The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University

National Program on Women & Aging

Women & Aging Letter
Excerpt, January 2000
"To Sleep, Perchance to Dream . . ."
Volume 4, Number 3

Shakespeare did not have the millions of older Americans who complain of sleep-related disorders in mind when he penned his famous line. Most of them, however, would wistfully relate to it. Older adults are more likely than younger people to suffer from restless nights or to experience other sleep problems that leave them fatigued and impair their ability to function. Statistics show that one in three adult Americans periodically experience poor sleep, and most of the problems are experienced in their later years. Drs. William Dement and Clete Kushida at the Sleep Disorders Research Center in California call sleep disorders "the largest health problem in America."

 
Facts and Myths About Sleep

Sleep is a time when your body and brain shut down for rest and relaxation.  False!

    Although it is a time when your body rests and restores its energy levels, sleep is an active state that affects both your physical and mental well-being. Adequate restful sleep, like diet and exercise, is critical to good health. Insufficient restful sleep can result in mental and physical health problems and possibly premature death.
People need less sleep as they get older.  False!
    As we get older, we don't need less sleep, but we often get less sleep. That's because our ability to sleep for long periods of time and to get into the deep restful stages of sleep decreases with age. Older people have more fragile sleep and are more easily disturbed by light, noise, and pain. They also may have medical conditions that contribute to sleep problems. Going to bed at the same time every night and getting up at the same time every morning, getting exposure to natural outdoor light during the day, and sleeping in a cool, dark, quiet place at night may help.
If you regularly doze off unintentionally during the day, you may need more than just a good night's sleep.  True!
    This could be a sign of a sleep disorder. Approximately 40 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy, and restless legs syndrome. An untreated sleep disorder can reduce your daytime productivity, increase your risk of accidents, and put you at risk of illness and even early death.
If you snore loudly and persistently at night and are sleepy during the day, you may have a sleep disorder.  True!
    Persistent loud snoring at night and daytime sleepiness are the main symptoms of a common and serious sleep disorder called sleep apnea. Another symptom is frequent long pauses in breathing during sleep, followed by choking and gasping for breath. People with sleep apnea do not get enough restful sleep, and their daytime performance is often seriously affected. Sleep apnea may also lead to hypertension, heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. However, it can be treated, and the sleep apnea patient can live a near-normal life.
The primary cause of inadequate sleep or insomnia is worry.  False!
    Insomnia has many causes, including physical and mental conditions and stress. Insomnia is the perception that you don't get enough sleep because you can't fall asleep or stay asleep or get back to sleep once you've awakened during the night. It affects people of all ages, usually for just an occasional night or two. Sometimes, however, the condition can last for weeks, months, or even years. Because insomnia can become a chronic problem, it is important to have it diagnosed and treated if it persists for more than a month.
On-Line Information on Sleep Disorders
National Center on Sleep Disorders Research, National Institutes of Health:  ww.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/sleep  tel: 301-435-0199

"Everything you wanted to know about sleep disorders but were too tired to ask." Sleep forums, numerous sleep links, support group information, listings of professional organizations, news and research links, and more at:  www.sleepnet.com

Information on sleep walking, narcolepsy, night terror, repeated nightmares, restless leg syndrome, aging changes in sleep, and more at:  www.adam.com

Sponsored by a company led by Dr. C. Everett Koop, former US Surgeon General, and others. Along with 60 other health topics, there are pages dedicated to insomnia and sleep apnea:  www.drkoop.com
 

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