Common sleep problems for people over 50

1. Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless leg syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes the irresistible urge to move your legs, particularly at night when trying to rest. Although anyone can be affected, it's much more common in older adults.

2. Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder in which your breathing is interrupted during sleep. Because as people age, their throat muscles relax, sleep apnea is much more prevalent in people over 50.

3. Insomnia

Insomnia is the difficulty falling or staying asleep. It's often linked to stress, health issues, or medications. Older adults may experience a decline in the need for sleep and changes to their circadian rhythm, which causes insomnia.

4. Anxiety

Nighttime anxiety is the worried and racing thoughts you get when trying to fall asleep, preventing relaxation. Older adults tend to suffer from this more for a variety of factors, including cognitive decline, medications, and isolation.

5. Chronic Pain

Older adults are more likely to experience chronic pain associated with illnesses like arthritis. Pain interferes with rest by making it hard to fall and stay asleep.

6. Snoring

Snoring is often caused by airway obstruction or loss of muscle in the throat, problems that get worse with age and weight gain. Snoring not only disturbs the sleep of the bed partner but also the snorer, either waking them up or reducing sleep quality.

7. Nocturia

Nocturia is frequent nighttime urination. Because bladder capacity reduces with age, it's common for older people to frequently wake up in the night to use the bathroom, disrupting sleep.

8. Circadian Rhythm Shift

As we age, our circadian rhythm shifts, meaning we get tired earlier and wake up too early in the morning. Older people also tend to spend less time in deep sleep and experience more frequent awakenings throughout the night.

9. Parasomnias

Parasomnias are abnormal sleep behaviors like sleep walkingsleep talking, and night terrors that can interrupt sleep patterns. They're sometimes linked to neurodegenerative diseases, making older adults more susceptible.

10. REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is when a person physically acts out their dreams during REM sleep, including talking and involuntary muscle movements that can sometimes be violent, like kicking and punching.

Source: www.msn.com