When it comes to healthy sleep, no one group of people is in greater need than America’s senior citizens. Along with using common sense practices to get a good night’s rest, millions of seniors are also turning to doctor-prescribed sleep aids. Americans over age 65 make up about 13 percent of the population but account for more than 40 percent of the prescription sleep aids taken nationwide, demonstrating the importance of seniors having factual, science-based information about sleep aids.

Over the past year, the news media have increasingly focused attention on rare cases involving people who abuse sleep aids. Rather than reporting the facts of sleep medications, the media often sensationalizes isolated instances of people taking excessive doses, or mixing them with alcohol or other drugs. This sensationalism can be misleading and create unfounded concerns for seniors who worry about the safety of these sleep aids.

In this report, we’ll examine the facts about sleep disorders and the unique risks they pose to older Americans. We’ll also discuss common-sense steps that can help improve the quality of your sleep and important information you should know if you are using sleep aids.

The Risks of Sleeplessness Among Seniors

According to a report in the July 2006, American Journal of Medicine, more than half of older Americans have trouble sleeping, which can result in decreased memory, weakened concentration and impaired ability to function. It can also contribute to an increased risk of accidents, falls and chronic fatigue.

The safety risks associated with sleeplessness are well documented. A 2005 study of insomnia among senior citizens by the University of Michigan, found that those with untreated insomnia at the beginning of the study were 90 percent more likely to fall in the next six months. In contrast, the study concluded that those who used approved sleep aids were only 29 percent more likely to fall.

A good night’s sleep is actually part of an overall healthy lifestyle. According to the Boston-based Sleep HealthCenters, good sleep habits are just as important as proper diet and exercise. Their studies link sleep loss to weight gain and increased diabetes risk. The Sleep HealthCenters’ evaluation of the Sleep Heart Study of more than 2,000 patients between the ages of 53 and 93 also found that shortened sleep times were significantly associated with an increased risk for diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance.

Even after adjusting for other diabetes risk factors, and independent of insomnia or sleep apnea symptoms, the shortened sleep time relationship remained significant. Douglas B. Kirsch, MD, the Medical Director of the Sleep HealthCenter in Beverly, Massachusetts, noted, “This association may suggest why patients with shorter mean sleep times are more prone to myocardial infarctions [heart attacks] and death.”

The National Sleep Foundation also found that seniors who rated their health as “good to excellent” were much less likely to report a sleep problem. Among those with good or excellent health, 59 percent reported occasional sleep problems, while 85 percent of those describing their health as “fair to poor,” reported problems with sleep.

Common Sense Solutions for Seniors

Senior citizens unquestionably need the proper amount of sleep each night to maintain or improve their heath. Poor sleep means bad health, safety risks and a diminished quality of life. But there are simple steps you can take to improve your sleep through changes in your daily routine.

• Use your bed only for sleeping and sex. Train yourself to associate your bed with sleep, rather than a place to lounge, watch TV, or talk on the phone
• Avoid caffeinated foods and beverages in the late afternoon and evening, including coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate
• Don’t smoke. Nicotine is a powerful stimulant as well
• Exercise regularly, but not within three hours of going to bed
• Stop napping. Save your sleep for the night
• Set a sleep schedule. Try to go to sleep and wake at the same time each day, even on weekends
• Watch what you eat. Avoid eating heavy meals or spicy foods before bedtime
• Watch what you drink. Excess fluids can lead to frequent bathroom visits during the night
• Before going to bed at night, give yourself 30 to 60 minutes to wind-down and relax
• Take a warm bath, read a book or listen to music or relaxation tapes

Also pay attention to environmental factors that can affect your sleep. Everyone is different, and variations in light, noise, room temperature and mattress quality can also play a big part in getting a good night’s sleep.

Rx for Healthy Sleep

If you have continued trouble sleeping, talk with your doctor. These problems can often be symptoms or early warning signs of other diseases. Sometimes, changes in lifestyle and sleep environment aren’t enough to ensure a healthy night’s rest.

As a last resort, many seniors are turning to prescription sleep aids in order to get a full night of healthful rest. Advances in medical science have resulted in a generation of sleep medications that allow you to get a good night’s sleep without the side effects of older sleeping pills and sedatives. As with all prescription medications, sleep aids do carry a risk of dependence. But when prescribed and used as directed by your doctor, prescription sleep aids can provide needed relief for older Americans coping with insomnia.

Sleep aid safety is continuously monitored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and equivalent health agencies around the world, and the new Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan covers these types of medications, depending on the individual beneficiaries’ plan coverage. It’s good business too; research shows that every dollar spent on prescription sleep aids saves about three dollars on overall health care spending. Medicare has deemed sleep aids important for their value in improving overall heath and quality of life, and their ability to save money in the long run.

Despite this well established track record of safety and effectiveness, the media have sensationalized isolated events of abuse involving sleep aids. Media attention of this nature may sell newspapers or boost ratings, but it’s a disservice to millions of senior citizens, particularly those who are unsure whether a sleep aid may be right for them.

‘Sleeping Pills Made Me Do It!’

One major problem associated with abuse of sleep aids is that some individuals blame their behavior or misdeeds on the drug rather than taking personal responsibility. This defense has generated news coverage that often distorts the facts and creates fear and uncertainty among people who properly use doctor-prescribed sleep aids. Some of the more sensationalized instances include:

• A British painting contractor became belligerent on a flight to London, ripped off his shirt, and threatened suicide. He later claimed to remember nothing but admitting taking a sleep aid. He also drank two individual-serving size bottles of wine.
• A probation and parole officer from South Carolina crashed his car into a parked van and then drove into a tree. He claimed he didn’t remember any of this, but later admitted drinking two beers before taking a sleep aid and climbing behind the wheel.
• A man in Georgia was arrested on multiple charges, including driving on the wrong side of the road, after taking a sleep aid and having three drinks before driving.
• Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy drove his car into a security barrier near the Capitol around 3:00 a.m. one spring morning in 2006. He was observed by U.S. Capitol Police swerving into the wrong lane and striking a curb. Kennedy claimed he could not recall the accident, but recalled taking a sleep aid and Phenergan, another prescription drug that can cause drowsiness.
• A young Virginia mother was forced to undergo a leg amputation after being struck by a vehicle driven by a man who had taken five times the prescribed dose of a sleep aid. The driver argued the sleep aid was the cause, but the court found him guilty on felony charges of driving under the influence.

Bottom Line: Be Smart, Be Responsible

Sleep experts agree that these highly publicized events are extremely rare. If lifestyle changes alone aren’t helping you get a good night’s sleep, seniors should not be afraid to use sleep medications as instructed by their doctor. Just make sure to follow the instructions and heed any and all warnings on the label.

In each case cited above, a sleep aid was incorrectly used in violation of explicit warnings on the packaging. When individuals abuse these drugs, they should be held accountable. Such cavalier attitudes toward personal responsibility – and the media’s sensational treatment of these incidents – are unfair not only to sleep aid manufacturers and doctors helping sleep deprived patients, but also to patients and family members coping with insomnia and a wide range of other sleep disorders.

Be smart. Be responsible. Use common sense. And always talk to your doctor when using prescription medications. Millions of senior citizens are able to get a good night’s sleep thanks, in part, to doctor-prescribed sleep aids. The decision to use a sleep aid should be based on factual, scientific information and what your doctor says is right for you, not what the media says.