Mon. 19th Feb. 2018
We know that seniors sleep differently than younger people. We also know that the length of time in the sleep stages changes. Additionally, we know that regardless of our age we require 7.5 to 8 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period.
We cannot change the physiologic changes that occur in our brain with aging, but we can do some simple things to identify and offset external factors. The listing below describes some of these factors.
- Water pills or diuretics – These medications make our kidneys to remove body fluids for those with swelling, heart disease, high blood pressure or kidney disease. Take these medications early in the day. If you have a twice a day regimen, do not take the second dose any later than 2 pm. Speak to your healthcare provider about an alternative that could be dosed once daily.
- Fluid intake – When we drink fluids within a couple of hours of bedtime, you are going to have to wake up to urinate more frequently. Limit fluid intake shortly before going to bed to minimize the frequency of needing to get up. Do not limited fluid intake to prevent urinary accidents because you can become dehydrated.
- Alcohol intake – Alcohol can lead to the need for increased urination. Minimize the ingestion of alcohol late in the day and before going to bed.
- Caffeine – Caffeine is a chemical that has a diuretic effect. Even if you can sleep after drinking caffeinated beverages, the diuretic effect is still present.
- Prostate disease – In men with an enlarged prostate gland, they may not be able to empty their bladder adequately. They urinate a little bit and urinate frequently. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.
- Diabetes – When the glucose in your bloodstream is elevated, you may need to go to the bathroom more frequently. This can occur throughout the day so monitor patterns of urination and speak to your healthcare provider about changes.
- Bladder infections – Female seniors, may have a bladder infection and not have pain with urination, but still, have an infection that requires treatment. Frequent urination is often a symptom of a bladder infection in both genders.
These are just a few of the ways that we can minimize the impact of insomnia as we age. If you start a new medication and see new symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider. Do not stop a medication in isolation. Your healthcare provider will help you with options.