As we continue to blog about insomnia, today we will discuss how age affects our sleep. According to SleepHelp.org, as we age, the patterns of our sleep are prone to change. Some of this can be a natural result of modifications to our Circadian Rhythm. For example, there is a tendency for older people to have a greater percentage of fast-wave sleep compared to younger people. In addition, other health conditions can interfere with consistent sleep and normal progression through sleep cycles. These conditions can range from frequent urination to anxiety to sleep apnea to arthritic pain to cardiovascular or pulmonary problems.
Unfortunately, a wide range of health issues that are more common in older people can disturb sleep, limiting time in deep sleep and REM sleep. In addition, our bodies produce less HGH as we age (Human growth hormone is a naturally occurring hormone produced by the pituitary gland. It’s important for growth, cell regeneration, and cell reproduction. HGH helps to maintain, build, and repair healthy tissue in the brain and other organs). So even when in deep sleep, elderly people do not get as much restorative effect from this hormone.
Check back for more about sleep and how to make improvements. Please contact me if you would like to discuss your sleep concerns:
Call/Text: 484-876-1842
Email: lipcounseling.com
