True or False?
- Sleep problems are inevitable as we get older.
- There are different kinds of sleep.
- Sleeping pills are the best treatment for sleep problems.
- Older adults need just as much sleep as younger adults.
- A cup of hot cocoa can help you get to sleep.
- Exercise is one of the best ways to fight insomnia.
- The worst thing about snoring is that it keeps your sleep partner awake.
- Weight loss can improve sleep.
- Warm milk or a bedtime snack can help you sleep.
- Sleep is still a mysterious subject for medical science.
Answers to "Myths and Facts About Seniors and Sleep":
1. Sleep problems are inevitable as we get older.
False. Age-related changes contribute to the inability to get a good nights' sleep, but much can be done to help improve seniors' sleep quality. Speak to your doctor if sleep is a concern for you or a senior loved one.
2. There are different kinds of sleep.
True. During the night, the brain goes through several stages of sleep, in cycles. Sleep cycle disorders may mean that even if you are getting as many hours of sleep as you need, you still will not feel rested.
3. Sleeping pills are the best treatment for sleep problems.
False. Sleep medications can be helpful, and better drugs are being developed all the time. But medication can actually interfere with normal sleep, so sleeping pills should normally be used only short-term, and should not be considered a solution to sleeplessness.
4. Older adults need just as much sleep as do younger adults.
True…and False. While insomnia and other sleep disorders are more common in seniors, most seniors nonetheless need as many hours of sleep as they did when they were younger. Illness, pain, more frequent urination and certain medications can all lead to sleeplessness. On the other hand, as reported in the May 2009 issue of Choices, it appears that some of us actually do need less sleep as we grow older.
5. A cup of hot cocoa can help you get to sleep.
False. Though you probably know not to drink coffee or caffeinated colas near bedtime, don't forget that chocolate contains caffeine also.
6. Exercise is one of the best ways to fight insomnia.
True. Exercise during the day is good for sleep at night. However, avoid working out near bedtime, which can have the opposite effect. The best time to exercise is in the afternoon.
7. The worst thing about snoring is that it keeps your sleep partner awake.
False. While snoring can be hazardous to your marriage, it can also be a sign of a serious disorder called sleep apnea, a condition in which a person repeatedly stops breathing for 10 to 30 seconds at a time. This decreases oxygen to the body, and can cause repeated waking.
8. Weight loss can improve sleep.
True. Obesity makes it more likely that a person will have sleep apnea. And did you know that it works the other way around, as well? Lack of sleep can actually increase the likelihood of obesity.
9. Warm milk or a bedtime snack can help you sleep.
True…but only a light snack. A heavy meal late in the evening can keep you awake for hours.
10. Sleep is still a mysterious subject for medical science.
True...and False. Though there are many aspects of sleep that we don't yet understand, recent research has uncovered much information about sleep—the activity that consumes up to a third of most of our lives.
For More Information
The Canadian Sleep Society offers free online brochures, including "Sleep and Aging."
At Retire-At-Home Services Vancouver, our Home Care Specialists are dedicated to providing comprehensive Nurse managed and personalized health care services while upholding the highest standard of excellence - improving clients’ quality of life by respecting each person’s dignity and independence.
