There are a number of reasons why sleep problems can develop:
1. Normal effects of ageing - as mentioned, when people get older they tend to sleep less deeply and need less sleep. Not only this, but sometimes people develop a habit of dropping off to
sleep during the day which again reduces the need for sleep at night. This in itself is not a problem, but often not sleeping becomes a greater cause for worry, frustration and concern, which in turn leads to sleeping less well.
2. Medical reasons for disrupted sleep - medical reasons for poor sleep may or may not be related
to getting older. Some examples are:
The need to go to the toilet during the night occurs more in later life. About 60% of women and about 70% of men, aged over 65 get out of bed at least once a night to go to the toilet. This can also happen for other reasons of course, such as pregnancy. Getting out of bed at night isn`t always a great problem, but can be frustrating if it is difficult to get back to sleep.
Another medical reason is pain. This again can be common in older age with joint pains such as arthritis. The emotional upset of loss or bereavement can affect sleep and again this may be more common in older people. Some medicines can interfere with sleep, so it is worth checking with your doctor if you are on any tablets.
3. Stress, anxiety and worry – sleep is easily affected by how someone is feeling. If someone is worrying about something or suffering from stress, very often they will find it hard to get off to sleep.
4. Depression and low mood - when someone is feeling depressed, disturbed sleep is common. It is quite usual for a depressed person to wake up early in the morning and find it hard to get back to sleep, or alternatively to have difficulty getting off to sleep.
5. Surroundings - can make a big difference to sleep. For example, a bedroom that is over hot or over cold, a bed that is too hard or too soft, a room that is too noisy or too light can all make a difference to how well someone sleeps. Sleeping in a strange place can also affect someone’s sleep.
6. Disrupted sleep routine - people who work shifts which change frequently often have difficulty sleeping.
