INSOMNIA:

One of the common complaints the doctor comes across while attending to a geriatric person is ” not able to have a sound sleep, especially at night”.

A good six to eight hours of sleep is important for the body. Our body performs various work throughout the day and it leads to wear and tear in the body which is repaired at night when we go to bed for sleeping. When a person is suffering from insomnia (sleeplessness), then the body is not able to rest and it makes the person feel lethargic the next day.

To help the patient suffering from insomnia it is important to find the cause which can be leading to it.

WHAT CAUSES INSOMNIA IN GERIATRIC PEOPLE:

1) Chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, thyroid, chronic gastritis, and various carcinomas.

2) Stress which can be financial or personal and loneliness which is especially common in old age.

3) Excessive use of alcohol and tobacco products especially at night for a long time.

4) Habit of eating heavy meals at night.

5) Uncomfortable surrounding areas or the patient coming from a family with excessive abusive behavior towards the elderly.

6) Leading a sedentary life throughout the day with no physical or social activity.

7) The habit of watching television for a long time, especially at night.

8) Bedsores causing pain while sleeping.

9) Females attending Menopause.

10) Certain heart, respiratory, and antidepressant medicines can cause insomnia.

HOW TO MANAGE INSOMNIA IN ELDERLY PATIENTS-

1) If the patient is suffering from a disease like high blood pressure, diabetes, or any other chronic disease then it is important for the patient to consult the doctor and get proper treatment because if uncontrolled, these diseases can lead to serious side effects and one of these is insomnia.

2) In today’s world most of the population is suffering from a high level of stress and geriatric patients are no exception. So it is important for aged people to avoid stress by trying to get more social. Family support is very important to help aged people come out of stress and loneliness.

3) Children are good companions for everyone, so families should encourage children to play with their grandparents which can bring happiness and stop anxiety, stress, and loneliness in geriatric age groups.

4) A balanced diet should be advised which includes fibre rich diet, fruits, vegetables, and protein sources like pulses, egg whites, and chicken breast.

5) Avoid oily and fatty food, especially in old age as these food are difficult to digest and also can lead to hyperlipidemia.

6) Dinner should be taken at least one hour before bed and after dinner, it is a good habit to go for a little walk which helps in improving digestion. Dinner should be kept light and mostly should include salad and boiled vegetables as these are easy to digest so aged group people won’t suffer from gastric problem especially in night.

7) If not suffering from physical disabilities then it is important for the geriatric patient to go for brisk walking, yoga classes, gardening or anything physically activity that they feel like continuing daily.

8) Avoid alcohol and tobacco products as they are injurious to health and one of the side effects of these products consumption is disturbance in the sleeping patterns.

9) Avoid tea or coffee, especially around sleeping time as they are known to keep the person awake.

10) A silent environment is needed for good sleep, especially for aged people, and the bedroom should be kept dark or have minimal light if needed to induce a night of good sleep. A comfortable bed is also important.

11) Avoid watching television or mobile phones when in bed for sleep as they can strain the eyes more and cause difficulty in sleep.

12) Bedsores are very common in bedridden aged people as they keep lying in one position for a long time until someone changes their position. So, the caretaker of these patients must check the patient for signs of bedsores and keep changing the position of the patient to avoid them.

13) Women who attain menopause go through many hormonal changes and these changes have a significant effect on the body and sometimes sleeping patterns are changed. If sleep patterns are changed too much then it is important to consult the doctor and get proper advice.

14) Many medicines are known to produce insomnia so if a doctor prescribes any medicine and the patient feels his or her sleeping patterns are changed after starting the medication then it is important to inform the doctor and get proper guidance.

15) Geriatric patients should be examined for any chronic pain and after proper evaluation, the doctor should provide the person with treatment options so that the pain can be relived as pain can cause insomnia.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE-

Avoid taking sleep medication without doctor’s advice as it can lead to other health issues.

Happiness is key to good health, so always try to stay positive.