Insomnia is simply the inability to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. Categorically it is not a disease but a disorder. For some people it is an occasional problem, usually associated with anxiety or stress. However some people, especially seniors, do experience chronic insomnia. If a person is unable to get a good night’s sleep on a regular basis it can be a very annoying problem, eventually affecting one’s overall health. As a general rule most seniors need 6.5 to 7.5 hours of sleep each night.
According to the International Longevity Center, one-third of senior citizens suffer from insomnia. There are two types of insomnia, Transient Insomnia and Chronic Insomnia. Transient insomnia generally is associated with a stressful event such as death in the family, divorce, loss of employment, or illness. Normally this condition resolves itself in a matter of days or weeks. Chronic insomnia doesn’t resolve itself in the short term but lingers on for months or years. There is usually an underlying cause to the disorder such as: depression, alcohol or drug abuse, breathing problems, lack of exercise, too much physical discomfort or pain, caffeine intake, underlying illness, or poor sleeping environment. Chronic insomnia should be diagnosed and treated.
If someone goes long periods of time without sufficient sleep they cannot function properly during the day. Their overall physical and mental health will eventually suffer. Seniors need the recuperative powers of sleep to fend off illness.
It is important to keep in mind that chronic insomnia is most often symptomatic of a more serious disorder or disease. Getting a good night’s sleep contributes to a senior adult’s overall physical and mental health and well-being. Being active throughout the day, eating properly and exercising can go a long way in helping to insure that sleep will come easily at night.
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If someone goes long periods of time without sufficient sleep they cannot function properly during the day. Their overall physical and mental health will eventually suffer. Seniors need the recuperative powers of sleep to tend off illness.