ANCSLEEP BLOG

As people age, sleep often becomes lighter, shorter, and more fragmented. While some changes in sleep architecture are normal with aging, chronic insomnia is not an inevitable part of growing older.

One often-overlooked contributor to elderly insomnia?

Sedentary living.

Reduced physical activity in later life has measurable effects on circadian rhythms, sleep pressure, mood, and overall sleep quality. Understanding this connection can empower older adults—and caregivers—to intervene effectively.

What is Insomnia (Symptoms)

Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by having trouble sleeping and/or staying asleep [1]. People with insomnia may spend hours rolling around in bed before falling asleep, or wake up in the middle of night wide awake.

Insomnia comes in two forms:

• Chronic insomnia: long term, such as from a few weeks or longer
• Acute insomnia: short-term, such as from one night to a few weeks

It’s important not to confuse natural sleep cycles with insomnia – some people naturally go to bed earlier, some people naturally go to bed later. Insomnia is characterized by the following symptoms that interfere with natural function:

• Very hard time falling asleep
• Waking up and having a hard time falling back asleep
• Waking up very early in the morning (when you would rather be sleeping)
• Waking up completely exhausted

The best way to determine the severity of insomnia and begin the process of recovery from insomnia are to get a sleep study. Untreated long term insomnia can have physical, mental, and or mood effects that range from minor to life-interfering.