a pattern and stick with it. Most people require seven or eight hours of sleep per night.
​
For those who get less, studies show they are more susceptible to the common cold, skin aging (wrinkles) and weight gain. They are also more likely to be have depressed mood, attention and memory problems, excessive daytime sleepiness, more nighttime falls, use more over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids, and have an overall poorer quality of life. Add to the mix, recent studies suggest that the chemicals used in some sleeping aids can make you more prone to dementia.

Learn more:
http://www.confrontingaging.com/health-challenges.html
https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/aging-and-sleep
http://nihseniorhealth.gov/sleepandaging/aboutsleep/01.html
​http://www.nextavenue.org/3-surprising-things-raise-dementia-risk
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
    • Caring for Elderly Parent
    • Eating & Exercise
    • Emerging Technology & Concepts >
      • End of Life Options/Issues/Grieving >
        • VSED Primer
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Health Challenges
    • History of Aging >
      • Ancient Egypt, India, China
      • Before 1500
      • 1500s & 1600s
      • 1700s & 1800s
      • 1900s & 2000s
      • Early New England (1600s)
      • Quest To Look Young
      • Books
    • Housing Options & Aging in Place Guide
    • Insurance, Security, Fraud
    • Intergenerational Programs
    • LGBT
    • News & Trends
    • Positive/Successful Aging
    • Retirement/Estate Planning
    • Science of Aging
    • Support Resources
    • Travel
    • Weekly Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Home
    • Caring for Elderly Parent
    • Eating & Exercise
    • Emerging Technology & Concepts >
      • End of Life Options/Issues/Grieving >
        • VSED Primer
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Health Challenges
    • History of Aging >
      • Ancient Egypt, India, China
      • Before 1500
      • 1500s & 1600s
      • 1700s & 1800s
      • 1900s & 2000s
      • Early New England (1600s)
      • Quest To Look Young
      • Books
    • Housing Options & Aging in Place Guide
    • Insurance, Security, Fraud
    • Intergenerational Programs
    • LGBT
    • News & Trends
    • Positive/Successful Aging
    • Retirement/Estate Planning
    • Science of Aging
    • Support Resources
    • Travel
    • Weekly Blog
  • About
  • Contact