Health

 Why does sleep become harder with age?

 

 

Tossing and turning more as you age? You're not alone—and experts think they know why.

Changes in stress, sleep structure, and hormones can impact sleeping patterns in people aged.

"As we start to move into our 60s and 70s, you have more issues with the depth of your sleep, so your sleep is just lighter in general," Harris told CBS News. "There are sleep disorders, like insomnia, that happen, and then you have to go to the bathroom more at night."

Seventy percent of the nearly 65% of the people have chronic sleep problems, according to some studies—the changing hormones that come with age play a major role in this, more so in the case of women.

"We have more hot flashes and night sweats. You actually have more sleep apnea in women as well, and just more insomnia too," Harris said.

Harris also added that there might be some evolutionary reasoning for the lesser amount of basal sleep in older adults.

"Deep sleep is where your muscles are repairing, where you're growing, and as you're getting older, that doesn't demand that ideally as much as when you're younger," said Harris and added, "with younger kids getting a lot of deep sleep."

"(Older adults) just wake up a lot more because of pain and movement and having to urinate," she added.

In addition, H. H. told CBS News that not having much sleep as an older adult is only a myth.

"If a doctor tells you that it is normal to get a lot less as you get older, definitely seek some other advice," Harris said.

To a cool, dark, and quiet sleep environment, she also added these tips:

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Meditate during the day. "If you have a busy brain, meditating five minutes during the day can help to actually ease your brain more at night," Harris said.

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Limit daytime sleep. You can also spend some time in reduced bed space during the day to improve the quality of your night sleep, according to Harris. That also means restricting naps.

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Stick to a regular bedtime.

If sleep issues last more than a few weeks, it's important to talk with a doctor, Harris urged.

"There are many treatments like cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia; you might need a sleep study or medication," she explained. "We have lots of options