Getting A Good Night’s Sleep

As we grow older we usually have trouble sleeping because our sleeping patterns naturally change all through the years. As we grow older, we are subjected to numerous sleeping problems which leave us tired and grumpy the following day.

An article from http://www.ageuk.org.uk has featured some facts about insomnia.

• Symptoms of insomnia include difficulty falling asleep, waking up in the night, waking up early in the morning feeling tired, irritable and having trouble concentrating during the day.

• Insomnia is more common in women than men, and also tends to increase with age.

• Insomnia can also be triggered by a stressful event, health problems and medication, including beta-blockers and HRT.

• Lack of sleep is associated with poor performance at work and it can affect your mood, causing problems within your relationships.

• Poor sleep can also affect your appetite, making you more likely to crave unhealthy foods and gain weight.

• Studies show that people with insomnia are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression, heart failure and diabetes.

• Sleep deprivation can also lead to accidents and injuries and can also affect memory, because sleep cycles give your brain a chance to consolidate memories

• You can get rid of insomnia by cultivating good sleeping habits such as going to bed and getting up at the same time every day establishing a bedtime routine, making sure that your bed and bedding are comfortable, avoiding caffeine, nicotine and alcohol in the evening, not eating a heavy meal late at night, avoiding exercise in the evening, cutting out daytime naps, keeping your bedroom cool and dark and banning tv and computers from the bedroom.

• If you tend to wake up in the night and struggle to get back to sleep, get up and go into another room after 15-20 minutes.

• Avoid doing anything too involved, such as work or housework, and resist the temptation to turn on the television. Instead, try reading, listening to the radio or having a warm bath.

• Melatonin is a naturally-occurring hormone that helps to regulate the sleep cycle, also known as the circadian rhythm. It has been shown to be effective at relieving some types of insomnia symptoms for up to 26 weeks in older people and can be taken for up to three weeks.

Read more here:

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/health-wellbeing/conditions-illnesses/getting-a-good-nights-sleep/

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