Family Doctor 2008

SLEEP ISSUES healthy living Up all night Many people think retirement years are a time of rest and relaxation. But this may not be true for older adults who have sleep problems. As you get older, many things can get in the way of sleeping well or sleeping long enough to be fully rested. By Ashley White recommends for people aged 65 and older too. However, sleeping patterns change as we age, which can make it hard to get a good night’s sleep. M ost adults need 7 or 8 hours of sleep each night to feel fully alert during the day. This is usually true If you think you may have sleep apnea, talk to your doctor about having a sleep study to make the diagnosis. One treatment for sleep apnea is losing weight if you are overweight. Other treatments are available for more severe cases. down. You may have tingling, burning, aching Why can’t I sleep? or jittery sensations in your legs. These symptoms generally get worse at night, which can make it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep. A number of things can cause sleep problems. By the time an adult is over 65 years old, his or her sleep-wake cycle may not work as well as it used to when he or she was younger. Some lifestyle habits, such as smoking and drinking alcohol or caffeinated drinks, can also cause sleep problems. Sleep problems may also be caused by illness, by pain that keeps you from sleeping or by medicines that keep you awake. People of all ages can have a sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome (also called RLS) or periodic limb movement disorder (also called PLMD). If you have a sleep disorder, your doctor can suggest ways to treat it so you can get some rest. A time of change Older adults might get sleepy earlier in the evening. They may also have trouble falling asleep when they go to bed at night, or they might not be able to stay asleep all night (insomnia). Older adults might wake up very early in the morning and not be able to go back to sleep. Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) sleep. Often the person doesn’t even realize he or she is kicking until a bed partner talks about it. PLMD can prevent restful sleep and cause sleepiness during the daytime. Some people who have RLS also have PLMD. Ashley White is an PLMD is a condition in which a person kicks one or both legs many times during HEALTH tip Tips for better sleep ● Go to bed and get up at the same time each day. ● Use your bedroom for sleep, not for reading or watching TV. ● Don’t take naps that last longer than 20 Placing hot or cold packs on your legs, or taking a hot or cold bath may help ease symptoms of RLS. Certain medicines may also help some people who have this condition. minutes. ● Avoid Sleep apnea Sleep apnea is a disorder in which a person stops breathing repeatedly while asleep. People who have sleep apnea usually snore loudly and then stop breathing for 10 to 30 seconds during sleep. Then they start breathing again with a gasp. This can happen many times over the course of one night, which disrupts their sleeping pattern. associate editor with the American Academy of Family Physicians, headquartered in Leawood, Kan. nicotine and alcohol in the evening. ● Avoid caffeine for about 8 hours before bedtime. ● Ask your doctor if any of your medicines could be keeping you awake at night. ● Ask your doctor for help if pain or other © WWW.123RF.COM ADDITIONAL INFORMATION American Academy of Family Physicians http://familydoctor.org Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sleep/SL99999 National Library of Medicine http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/ article/000064.htm health problems keep you awake. ● Try to exercise a little each day, but don’t exercise in the 3 hours before bedtime. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) RLS is a condition in which your legs feel very uncomfortable when you are sitting or lying familydoctor 2008 41 http://familydoctor.org http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sleep/SL99999 http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000064.htm http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000064.htm

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Family Doctor 2008

Family Doctor 2008 Foreward Introduction Contents What Do You Want From Health Care? Confident Communication Need a New Doctor? Understanding Your Health Insurance OTC Safety as Simple as 1-2-3 The Fight Against Resistance Drug Interactions Prevention is Better than Cure Hitting a Home Run 'The Herbalist Will See You Now' Healthy Eating to Boost Your Heart and Health Exercise: The Elixir of Life Back from the Brink Taking Control Up All Night Vitamins and Minerals 101 Allergies: Combating the Causes Protect Yourself From Colds and the Flu Diabetes: Assessing Your Risk Dealing with Diabetes The Cholesterol Count Getting a Grip on Hypertension Facts About CKD Banish the Burn Easing the Pain Stop the Pounding Urinary Tract Infections: Common and Preventable Skin Essentials The ABCs of COPD Impotence: Tackling the Old Taboo Taking Responsibility for Your Health Prostate Cancer Screening: Is it For You? Protecting Your Prostate Heart Disease and Women: Know the Risks Birth Control to Suit You Maneuvering Through Menopause Help for PMS Infertility: Problems Having a Baby Preventive Health: What Women Need to Know Pregnancy: Taking Care of You and Your Baby Eating for Two Postpartum Mood Disorders The Basics of Breast Milk Newborn Screening Tests: Possible Lifesavers Common Newborn Conditions Childhood Vaccines: Why They're Necessary Food Allergies: The Facts Facing Your Acne Raising Grades Staying On Your Feet Age Gracefully: Take Care of Your Bones Battling Osteoarthritis Tackling Anxiety Beating the Blues

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