Get good sleep
Lower your risk of having medical problems.
Getting enough sleep and taking care of sleep problems like snoring and apnea is good for your health. Doing so can lower your chances of having problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, heart attacks, heart failure, strokes, arthritis and even cancer.
Most adults need seven or eight hours of sleep each night to feel fully alert during the day. This is usually true for people age 65 and older as well. But as we get older, we might have more trouble sleeping.
Many things can get in the way of sleeping well or sleeping long enough to feel fully rested. Older adults might get sleepy earlier in the evening.
Older adults may have insomnia, which makes it hard to fall asleep when going to bed or staying asleep all night. They might wake up very early in the morning and not be able to go back to sleep.
Some causes of sleep problems include:
- Smoking, alcohol or drinks with caffeine
- As we age our bodies make less of the chemicals and hormones that help us sleep well (growth hormone and melatonin)
- Some medicines can keep people awake
- Not being active
What can you do to sleep better?
- Go to bed and get up at the same time every day, even on weekends.
- Don’t read, snack or watch TV in bed.
- Stay away from drinks with caffeine about 8 hours before bedtime.
- Stay away from nicotine and alcohol before bed.
- Don’t take naps longer than about 20 minutes.
- Try to move around and be active every day.
- Ask your doctor if any of the medicines you're taking could be keeping you awake at night.
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for professional health care. You should consult an appropriate health care professional for your specific needs.