6 Ways Sleep Changes As You Age

But if you’ve noticed that it’s harder to simply get a solid eight hours rest than it was even a few years ago, it’s not your imagination. Getting older affects sleep quantity and quality — making it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep as we get older.

Both biology and the stressors of life, which can accumulate over time, contribute to worsening sleep. Factors like medical conditions, financial instability, and familial worries can compound our sleep troubles.

Not getting enough rest on a regular basis can, of course, leave you feeling tired and cranky, but it can also affect your health. Sleep problems can lead to accidents and falls, cognitive decline, a lowered immune system, and weight gain — among several other issues. There are emotional costs, too.

While you can’t control all the factors that interfere with rest, you can make adjustments to your life to improve your sleep. Here are some of the ways sleep changes as we get older, along with tactics to try for a better night’s rest.

We May Find it Harder to Get to Sleep at Night

According to the Sleep Foundation’s latest figures, 40 percent to 70 percent of older adults experience chronic sleep issues that interfere with daily activities and affect quality of life. As mentioned, a big reason so many people toss and turn has to do with emotions and stress. Whether you’re adjusting to retirement, are dealing with an empty nest, or have experienced the death of a loved one, the toll these transitions take can significantly affect your sleep habits.

What to do: Establish a bedtime ritual that promotes a separation of daytime and nighttime and helps you release any pent-up emotions lingering from the day. Maybe take a long, hot bath, or practice deep breathing techniques, or do some calming stretches. Whatever you choose, the goal is to incorporate something that induces relaxation by calming your mind. Getting some physical activity — it doesn’t have to be strenuous — for about 30 minutes most days, can also help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Be sure not to exercise too close to bedtime, as it can get you wired. Experts suggest exercising earlier than three hours before bedtime.

We Don't Sleep as Deeply

As the years march on, we spend more time in the lighter stages of sleep and less time in deep, dreamless sleep. According to the National Institutes of Health, older people average three or four awakenings each night, and they’re more aware of each of them than younger individuals.

What to do: Limit your caffeine and alcohol intake to zero to one drink a day. And don’t drink them too late, as both can disrupt your sleep cycle once you’ve drifted off. You may also find it helpful to add a white noise machine to your bedroom, which can drown out sounds that might otherwise wake you when you’re in a light sleep. If you get especially frustrated when you wake up in the middle of the night, move your clock so you can’t see (and become frustrated by) it from your bed. And, again, consider exercising more, as an active lifestyle promotes deeper sleep.

We May Fall Asleep Earlier and Wake Up Earlier

As we age, our circadian rhythms — the internal “clock” that coordinates the timing of our bodily functions, including sleep — change. That’s why older adults tend to become sleepier in the early evening and wake earlier in the morning compared to younger adults. If your sleep rhythm has shifted like this, you might not be feeling any physical effects. After all, you’re still getting seven or eight hours of sleep, albeit during different times than most other people. However, while this isn’t necessarily a bad thing health-wise, it can affect your social life and mood.

What to do: Try to reset your circadian rhythm by staying up later. You might do this by taking 20 minute naps if you feel sleepy in the afternoon (any longer and you could interfere with your sleep even more; more on this below). Research shows you can also shift your internal body clock a bit later by limiting your exposure to sunlight and bright lights in the morning hours.

We May Need More Daytime Naps

This can make nighttime sleep problematic. If you’re getting less (and poorer quality) sleep as you age, you’re probably going to be sleepier than usual during the day, which makes taking a nap appealing. While there’s nothing wrong with naps (in fact, there’s scientific evidence that supports the benefits of a short power nap), sleeping too much during the day can impact your ability to fall asleep at night.

What to do: Continue to take naps, but adjust the timing of them if you’re having trouble falling asleep at night. While many experts say the ideal time to nap is between two o’clock and four o’clock in the afternoon, the time you naturally feel sleepy in the evenings should dictate your optimal time for a snooze. For example, if you tend to stay up past midnight, nap in the late afternoon; if you crawl into bed earlier in the evening, take your siesta in the middle of the day.

We're More Likely to be Dealing with Health Issues That Interfere with Sleep

Certain medical challenges, such as heart disease, stroke, chronic pain, inflammatory conditions, menopause, and nocturia (having to wake to urinate during the night), can affect your ability to get a good night’s sleep. What’s more, prescription drugs you might be taking to treat the symptoms of these health issues — or others — can also impact the quality of your sleep. Heart medications and antidepressants are two common culprits.

What to do: Dealing with underlying medical disorders that are keeping you up can dramatically improve your sleep. Talk to your doctor about how to treat the symptoms of health issues you face, and discuss medication side effects before leaving the doctor’s office. If a medication is negatively affecting your sleep, ask your doctor about trying a different drug or alternative treatments.

We're More Likely to Have a Sleep Disorder

Not only is insomnia more prevalent in older adults, but sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and periodic limb movement disorder are also more likely to occur with age.

What to do: If you’re dealing with the symptoms of one or more of these sleep disorders (a loved one who watches you sleep might spot the signs), it’s important to see a sleep specialist who can diagnose and help you treat the problem. Not only will this help you get a better night’s rest, but it can also positively impact your overall health. If sleep apnea goes untreated, for example, you’re at increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.

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