A columnist responding to a 70-year-old reader struggling with middle-of-the-night wakefulness advises that ongoing sleep issues often have treatable underlying causes. An estimated 40 to 50 percent of older adults experience chronic sleep problems, yet many never discuss them with a doctor.
Untreated sleep disorders can raise the risk of falls, memory problems, depression, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. Insomnia is the most common complaint, making it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep or return to sleep after waking. Causes can include a racing mind, pain, medications, anxiety, depression, arthritis, frequent urination, acid reflux, caffeine or alcohol.
Obstructive sleep apnea, which causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep, is another common and often overlooked condition. Warning signs include loud snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, morning headaches and excessive daytime sleepiness. Restless legs syndrome, which creates an uncomfortable urge to move the legs while resting, can also disrupt sleep.
Experts recommend talking to a primary care provider if sleep trouble occurs at least three nights a week for three months or longer, or if daytime fatigue is frequent. Immediate medical advice is warranted for loud snoring, observed breathing pauses during sleep, waking up gasping, or nodding off during activities like reading, watching TV or driving.
A doctor can review symptoms, medications and history and may refer a patient to a sleep specialist. Specialists may order a home sleep apnea test or an overnight sleep study. Treatments include CPAP machines for apnea and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, or CBT-I, which research shows is often more effective than sleeping pills long term. Medicare generally covers medically necessary sleep specialist visits and tests when ordered by a physician.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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