It’s 2:20 AM and I’m as wide awake as a hoot owl. In my younger days, I could drop off to sleep in seconds and sleep through a train wreck. Do you sleep faster when you get older? If I had headlights on the mower and my neighbors wouldn’t think I was crazy, it might be a nice pleasant time to mow the yard.
I don't know about insomnia, but in Dr. Walker's book, Why We Sleep, you learn that as we age our REM sleep gets shorter - which is crucial factor in brain maintenance, getting rid of amyloid plaques, etc.
Insomnia is commonly reported by older people, but many people get far less physical exercise as they age, and I believe that may have a bearing on the problem. And by physical exercise, I don’t mean running a marathon or the BUD/S obstacle course, but even the activity associated with going to work at an office job is more than many retired people get.
I am 73 years old and get two basic types of exercise on a regular basis, dedicated swims or walks, and the activities associated with conducting outdoors firearms training and qualification sessions. During the past week I spent two to three hours on several days doing the latter in cold weather, and slept the night straight through after going to bed early following each session.
When I can’t sleep, it is typically after spending the day doing nothing but puttering around the house, and that is unusual.
► 6.4/93.6
Posts: 47420 | Location: 10,150 Feet Above Sea Level in Colorado | Registered: April 04, 2002
I wake up once or twice during the first half of the night. Get up to pee, then sometimes I am able to go right back to sleep, other times I am wide awake and read for a while.
Second half of the night I usually sleep pretty soundly.
I NEVER have any problem dozing off if I have the opportunity for a nap during the day.
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Posts: 30741 | Location: Central Florida, Orlando area | Registered: January 03, 2010
Originally posted by V-Tail: I NEVER have any problem dozing off if I have the opportunity for a nap during the day.
It seems counterintuitive, but studies have shown that taking a short nap during the day can help with sleep at night. For me, “short” means up to an hour.
► 6.4/93.6
Posts: 47420 | Location: 10,150 Feet Above Sea Level in Colorado | Registered: April 04, 2002
I know I shouldn't drink liquid after dinner but usually have a diet coke or tea. I suppose that explains why someone with no prostate gets up 2 or more times during the night to pee. When I find myself unable to go back to sleep, I head for the recliner in the living room. That usually does the trick. If not, I turn the TV on at a low volume. The drone and the flickering light in a dark room plus recliner usually work.
Posts: 2560 | Location: Central Virginia | Registered: July 20, 2015
Originally posted by Sunset_Va: Another issue with sleep/aging, is no matter how much you sleep, it doesn't restore you as when you are younger.
Waking up still feeling tired is what I mean.
That is because your NAD level declines as you age. When you were younger, it could be 20 percent while it is now 1 to 2 percent.
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Posts: 11828 | Location: Herndon, VA | Registered: June 11, 2009
Originally posted by sigfreund: Insomnia is commonly reported by older people, but many people get far less physical exercise as they age, and I believe that may have a bearing on the problem.
I believe you're correct. I know I usually sleep more soundly after an active day than a more sedentary one.
That being said: I've found melatonin and CBD oil (zero THC) work well for me. I still usually wake up once or twice during the night, but I can get up, hit the head, go back to bed and go right back to sleep.
"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system,,,, but too early to shoot the bastards." -- Claire Wolfe "If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living." -- Seneca the Younger, Roman Stoic philosopher
I seem to be the opposite. I’ve found that as I get older, I sleep more soundly, although the number of hours is roughly the same. I work out fairly hard 4-5 days a week, so I’m sure that plays into it. I sleep through noise that used to wake me up too.
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