Healthy sleep for middle-aged and elderly people

Author: Yang Yajuan / Zhao Zhongxin (Editor-in-Chief)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The of sleep age change is that sleep time gradually decreases from middle age as one grows older. A significant portion of elderly people sleep for 5-7 hours. As one ages, endocrine function changes, such as the abnormal secretion amount and peak of melatonin, which promotes sleep, while the secretion of hormones that easily cause arousal—cortisol—increases gradually. Therefore, light sleep gradually increases in middle-aged and elderly individuals, nighttime awakenings and early awakenings become more frequent, and sleep efficiency decreases. Additionally, as one ages, the sleep-wake rhythm also changes. In youth, sleep time is often delayed, late sleepiness at night and difficulty falling asleep until early morning, with awakening very late the next morning. After entering old age, some people gradually develop a special sleep pattern, early sleepiness at night. If they fall asleep at this time, they may wake up earlier the next morning, but their total sleep time is normal. Therefore, elderly people often exhibit sleep phase advance, early sleep and early awakening. To help middle-aged and elderly friends better understand the knowledge of sleep and sleep disorders, we have compiled the book "Healthy Sleep for Middle-Aged and Elderly People," hoping that this book will contribute to improving the health and quality of life of middle-aged and elderly friends.