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For
many people, having sound and refreshing sleep at night is a mirage.
They may go to bed and drift to sleep almost immediately, but they soon
wake up a few hours later. And they may remain awake for the rest of the
night, especially at a time when a ‘normal’ person should be enjoying a
deep sleep.
For some people, no matter how tired
they are, sleep still eludes them, and they may need all the tricks in
the book — including taking sleep-inducing drugs — to be able to sleep.
Yet, it goes without saying that being able to sleep well is essential
to physical health and emotional well-being
Experts say insomnia is a common problem that takes a toll on the energy, mood, health, and ability to function during the day.
Physicians say chronic insomnia can even
contribute to serious health problems; while simple changes to
lifestyle and daily habits can put a stop to sleepless nights.
Researchers, Prof. Lawrence Robinson of
Cornell University; and Dr. Robert Segal, warn that as we age, we often
experience normal changes in our sleeping patterns. “We may become
sleepy earlier, wake up earlier, or enjoy less deep sleep,” they advise.
And although these changes are a normal
part of ageing, disturbed sleep, waking up tired every day, and other
symptoms of insomnia are not a normal part of ageing, the scientists
argue.
They are of the view that sleep is just
as important to our physical and emotional health over the age of 50 as
it was when we were younger.
Indeed, a recent study by the National
Institutes of Health suggests that healthy older people may require
about one and a half hours less sleep than younger adults, or an average
of seven and a half hours per night. The study indicates that older
adults sleep less even when given the opportunity for more sleep because
of age-related changes in the ability to fall asleep or remain asleep.
Causes of insomnia
General Practitioner, Dr. Maureen Keke,
says many reasons are responsible for insomnia. She warns that if you
are under a lot of stress, and if you are depressed or anxious, sleep
may elude you.
Again, she notes, those who have
recently gone through certain traumatic experience and those on some
medications that change sleeping patterns may find it difficult sleeping
when their body demands rest.
While some health problems may also
snatch away your sleep, Keke says the crowded and noisy environment that
many people live in is a contributory factor to sleeplessness.
Troubling statistics
An online portal,
better-sleep-better-life.com, relates that people today sleep 20 per
cent less than they did 100 years ago; and that one in three people
suffer from some form of insomnia during their lifetime.
Again, it notes, between 40 and 60 per
cent of people over the age of 60 suffer from sleep deprivation; while
women are up to twice as likely to suffer from insomnia as men. “This
has to do with women’s hormones,” experts say; as sleepless nights and
daytime sleepiness have been linked with hormonal changes in a woman’s
life, including pregnancy, menopause, and the menstrual cycle.
Worse still, researchers enthuse, people
who suffer from sleep deprivation are 27 per cent more likely to become
overweight or obese.
And when it comes to bedroom affairs, study says, the top reason couples gave for avoiding sex was “too tired or need sleep.”
Moreover, University of Rochester
researchers found that people who persistently get less sleep are more
likely to be involved in road accidents, and they have higher rates of
absenteeism from work, while they are more likely to get easily
irritated.
Hereditary factor
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine describes
some hereditary sleep disorder as “prion disease.” The scientists say
it is caused by an abnormal protein developing from a genetic mutation,
and it affects brain function, causing memory loss, and giving the
sufferer no control over muscle movements and hallucinations.
They report the case of a 53-year-old man who suffered from lack of sleep, getting only two to three hours per night.
Two months later, they say, he could
sleep only one hour per night, and was frequently disturbed by vivid
dreams. After three to six months, normal sleep became impossible,
causing him severe fatigue, body tremors and breathing difficulty.
After eight months, he fell into a
stupor and eventually died. The researchers’ analysis of the family’s
history revealed that the man’s two sisters, and many of his relatives,
also died of a similar disease.
Sleeplessness and your brain
A new study published in the recent edition of the journal, Sleep, suggests that some people with insomnia may have trouble activating certain brain regions involved in short-term memory.
In addition, it says, people with
insomnia may have problems turning off brain regions that are typically
active when the mind wanders.
Lead researcher/associate professor of
psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, Mr. Sean
Drummond, warns that it is not surprising that someone with insomnia
would feel like they are working harder to do the same job as a healthy
sleeper.
Drummond reveals that in a study
involving 50 people, half of whom have insomnia, researchers found that
people with insomnia not only had trouble sleeping at night, but their
brains were not functioning as efficiently during the day.
So, if you are having difficulty sleeping, do see your doctor!
Symptoms of insomnia
• Difficulty falling asleep despite being tired
• Waking up frequently during the night
• Trouble getting back to sleep when awakened
• Exhausting sleep
• Relying on sleeping pills or alcohol to fall asleep
• Waking up too early in the morning
• Daytime drowsiness, fatigue, or irritability
• Difficulty concentrating during the day
- Source: helpguide.org
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