Causes and Symptoms of Sleep Disorders (Insomnia) in the Elderly

Understanding of Sleep Disorders (Insomnia)

Sleep Disorders (Insomnia) is difficult to sleep or difficulty staying asleep, or sleep disorders that make people feel not enough sleep during waking.

Sleep disorders not only shows the indication of a mental disorder and that early, but it is a complaint of nearly 30% of patients who went to the doctor, due to:

1. Extrinsic factors (external) eg less tranquil environment.
2. Intrinsic factors, such as can be organic and psychogenic.
   • Organic, for example: pain, itching and certain diseases that create anxiety.
   • Psychogenic, eg depression, anxiety and irritability.

Elderly with depression, stroke, heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, arthritis, or hypertension is often reported that poor sleep quality and sleep duration is less, when compared with the healthy elderly. Sleep disorders can increase the overall cost of illness. Sleep disorders are also known to cause significant morbidity. There are some serious consequences of sleep disorders in the elderly such as excessive daytime sleepiness, impaired attention and memory, mood depression, frequent falls, improper use of hypnotics, and decreased quality of life. Mortality, heart disease and cancer were higher in the old man sleep more than 9 hours or less than 6 hours per day when compared with the old man sleeping between 7-8 hours per day.

Causes of Sleep Disorders (Insomnia)

Sleep disturbance is not a disease but a symptom that has many causes, such as emotional disorders, physical disorders and drug use. Trouble sleeping is often the case, either at a young age and old age, and often occur together with emotional disorders like anxiety, restlessness, depression or fear. Sometimes a person have trouble sleeping simply because the body and brain is tired. Pattern in the early morning wake up more often found in the elderly. Some people fall asleep normally but wake up several hours later and it is difficult to fall asleep again. Sometimes they sleep in a state of restless sleep and was not satisfied. Woke up at dawn, at any age, is a sign of depression. People who may have disturbed sleep patterns are reversed sleep rhythm, their sleep is not the time to sleep and wake up at bedtime.

In addition, the following behavior can also cause sleep disorders in some people:

• Lack of sleep hygiene in general (washing face, etc.?)
• Concerns can not sleep
• Excessive caffeine consumption
• Drinking alcohol before bed
• Smoke before bed
• Nap / afternoon excessive
• Schedule of sleep / wake irregularities

Symptoms of of Sleep Disorders (Insomnia)

Patients find it difficult to sleep or lie awake at night and feel tired all day.

Sleep disorders can be experienced with various ways:

• difficult to sleep
• there is no problem to sleep, but had difficulty staying asleep (frequent waking)
• waking up too early

Difficulty sleeping is just one of several symptoms of insomnia. Symptoms experienced during the day is:

• drowsiness
• restless
• difficulty concentrating
• It's hard to remember
• irritable
  

Presumptive etiology, sleep disorders are divided into four groups, namely, primary sleep disorders, sleep disorders due to other mental disorders, sleep disorders due to general medical conditions, and sleep disorders induced by substance. Sleep-wake disorders can be caused by physiological changes such as the normal aging process. History of sleep problems, sleep hygiene today, history of drug use, partner reports, records of sleep, and nighttime polisomnogram need to be evaluated in the elderly who complain of sleep disorders. Complaints of sleep disturbance that is often expressed by the elderly are insomnia, sleep rhythm disorders, and sleep apnea.

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