How to combat sleepless nights over 60
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As we age, sleep patterns naturally change, often leading to more sleepless nights for those over 60. This shift can result in a variety of challenges, from feeling fatigued during the day to experiencing difficulty concentrating and increased stress. We have spoken to some experts who have unpicked the main reasons behind sleepless nights later in life, and have also listed some effective strategies to help those in their golden years wake up feeling refreshed and revitalised.
What factors contribute towards sleep challenges in your 60s?. Discomfort. Many older adults tend to wake up more in the night due to discomfort. Sleep regulation. Melatonin. We tend to produce less melatonin (the sleepy hormone) as we age, which can often lead to disrupted sleep patterns.
“There is variability between all of us. We have high producers [of melatonin] and low producers,” says Lederle. “But within a person, we do see as we get older, there is less melatonin output. “The body clock is involved in setting the timing for melatonin to be released, so if it is not functioning as accurately anymore, that can play a role.”.
Menopause. It’s also common for postmenopausal woman to experience sleep problems. “Postmenopausal women have a higher risk of having sleep apnea, because of the lack of the hormones and the fluctuations,” explains Lederle. “Postmenopausal women have lower levels of progesterone, a hormone which helps with sleeping.”.
