Sleep Disorders in Elderly - Frequently Asked Questions
Sleep Disorders in Elderly - Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which specialist should an elderly person with sleep problems consult?Ideally he should discuss the problem with his family physician first, who will try to determine if his sleep problem is related to his health condition. If the need arises he may then refer the patient to a sleep specialist.
2. What is the most common sleep problem in older adults?
Insomnia is the most common sleep complaint in older adults. Surveys indicate that 15 percent to 75 percent of elderly persons residing at home or in an extended care facility are dissatisfied with either the duration or the quality of their nocturnal sleep.
3. Why are sleep problems in the elderly so common?
Age-related sleep changes may partly explain the prevalence of sleep problems in the elderly. Changes in sleep are inevitable as people age, although evidence suggests that the major sleep changes associated with aging are secondary to diseases rather than to aging itself.
4. Is there a relationship between insomnia and dementia?
Compared to normal elderly people those with dementia have more sleep disturbances. These include repeated arousals from sleep, lower sleep efficiency, a higher percentage of stage 1 sleep (Light sleep), and a reduction in stages 3 and 4 sleep (Deep delta wave sleep).
5. Can we promote better sleep quality by administering hypnotic medications?
Hypnotic medications are not routinely used to treat sleep problems in the elderly. Hypnotic therapy for a sleep disorder is indicated when lifestyle measures, adjustment of other medications, and treatment of underlying medical conditions are insufficient to alleviate the problem.
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Dr. Anitha Paderla. (2016, January 27). Sleep Disorders in Elderly - Frequently Asked Questions. Medindia. Retrieved on Jul 04, 2024 from https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/sleep-disorders-elderly-faqs.htm.
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Dr. Anitha Paderla. "Sleep Disorders in Elderly - Frequently Asked Questions". Medindia. Jul 04, 2024. <https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/sleep-disorders-elderly-faqs.htm>.
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Dr. Anitha Paderla. "Sleep Disorders in Elderly - Frequently Asked Questions". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/sleep-disorders-elderly-faqs.htm. (accessed Jul 04, 2024).
Harvard
Dr. Anitha Paderla. 2016. Sleep Disorders in Elderly - Frequently Asked Questions. Medindia, viewed Jul 04, 2024, https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/sleep-disorders-elderly-faqs.htm.