Do not use smartphones or watch movies before bed
Sleep disorder is considered one of the severe and widespread problems that the elderly suffer from, which affects their entire lives and exacerbates their daily suffering. It also causes many subsequent diseases if they continue for long periods without being corrected, as regular and good sleep is considered an important factor in In order to maintain human health.
A report published by the specialized medical website Happiest Health, and viewed by Al Arabiya.net, said that sleep problems in the elderly constitute a source of great concern, as geriatricians say.
According to what the report quotes from health experts, “Older people have to deal with a disturbed sleep pattern due to a decrease in deep sleep in the non-rapid eye movement (NREM) stage caused by brain inactivity, as NREM decreases by 2% every decade.” .
“This is a normal physiological phenomenon, there is nothing to worry about,” says Dr. Manjunath S, Consultant Interventional Pulmonologist, BGS Global Hospitals. He adds that melatonin deficiency occurs as we age as levels of this hormone decrease.
But external factors can also cause disruption in the sleep routine, as Dr. Lenny Da Costa, a consultant geriatrician and preventive cardiologist in Mumbai, points out some of the reasons that lead to disruption of the circadian rhythm, explaining: “As people get older, people sleep more poorly.” "Light, which makes them sensitive to the environment." “If they are exposed to noise while sleeping, they will immediately feel disturbed, which will make them wake up and have difficulty falling asleep again,” he says.
Insomnia in the elderly is caused by a wide range of medical conditions, with Dr. Manjunath highlighting insomnia as the predominant causative factor.
“Insomnia causes them to either stay up all night or sleep excessively during the day,” he explains. He adds: "It spoils their mood, making them feel exhausted and lethargic."
Doctors also point out that sleep apnea due to airway obstruction can also lead to suffocation or coughing and thus interrupted sleep.
“Obstructive sleep apnea is a result of obesity, due to which muscle laxity around the neck is lost, causing spasms or reduced airway during sleep,” says Dr DS Sojanya, senior pulmonologist at Kamenini Hospitals, Hyderabad, Pakistan. “Central sleep apnea itself prevents the brain from sending signals to control breathing, leading to heart failure in some cases.”
Doctors also point out that intestinal health problems also lead to sleep disturbances at night, as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can cause discomfort during sleep. “Laxity of the lower esophagus will cause acid reflux, leading to heartburn,” explains Dr. Manjunath.
Doctors also point out that urinary incontinence in women and prostate enlargement in men are among the causes that disturb sleep in the elderly, as they can be a cause of insomnia because they cause them to wake up from their sleep to urinate.
The Happiest Health medical website report says that using smartphones and watching shows or movies on the screen before bed also affects sleep in the elderly.
According to Dr. Da Costa, a person should stay away from any form of device use for at least one and a half hours before bedtime. He adds: "Using devices at night does not allow you to sleep because they disturb the pineal gland, and this further affects the production of melatonin and affects the regulation of the circadian rhythm."
Dr. Costa confirms that exercising routinely can boost endorphin levels in the body, which provides a person with deep sleep.