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It’s so easy to get a good night’s sleep when you’re young. Yet, by the time a person is old enough to qualify for Social Security, many complain of sleep disturbances.

What stops older adults from getting a good night’s sleep?

“As we get older,” says Loretta Terranova, MD, interim chair of Family Medicine at Long Island College Hospital, “the chemicals and hormones that regulate the length of our sleep and the quality of the rest don’t work as well.”

Misconceptions abound.

“Many people think you need less sleep as you age, but most adults still need their eight hours of sleep each night to be alert during the day,” she adds.

A change in sleep patterns is not by itself cause for concern.

“It is not unusual for older adults to go to bed earlier in the evening and wake very early in the morning,” says Terranova. “There’s nothing wrong with a different pattern, as long as you sleep enough and well.”

The usual suspects and the unlikely culprits.

Most adults know that drinking caffeinated beverages or daytime napping will interfere with their nighttime sleep. Even alcohol, which may help you fall asleep initially, usually causes people to wake up in the middle of the night. Obesity, as well, can cause sleep disturbances and breathing problems. Sleep apnea, in which a person repeatedly stops breathing for a brief time during sleep, is often the cause of poor sleep.

“Look for the less likely culprit,” says Terranova: Medication — many adults take medication for cardiovascular disease, which can interfere with sleep. Anti-depressants may do the same for some people.

Even a little bit of exercise will help you sleep better at night. Having regular to-bed and wake-up times will go a long way toward helping you sleep better.

“A good night’s sleep is increasingly being recognized as a key factor in healthy aging,” concludes Terranova. “Don’t hesitate to speak to your family physician.”

©2009 Community Newspaper Group