First, the bad news: Older people are likely to suffer both medical disorders that may disrupt sleep and specific sleep disorders. The medical disorders include:
* Cancer
* Dementia
* Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER)
* Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
All these medical problems can interrupt, delay and/or shorten sleep.
For example, arthritis patients may have difficulty falling asleep because of painful joints. Or they may be awakened by pain. A 1996 National Sleep Foundation (NSF) Gallup Poll found that 30 percent of all nighttime pain sufferers experience arthritis pain at night. The number rises to 60 percent for those over age 50. Nighttime pain sufferers in this age group who experience difficulty sleeping lost an average of 2.2 hours of sleep, 10.7 nights a month. If you suffer from arthritis, ask your doctor about treatment.
Other types of chronic or occasional pain can be sleep-stealers too. In the 1996 NSF Gallup Poll, back pain was cited by 64 percent of those who had nighttime pain in the past year. Headaches, muscular aches and pains, leg cramps and sinus pain were cited by 44 percent to 56 percent. Behavioral and pharmacological approaches may help.
Heart patients often suffer sleep difficulties as well. Most stable congestive heart failure patients suffer sleep-disordered breathing. Almost half in a recent study had apneic (loss of breath) attacks. (More on apnea later.) Apnea requires treatment as well.
When GER whose chief symptoms are heartburn and regurgitation occurs during sleep, nocturnal awakenings may follow. About five percent of Americans suffer from heartburn nearly every day. Daytime GER is normal after eating. Nighttime GER can be problematical and marked by wheezing and chronic cough. Repeated awakenings and daytime sleepiness may ensue. Raising the head of the bed may alleviate symptoms. Or drug treatment may be indicated.
Other medical conditions affect sleep too: asthma, chronic interstitial lung disease, neuromuscular disease, etc. Individuals with asthma may experience frequent awakenings due to bronchospasm. One study found such awakenings weekly in 74 percent of asthmatic patients. Learn more about asthma.
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