Pat Sweeting Reporting
 
Do you sit on the edge of your bed most mornings struggling with the overwhelming urge to toss your alarm into the closet, snuggle back under the covers and get a few more hours of sleep? Why is it you just never seem to be able to wake-up feeling refreshed?
 

The National Institute on Aging advises that for older adults, 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night is what you need. But, if you nap too much during the day, you won’t be able to sleep at night. The result: irritability, forgetfulness, depression and more falls or accidents during the day.
 
Another problem may be insomnia. You have a tough time getting to sleep and when you finally do nod off, you probably won’t be in dreamland for long. This problem is reported to be common among the 60 and older set.
 
The NIA tells us sleep problems can be a sign of a more serious problem linked to anxiety, your medication, sleep apnea, movement disorders or Alzheimer’s Disease — you may want to consult a physician. But, there are simple steps you can take at home. A few of them are following a regular bedtime routine, keeping your bedroom comfortable and dark, watching what you eat and limiting alcohol consumption near bedtime.
 
For more information on “Good Night’s Sleep” click here. A .pdf version in Spanish is also available. 

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