March 21st is "World Sleep Day" with the theme of "Focus on Sleep in Middle-aged and Elderly". The middle-aged and elderly population refers to adults aged 40-60. The middle-aged and elderly working population refers to various types of professionals aged 40-60. Emphasizing the sleep health of this population is of great significance. The middle-aged and elderly working population is the backbone of various industries, and their sleep health is crucial for sustainable social development. This group bears work and mental pressure from various aspects such as society and family, and is a high-risk group for sleep disorders; according to a recent online survey conducted by the Chinese Sleep Research Association, among the 12,000 respondents with sleep problems, the middle-aged and elderly accounted for 18.8%, of which 77.28% of patients suffered from chronic insomnia.
The main causes of insomnia in the middle-aged and elderly working population are as follows: high work and mental stress, irregular schedule, various diseases, and unhealthy lifestyle. Long-term insomnia can lead to mental fatigue, unstable emotions, and reduced quality of life and work.
Sleep disorders are an important factor leading to physical and mental illnesses. Insomnia is closely related to anxiety and depression disorders. Long-term insomnia without reasonable intervention can lead to mental disorders. Correcting insomnia is equally important as treating anxiety and depression disorders. Insomnia is closely related to physical diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, endocrine disorders, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Sleep apnea is also a common sleep disorder in middle-aged and elderly people, and obesity is the main cause of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is an independent risk factor for hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and sudden death at night. Therefore, scientifically managing the sleep health of the middle-aged and elderly working population is an important aspect for the physical and mental health of this group and even their elderly years.
On March 21, 2011, World Sleep Day, the Chinese Sleep Research Association proposed the theme of "Focus on Sleep in Middle-aged and Elderly" based on the current sleep health status of the middle-aged and elderly working population in China and its importance to physical and mental health and social development. This is to arouse the attention of the whole society to the sleep health of this group. Medical practice has proven that having a sound mindset, strong physical fitness, and a good lifestyle are the foundation of physical and mental health. The sleep health problems of the middle-aged and elderly working population in our country should not be ignored.
Do not ignore sleep problems
Experts point out that middle-aged and elderly people face health challenges in both physiology and psychology, and are prone to sleep problems such as chronic insomnia. It can not only lead to mental fatigue, low mood, and inadequate life and work capabilities, but also cause various physical diseases in severe cases. Therefore, adjusting one's lifestyle and ensuring good sleep is an important guarantee for middle-aged and elderly people to have a healthy body.
Sleep disorders can be divided into narrow and broad categories. Narrow sleep disorders refer to the inability to fall asleep or insomnia commonly mentioned by people, while broad sleep disorders also include various symptoms that affect the quality of normal sleep, such as nightmares, teeth grinding, snoring, sleep talking, sleepwalking, and restless legs. Director Gao pointed out that as people enter middle age, due to insufficient production and metabolism of sleep hormones such as melatonin in the body, coupled with high mental stress and excitement before sleep, sleep disorders are more likely to occur. If the required rest time is not met, one will feel tired the next day, memory will decline, and daily work, study, and life will be affected.
Reasonable arrangement of life, having healthy sleep
Human nighttime sleep is divided into five cycles: sleep onset period, light sleep period, deep sleep period, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep period. Different cycles can cause various sleep disorders such as difficulty falling asleep, early awakening, insufficient sleep depth, and disrupted sleep rhythm. If the rhythm of life and rest is disrupted, sleep disorders will occur. People will be excited at night when they should be sleeping and feel drowsy during the day, which is not conducive to physical health. Therefore, developing good habits and creating a suitable rest environment are crucial for improving sleep quality.
Before going to bed, middle-aged and elderly people should try not to think too much and avoid drinking tea, coffee, or watching TV for a long time, which can cause mental excitement. At the same time, pay attention to the daily rest time, go to bed on time, and ensure a quiet and comfortable rest environment. Maintain a cheerful mood and engage in appropriate physical activities every day, which also has a good promoting effect on sleep.
If the daily routine is normal, and some middle-aged and elderly people still have long-term sleep problems that affect their lives, they can use sleep-inducing drugs with minimal side effects appropriately. Different medications should be taken according to specialist advice for different conditions such as difficulty falling asleep, early awakening, and disrupted sleep rhythm. For those who suffer from insomnia due to diseases such as snoring, anxiety disorder, depression, and heart disease, they should seek corresponding specialist doctors for treatment.
Getting out of the misconceptions about sleep problems
Sleep is an active process of rest and physical energy recovery. Experts say that different individuals have different daily rest time needs, and some people need to ensure a certain amount of sleep every day.
