Sleep is one of the most overlooked areas of general wellness care for healthy aging and emotional well-being. It plays an important role in your physical health and is involved in healing and repair of your heart and blood vessels. Ongoing sleep deficiency is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke.
Insomnia or trouble sleeping, is a sleep disorder, and is typically followed by functional impairment while awake. Insomnia can occur at any age, but it is particularly common in the elderly. Insomnia can be short term (up to three weeks) or long term (above 3–4 weeks); it can lead to memory problems, depression, irritability and an increased risk of heart disease and automobile related accidents.
In many cases, insomnia is co-morbid with another disease, side-effects from medications, or a psychological problem. Approximately half of all diagnosed insomnia is related to psychiatric disorders.
Here are some tips on how to prevent insomnia:
- Establish a regular sleep-wake cycle. When you do this, your body will respond by feeling sleepy as it gets closer to the designated sleep time.
- Avoid drinking coffee towards the evening. The caffeine may make falling asleep difficult.
- Avoid engaging in strenuous exercises or activities prior to falling asleep. Stimulating the body and brain may make it difficult for the mind to relax and fall asleep.
Consider visiting your doctor if your insomnia symptoms persist.