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| Seattle-King County Edition | |||
| March 1, 2007 | |||
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Test Your Sleep IQ!
March 26 – April 2 is National Sleep Awareness Week
How much do you know about sleep? What you don’t know can keep you from getting enough sleep—and the right kind. Take this true/false quiz and check your answers below. True or False?
1. Sleep problems are inevitable as we get older. False. Age-related changes contribute to the inability to get a good nights’ sleep—but much can be done to help older adults get a better night’s sleep. Speak to your doctor if sleep is a concern for you. True. During the night, the brain goes through several stages of sleep, in cycles. Sleep cycle disorders may mean that even if you are getting as many hours of sleep as you need, you still will not feel rested. 3. Sleeping pills are the best treatment for sleep problems. False. Sleep medications can be helpful, and better drugs are being developed all the time. But medication can actually interfere with normal sleep, so sleeping pills should normally be used only short-term, and should not be considered a solution to sleeplessness. 4. A nice cup of hot cocoa can help you get to sleep. False. Though you probably know not to drink coffee or caffeinated colas near bedtime, don’t forget that chocolate contains caffeine also. 5. Exercise is one of the best ways to fight insomnia. True. Exercise during the day is good for sleep at night. However, avoid working out near bedtime, which can have the opposite effect. The best time to exercise is in the afternoon. 6. The worst thing about snoring is that it keeps your sleep partner awake. False. While snoring can indeed be hazardous to your marriage, it can also be a sign of a serious disorder called sleep apnea, a condition in which a person repeatedly stops breathing for 10 to 30 seconds at a time. This decreases oxygen to the body, and can cause repeated waking. 7. Weight loss can improve sleep quality. True. Obesity makes it more likely that a person will have sleep apnea. And did you know that it works the other way around, as well? Lack of sleep can actually increase the likelihood of obesity. 8. Older adults need just as much sleep as do younger adults. True. While we often experience more insomnia and other sleep disorders as we age, we still need as many hours of sleep as we did when we were younger. Illness, pain, more frequent urination and certain medications can all lead to sleeplessness…which should be evaluated and treated. 9. Warm milk or a bedtime snack can help you sleep. True—but only a light snack. A heavy meal late in the evening can keep you awake for hours. 10. Sleep is still a mysterious subject for science. True…and False! Though there are many aspects of sleep that we don’t yet understand, recent research has uncovered much information about sleep—the activity that consumes up to a third of most of our lives. The National Library of Medicine website features information about sleep problems, including the article “Aging Changes in Sleep.” For more suggestions about treating sleeplessness, see “Sleep and Seniors: Insomnia Isn’t Inevitable” on The Mayo Clinic website.
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| © Seattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging & Disability Services | ||
Electronic newsletter design and publication by IlluminAge Communication Partners |
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It is only during sleep that the brain and nervous system can rest and rebuild. And good quality sleep is vital for learning and the memory. But many older adults have difficulty getting to sleep…or they wake up too early, or too often.