Sleep is the physiological needs of human beings. It is an important part of the body’s recovery, integration and consolidation of memory. It is an indispensable part of health. Sleep is like air, sunlight, and moisture. It is an indispensable nutrient for the human body. At present, sleep disorders have become one of the main problems that plague people’s health. Long-term sleep disorders can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, especially for middle-aged and elderly people whose body functions are declining. Sleep problems cannot be ignored.
First, the common manifestations of sleep disorders in middle-aged and elderly people
1, often sleepy
Drowsiness is another common phenomenon of sleep disorders in middle-aged and elderly people. The causes are brain diseases (brain atrophy, cerebral arteriosclerosis, cerebrovascular disease, brain tumors, etc.), systemic diseases (pulmonary infection, heart failure, hypothyroidism, etc.). ), drug factors (sleep pills) and environmental factors. Because the middle-aged and elderly people are slow to respond to body diseases or the symptoms are not obvious, sometimes only manifest as drowsiness, so the significance of understanding the sleepiness of middle-aged and elderly people is to determine the cause of lethargy, in order to improve sleep and get early treatment.
2, acute insomnia:
For the elderly who usually have regular rules of life, if they suddenly can not fall asleep all night, they must be alert to the cerebral blood supply disorder, because from the clinical observation, some of the post-circulatory blood supply disorders appear as acute sleep disorders, manifested as lethargy or not sleeping, mainly brain The function of the dry upstream mesh system is affected and it is a dangerous signal for stroke. It is necessary to see a doctor in time.
3, sleep disordered breathing
More common in people over the age of 50, breathing disorders may occur after sleep, such as sleep apnea, sleep aggravation of respiratory disease, nocturnal inhalation or paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea. Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) is the most common sleep-disordered breathing disorder in middle-aged and elderly people, accounting for 70% of sleep disorders, and the incidence increases with age. Among them, airway obstruction type sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by snoring, breathing, and breathing after 10 seconds. Repeated appearance of OSA can significantly reduce blood oxygen content and increase blood pressure. Lightness is characterized by snoring, irritability, daytime sleepiness, depression, headache, nocturia, impotence, and severe nighttime sleep arrhythmia, sudden death, Stroke, pulmonary hypertension, convulsions, and decreased cognitive function.
4, chronic insomnia
Most of the sleep problems in middle-aged and elderly people are chronic insomnia, which often manifests as difficulty falling asleep and unable to maintain sleep. Early morning or owl-like nocturnal activity is common in middle-aged and elderly people due to reduced daytime activity or naps resulting in a shortened nighttime sleep awakening cycle. With the influence of age or disease, the circadian rhythm disorder of sleep is more obvious; it is characterized by day and night reversal, time-lapse sleep disorder and circadian rhythm disorder caused by night work. Long-term insomnia will lead to mental disability, emotional instability, and decreased quality of life and work.
Second, the cause of sleep disorders in middle-aged and elderly people
1, Brain organic diseases
With the increase of age, the degree of cerebral arteriosclerosis of middle-aged and elderly people is gradually aggravated, or accompanied by diseases such as hypertension, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, dementia, tremor paralysis, etc., the occurrence of these diseases can reduce blood supply to the brain and cause brain metabolism. The disorder causes symptoms of insomnia.
2, systemic diseases
Some middle-aged and elderly people suffer from cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease, cardiac insufficiency, etc.; respiratory diseases such as emphysema, pulmonary heart disease, etc.; gout, renal insufficiency, diabetes, generalized pruritus, cervical spondylosis and other diseases. These diseases can affect the sleep caused by the disease itself and increase the incidence of insomnia in middle-aged and elderly people.
3, mental illness
The proportion of depressed and depressed tendencies among middle-aged and older people was significantly higher than that of young people. Depression often has insomnia, poor stool, and palpitation. The main obstacles to sleep disorders are early wake up and deep sleep reduction.
4, Changes in the external environment
For some reasons, environmental changes, economic income, work and mental stress, irregular work schedules, or declining body, have limited the social activities of middle-aged and older people to varying degrees, resulting in emotional depression and anxiety. Causes insomnia. For the causes of insomnia in middle-aged and elderly people, in addition to observing changes in organic diseases, we must also pay attention to changes in mental, psychological and personality.
Third, the precautions for middle-aged and elderly sleep disorders
Middle-aged and elderly people have moderate sleep time, which can promote health and prolong life. Too much or insufficient sleep can damage health. Middle and old people should pay attention to the following points when sleeping:
1, dinner should not be too full to avoid the feeling of fullness of the brain stimulation, leading to sleep difficult. It is not advisable to drink tea and coffee before going to bed. It is not advisable to smoke or drink alcohol. It is not advisable to read books, read newspapers, watch TV for too long, especially when it is not appropriate to see the tension and excitement. It is not advisable to think about problems before going to bed, and develop the habit of washing feet before going to bed.
2, develop a good habit of going to bed early and getting up early, do not interfere with the sleep clock.
3, work and rest: the appropriate physical activity during the day, often have the role of promoting sleep.
4, sleep environment is quiet, room temperature is suitable, air circulation, avoid strong light, do not sleep in the air. The air in the bedroom should be fresh, but it is not advisable to open the window to prevent it from catching cold. Pajamas should try to choose soft and loose, not as tight as possible. Cotton pajamas should be chosen in winter and silk pajamas in summer. Fatigue snoring is best to go to bed.
5, to be emotionally calm when sleeping. When you sleep, you should concentrate on quiet sleep, first let the body and mind be comfortable, so that the “heart” sleeps first, then go to bed and close your eyes to sleep.
6, sleeping position is correct. Whether the sleep posture is correct or not directly affects the effect of sleep. One-third of a person’s life is spent in sleep, so the quality of sleeping position not only affects the body shape, but also affects people’s health and longevity.
7, acute sleep disorders must see a doctor.