Why Can’t I Sleep Anymore? The Key to Falling Asleep After 40

Posted: September 16, 2014

If you’re over 40 and having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, you’re not alone. As we grow older, we lose not only the quantity of sleep our body requires, but also the quality of deep sleep our mind needs.

What happens when you pass 40 and you don’t get enough sleep?

You become a grouchy old man – grumpy, irritable, and short-tempered. You have to fight the urge to stand on your front lawn and yell at the neighborhood kids. In short, a lack of restful sleep is making you old before your time.

It Is Worse Than You Think

According to the clinical definition, sleep deprivation occurs any time you get less than seven hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. The ill effects of sleep deprivation are more devastating than you can imagine:

• Causes roadway and workplace accidents; drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving.

• Dumbs you down by hampering your ability to concentrate, reason, and solve problems.

• Kills your love life by draining your libido; lack of energy and irritability are the main culprits.

• Can lead life-threatening diseases such as diabetes, heart attack, or high blood pressure.

• Increases hunger and appetite; lack of sleep makes you pack on the pounds.

In other words, lack of quality sleep is bad news all around.

What You Can Do About It

When you get older, deep sleep is harder to get. However, there are ways to get the most out of bedtime:

• Exercise regularly. Try to exercise outdoors if you can. The combination of your blood pumping and the sun shining will really get your juices flowing and help you sleep better at night.
• Keep cool. You’ll have less trouble falling asleep if you keep the bedroom cool, quiet, and dark. That means turning off your cellphone a good 30 minutes before you hit the sack.
• Get up. Get out of bed and do something. There is nothing worse than trying to fall asleep when you can’t. Get up, turn on the light, solve a crossword puzzle, or read a book.
• Stay on schedule. As best you can, try and follow the same schedule every evening; it becomes increasingly difficult for people over 40 to fall asleep when there’s any change in bedtime, bedding, or bedroom layout.

For men, there is one more trick you can use to get more restful sleep: check your testosterone levels. If they are low, then testosterone replacement therapy might be the thing that gets you back in the saddle again.

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Disclaimer: This article is made available for general, entertainment and educational purposes only. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Low T Center. You should always seek the advice of a licensed healthcare professional.