Insomnia, a common problem among senior citizens, affects up to 50% of older people in comparison to 10 to 20% of other adult age ranges. Many factors cause insomnia, including certain types of medication, depression or health conditions involving pain. Sleep deprivation can have serious consequences over the long run. Aside from fatigue and a general state of crankiness, the body suffers physically from the lack of sleep and can worsen your existing medical conditions.

Many people think sleeping pills solve the problem of insomnia. While it is true that in the short term a sleeping pill can help you get some sleep, the reality remains that sedatives have side effects and can prove addictive. Additionally, sedatives don’t treat the cause of the insomnia but rather only the effect. Once you stop taking the pills, the problem will appear once again. Unless you want to stay stuck on sleeping pills for a long time, you need to identify the problem causing the insomnia and seek medical advice.

A lot of senior citizens take prescription medication. Some drugs might cause insomnia on their own or in combination with other medication. If you have problems sleeping, ask your doctor if your medication might cause that problem. Your physician can lower your medication doses or choose another treatment path to help you solve your problem.

Before taking sedatives, try solving your sleeping problem on your own. Reduce stress levels by taking time to relax every day. Exercise on a regular basis. Exercising is very healthy for the body and mind and can help you get a good night’s sleep.

Avoid smoking and drinking. Unfortunately, many people try to solve their insomnia problems by consuming alcohol or get nervous about the lack of sleep and smoke a lot to pass the time or calm their nerves. Smoking and drinking don’t help at all; in fact, they make the problem worse. Quit smoking and reduce the quantity of alcohol you consume to a minimum.

Prepare your sleeping environment carefully. Sleeping hygiene involves making sure you meet all the conditions for you to get a good night’s sleep. Don’t read or watch TV in the room in which you sleep. Enjoy the sunlight during the day, and keep you sleeping room dark. The transition from light to dark sends signals to the brain that it’s time to go to sleep. Try maintaining a sleeping schedule. Even if you find yourself not tired, go to bed at the same time every night. If you wake up during the night, don’t stay in bed angry that you cannot go to sleep. Walk around for 15 minutes, drink a glass of milk or go to another room and read a few pages from a book before going back to bed.

If your insomnia results from depression or pain, discuss with your doctor a treatment plan. Hospitals usually have group therapy programs for senior citizens to help them get over depression and for discussing sleeping problems.

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